Most travel destinations are known for breathtaking views, iconic landmarks, or rich cultural history. But some places have earned fame for reasons that are truly strange. From mayors who bark to mountains made of sand, these locations prove the world is full of surprises. Here are ten places that are famous not for beauty or history, but for reasons that will leave you shaking your head.
Rabbit Hash, Kentucky: Where Dogs Are the Mayor
The small town of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky is known not for its people but for its canine leaders. Since 1998, the town has elected dogs as mayors. The tradition started as a fundraiser and has continued for over two decades. Votes cost $1, and there’s no limit to how many a person can buy. The current mayor, Brynneth Pawltro, raised thousands of dollars to help rebuild the town’s general store after a fire. The quirky elections have made this tiny town an internet sensation.
Mawson Peak: A Growing Volcano in the Middle of Nowhere
Australia’s tallest mountain isn’t on the mainland. Mawson Peak is located on Heard Island in the Indian Ocean, about 4,100 kilometers from Perth. The peak is an active volcano, and because of the ongoing interaction between lava and surrounding ice, the island and the mountain keep growing. It’s often hidden by clouds and can only be visited by researchers. Continuous eruptions since 2012 have made the peak even taller than its last recorded height of 2,745 meters.
Camp Bonifas: Golfing in a War Zone
Just steps from the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Camp Bonifas is home to the most dangerous golf course in the world. This one-hole, par-three course is surrounded by land mines, barbed wire, and abandoned military posts. A stray ball could cause more than just a lost round. Despite its danger, it attracts around 1,000 tourists daily who are looking for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity.
Tashirojima: Japan’s Cat Island
If you’re a cat lover, Tashirojima should be on your list. Located off Japan’s coast, this island is home to around 800 cats and only 100 people. The cats were originally brought in to control mice threatening the silk industry. Fishermen fed and protected them, believing the cats brought good luck. Today, visitors can take a ferry to the island, stay in cat-themed lodges, and cuddle with friendly felines. A cat shrine in the center of the island honors their legacy.
Argelton, UK: A Town That Never Existed
Argelton appeared on Google Maps as a town in Lancashire, complete with real estate listings and weather forecasts. The only problem? It didn’t exist. It was actually just a grassy field next to a highway. The fictional town gained attention in 2008, sparking jokes, websites, and conspiracy theories. One theory was that it was a deliberate map trap to catch copyright thieves. Eventually, Google removed the phantom town, but not before it made headlines.
Monte Kaolino: Skiing Without Snow
In Germany, you’ll find a ski resort without snow. Monte Kaolino is a 110-meter-high dune made of kaolinite sand, a leftover from industrial mining. Locals began skiing on it in the 1950s, and it has since turned into a full tourist attraction. The resort has a ski lift, water park, and even hosts the Sandboarding World Championships. It’s proof that with a little creativity, even a pile of industrial waste can become a sport.
Coober Pedy: The Town That Lives Underground
The outback town of Coober Pedy in Australia faces temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius in summer. To escape the extreme heat, locals live underground in “dugouts.” These subterranean homes, bars, churches, and even hotels maintain a cool 23 degrees year-round. The town began as an opal mining community, and the miners built homes beneath the surface to survive. The setting was so otherworldly that it served as a filming location for “Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome.”
Sandy Island: The Island That Was Undiscovered
First charted in 1774, Sandy Island appeared on maps and Google Earth for centuries. But in 2012, Australian researchers sailed through the location and found nothing. The island simply didn’t exist. One theory suggests early explorers confused floating volcanic pumice rafts for land. Despite being officially “undiscovered,” the island remains a fascinating case of mapping error and modern myth.
Plymouth, Montserrat: A Modern Pompeii
Plymouth was once the bustling capital of Montserrat in the Caribbean. That changed in 1995 when the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted after centuries of dormancy. The entire city was buried under 40 feet of ash and lava, forcing all 12,000 residents to evacuate. Today, the ruins remain untouched within a volcanic exclusion zone. Plymouth is still technically the capital, making it the only ghost town in the world with that title.
Butt Hole Road: The Most Unfortunate Street Name
In Doncaster, South Yorkshire, a street once called Butt Hole Road became the butt of every joke. Tourists posed for photos, prank calls were common, and locals grew tired of the embarrassment. The name originally referred to a water butt, but modern slang gave it a new meaning. Residents eventually petitioned for a change, and the road was renamed Archers Way. Still, its legacy lives on as one of the most unfortunate street names in history.
