Known as Snake Island, the viper-infested Ilha da Queimada Grande sits in the Atlantic Ocean about 90 miles off the coast of southeastern Brazil. Legend has it that the last fisherman who strayed too close to the shores of Snake Island was found days later adrift in his own boat, lying lifeless in a pool of blood. This mysterious island, also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is so dangerous that Brazil has made it illegal for anyone to visit. And the danger on the island comes in the form of the golden lancehead pit vipers – one of the deadliest snakes in the world.

The lanceheads can grow to be over a foot-and-a-half long and it’s estimated that there are between 2,000 and 4,000 of them on Snake Island. The lanceheads are so venomous that a human bitten by one could be dead within an hour. The lanceheads can grow to be over a foot-and-a-half long and it’s estimated that there are between 2,000 and 4,000 of them on Snake Island. The lanceheads are so venomous that a human bitten by one could be dead within an hour.

In reality, the vipers’ presence is the result of rising sea levels – a less exciting origin story than paranoid pirates to be sure, but still interesting. Snake Island used to be part of Brazil’s mainland, but when sea levels rose over 10,000 years ago, it separated the landmass and turned it into an island.

The animals that wound up isolated on Queimada Grande evolved differently from those on the mainland over the course of millennia, the golden lanceheads in particular. Since the island vipers had no prey but birds, they evolved to have extra-potent venom so that they could almost immediately kill any bird. 

Lancehead snakes, which are the golden lanceheads’ mainland cousins, are responsible for 90 percent of all snake bites in Brazil. A bite from their golden relatives, whose venom is up to five times more potent, is less likely to actually happen due to their island isolation. However, such an encounter is far more likely to be lethal if it does happen.

No Beards For Young Men

One of the many weird rules framed by Niyazov in 2004 was that young men were barred from having beard or long hair. Only men above 70 could keep a beard. The strange thing is that the rule similar to one in Tajikistan still exists. It was not changed or repealed by Berdymukhamedov.

Previous Attempts Have Been Made To Extinguish The Crater

Over the fifty years that the crater has been burning, multiple attempts have been made to extinguish it, but none have been successful. Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov previously ordered the Gates of Hell extinguished in 2010. In early 2022, Berdymukhamedov again called for the flames to be put out, but it was not immediately clear how that could be accomplished. There are two big problems that any attempt to seal the crater must address: first, the raging flames, and second, the nearly endless stream of toxic gas that’s constantly escaping.

Only One Person Has Entered The Fiery Pit And Lived To Tell

In 2013, George Kourounis became the first person to successfully descend to the bottom of the pit and return. For a National Geographic expedition, Kourounis entered the pit and collected soil samples. He recounted the experience to Smithsonian Magazine and noted that flames would appear where he freshly dug into the canyon floor. The professional explorer and photographer needed special equipment to safely enter the canyon. A head-resistant suit and Kevlar climbing harness helped Kourounis to withstand the inferno.

There Is Life In The Flames

The National Geographic expedition revealed that some unusual lifeforms were thriving in the inhospitable conditions of the Darvaza crater. These microorganisms are part of a class of living things known as extremophiles because of their ability to flourish in extreme environments. Scientists found that these organisms were so well adapted to life in the crater that they actually flourish in high temperatures and low-nutrient conditions, unlike most life on earth which generally favors temperate and nurturing ecosystems.

The Gates Of Hell Crater Is One Of The Hottest Places On Earth

It’s not surprising that the Darvaza crater is extremely hot. But it is far hotter than almost anything else in nature. For example, the continuously burning fires make this pit about six times hotter than the hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth: a sweltering 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Death Valley, California. At 752 degrees, the Gates of Hell dwarfs the Death Valley record several times over. This extreme heat has made learning about the interior of the crater incredibly difficult. It took 40 years before anyone managed to enter the canyon and survive.

At Night, Spiders Sacrifice Themselves In The Flames

As if a place called the Gates of Hell couldn’t get any creepier, firsthand accounts of travelers mention hoards of spiders being drawn to the heat of the crater – and their own demise – at night. One scientific explanation is simply that spiders are drawn to the glow of the flames in an otherwise dark desert landscape. However, the disturbing image of spiders creeping through the sand toward a hellish pit and offering themselves en masse to the fire is certainly one of the reasons the Darvaza Gas Crater has earned its sinister reputation.

One Of The Strangest Campsites On Earth

Visitors to the Gates of Hell canyon are accommodated in tents and sleep around the crater’s upwind edge, lulled by the crackling orange glow from deep inside. Because of scorching winds blowing off the canyon, visitors can only stay on more habitable parts of the crater rim. Traveler accounts mention that desert temperatures drop when the sun goes down, and staying warm becomes the main focus overnight. These harsh conditions and the otherworldly setting make Darvaza Gas Crater one of the most unique campsites ever.

There’s Nothing Much To Do At This Tourism Site

Without a doubt, the Darvaza Gas Crater is a truly special place on Earth. However, visitors may be surprised by how few tourists go there each year. There are no tourist amenities around the crater, just miles of barren sand. The reason for this is the country’s staunch isolation. Turkmenistan has been ranked as the second-most isolated country in the world, topped only by secretive North Korea. Foreign tourists are only allowed to leave the capital city of Ashgabat with a registered tour guide. Given its reputation and the difficulty of entering the country, Turkmenistan only receives about 10,000 tourists per year.

A Deadly Gas Is Fueling The Flames Inside The Crater

When the pit first collapsed during an operation to identify fossil fuels several decades ago, there was no fire burning. It was simply an industrial accident. Researchers quickly discovered, however, that methane gas was escaping from the newly opened crater. Engineers attempted to burn off the escaping gas with a small fire expected to last only a few days. However, unknown to the team at the crater, this particular site is connected to a large reserve of methane gas, the major component of natural gas.

Hell May Be A Gold Mine

Well, not literally. But economically, the Darvaza Gas Crater may hold tremendous potential. Scientists speculate that beneath the crater is a massive reserve of methane that can be extracted for natural gas production. That’s not a far-fetched assumption in Turkmenistan’s sprawling Karakum desert. The country is home to the Earth’s 6th largest natural gas reserve and the second largest single natural gas field. It is not clear just how much methane is below, but there is so much of this gas escaping that the crater has been burning unmitigated for half a century.

A Nuke Might Be The Only Way To Close The Gates Of Hell

Scientists have sought ways to snuff the flames. Filling the crater with soil wouldn’t stop methane from escaping, but a powerful blast just might. An underground explosion would suck out the oxygen that feeds the fire and collapse the openings where methane is welling up from deep inside the earth. In the 1960s, a gas well in Uzbekistan burned for three years, and Soviet engineers extinguished it with a nuclear bomb blast. However, nukes release lots of radiation that could have unfathomable long-term effects. So, while it’s unlikely a nuke will be used, it’s certain that any effort to extinguish the Gates of Hell will be a Herculean task.

6. Slingshots need to be licensed

If for any reason you would need to carry a slingshot while out and about in the city of Haines, then you’ll need a valid license for it. This law extends to metal knuckles, dirks or daggers.

7. Don’t drop a moose from airplanes.

For 37 years, the small town of Talkeetna in Alaska held a moose poo-dropping contest. This involved painting moose poo, numbering it and dropping it from a helicopter onto a target. But in 2009, the festivities came to a halt when PETA launched a campaign to stop the dropping of a real moose from a helicopter. The entire scenario was a huge misunderstanding as both sides tried to explain what the event was really about. Eventually, city officials stepped in and stopped the festival by banning both the mooses and their droppings from being flung out of a helicopter.

8. Children should not build snowmen taller than themselves

Alaska has experienced pretty severe snowstorms and during these situations it is hard to distinguish between the snowmen and real children covered in snow.

9. Don’t tie your dog to the roof of your car

This ordinance from Anchorage, Alaska, states that “No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on top of the vehicle on a street unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail walls to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, or the animal is -tethered to the vehicle or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling or jumping from the vehicle”.

10. “Attractive nuisances” are banned

This one is from Soldotna, Alaska. An “attractive nuisance” is basically any object that will attract a bear (i.e., garbage, fish, beef, etc,). By discouraging bears to come around, dangerous encounters between humans and bears including expensive bear relocations or shootings are reduced.

The megalodon is an example of a shark that couldn’t adapt to its changing environment. Unlike people, animals can’t always move to a new location or find a new food source when their habitat changes. Megalodons were adapted to warmer waters and needed lots of enormous marine mammals to feed on. Paleontologists think that when the climate changed a couple of million years ago and other large marine mammals moved into colder waters, the megalodons were left behind without enough food to survive.

Some people argue that megalodons could still be swimming in unseen parts of the ocean. Although it’s true much of the ocean has yet to be explored, scientists note it’d be really difficult to miss a 50-foot-long, nearshore shark with a taste for whales. Sadly, the megalodon is long gone. Here are somefacts about the meg:

10. The word megalodon derives from Greek, meaning “giant tooth.” The shark’s full scientific name is Carcharocles megalodon.

9. Megalodon was the largest fish that ever lived. The largest individuals measured up to 58.7 feet or even larger. That’s about three times as big as the largest sharks in the ocean today.

8. It’s thought that megalodon ate 2,500 pounds of food per day.

7. Most fish are exclusively cold-blooded, but megalodon may have been like today’s great white sharks, which are considered partially warm-blooded because of the heat they generate while swimming. This would have allowed megalodon to hunt in colder waters.

6. Female megalodons may have been about twice as large as the males. Even an infant megalodon was huge, at least 6.6 feet from nose to tail.

5. Because of its size, megalodon was an apex predator in the ocean. It preyed upon fish, whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine animals.

4. Even though megalodons and dinosaurs are both extinct, they never coexisted. The dinosaurs died out about 66 million years ago. Megalodons came later. The oldest megalodon fossils are from the Miocene Epoch, which began 23 million years ago.

3. Fossil remains of the megalodon have been found off the coast of every continent except Antarctica. Between 2007 and 2009, researchers collected a number of juvenile megalodon teeth in the waters off the coast of Panama. They believe this was an ancient nursery area.

2. Since sharks don’t have bones, most of what we know about megalodon comes from its large fossil teeth. The largest megalodon tooth ever found was 6.9 inches long. That’s almost three times longer than the average tooth of a modern great white shark.

1. With a mouth nearly 10 feet wide, megalodon may have had the most powerful bite of all time.

1. You can’t wake a sleeping bear to take a selfie

Just let the sleeping bears lie. This law was put forward to protect hibernating bears since tourists would waltz into the dens and disturb the animals’ seasonal slumber. Although there is no jail time for the offense, you could risk walking off with a fine or worse, your life.

2. No bows and arrows within city limits

In the city of Nome, Alaska, it is illegal for any person to have in his or her physical possession or discharge an airgun, bow and arrow or slingshot within the city.

3. No drunken moose in town

City officials in Fairbanks, Alaska, have made it illegal to give alcoholic drinks to a moose. They did so to try to stop a local tavern keeper from getting his pet moose drunk and to prevent the animal’s frequent drunken rampages. Perhaps the guides on how to start an LLC in Alaska and how to find a great registered agent in Alaska can help you avoid any legal issues when opening or closing a business in the state.

4. No unauthorized slingshots

Still in the city of Nome, you are not allowed to discharge an airgun, bow and arrow or slingshot within the city. A person may only carry a concealed slingshot if that person has received the appropriate license.

5. Living in a trailer while it’s being hauled is a crime

The city of Anchorage has banned anyone from occupying a trailer while in transit within the city’s streets.

Spain

• It’s against the law to drive while wearing flip-flops
• In Barcelona, you can be fined for wearing swimwear anyplace other than the beach, as well as for spitting.

France

• It is illegal to kiss while riding on a train
• It’s illegal to take pictures of police officers or police vehicles, even if they’re just in the background
• You must wear Speedo-style bathing suits that leave nothing to the imagination to go swimming in many pools. They’re seen as more hygienic than loose board shorts
• In three towns it is against the law to die. These ordinances were passed as a protest when the creation of new cemeteries was denied.

Germany

• It’s illegal to run out of gas on the autobahn, as well as to walk along it.

Switzerland

• You cannot flush a toilet in an apartment building after 10pm.

Austria

• You can be fined and/or booted off a train if you are making out or eating something considered too smelly.

Italy

• In Florence, you can be fined for eating or drinking on the steps of a church
• In Venice, it is illegal to feed the pigeons
• In Eraclea, it is illegal to build sandcastles and collect seashells.

1. It’s Illegal To Wear Camouflage Clothing In The Bahamas

It may seem a bit too extreme if you’re the camo-fashion type, but the country has its reasons. Be it a tourist or a citizen, it’s illegal to wear camouflage clothing that represents military uniforms in the Bahamas. If you were caught dressed in camo clothing, you will be charged a fine and may even get imprisonment charges. This law is common in many countries in the Caribbean islands, including St. Vincent and Jamaica. According to Bahamians, wearing camo clothing is deemed disrespectful and should only be worn by security forces like the police and the military forces.

2. Divorce Is Granted If Your Spouse Cheats With An Animal

Getting a divorce in the Bahamas is not so difficult. You have to catch your spouse cheating on you with an animal, and the court can take up your case and grant you a divorce. That is not the only way to file for divorce. The country has listed many grounds commonly found in other countries, such as adultery, cruelty, living separately for over five years and rape by the husband. However, this particular law is quite intriguing. Although it may seem weird, the reason behind it does make sense.

3. It’s Legal To Enter The Bahamas By Sea Without A Passport

If you are a US citizen stopping by during a cruise, you can enter the Bahamas via sea without a valid passport. This doesn’t mean that anyone can simply cross the border without a passport; only if you’re coming by boat or on a cruise will you be accepted into the land. Just because it is possible, it’s not the most secure option. While some cruises allow just a few hours of exploration, some let travellers be on the land for days. In such a situation, if you come across any emergency that requires you to travel back immediately, you won’t be able to fly without a passport. So, if you’re planning on travelling to the Bahamas by sea, remember to pack your passport as well, just to be on the safe side.

4. Import Restrictions Apply For Trailers And Caravans

It sure is a weird law to be passed amongst other restricted items. The Bahamas do not allow citizens or anyone to import trailers and caravans, which are used as living quarters, offices, workshops, or similar purposes. However, if you can receive the minister’s authorization, you will be able to import trailers. Th reason behind this is still unclear. It could be that people would easily switch their homes to mobile residences. By doing so, they could exempt themselves from taxes. Apart from these, you are also not allowed to import motor vehicles or motorcycles that are ten years or older.

5. Spearfishing While Scuba Diving Is Illegal

Here is another law of the Bahamas that many would find weird. One main cited reason for this law is that the waters of the Bahamas have a healthy turquoise glow thanks to the rich ecosystem beneath the surface, so naturally, the nation is protective of its underwater species including the beautiful reef beds. But it’s not all bad news. You can still go spearfishing using the Hawaiian sling or a pole spear – the old methods that inflict little to no damage to the reefs. But make sure you get your fishing permit before hunting underwater.

According to the locals, the history of this perplexing ghost town near Dubai is not known. All we know is that the village of Al Madam also called “Buried Village” was constructed sometime around 1970. According to some locals who participated in the 2018 Sharjah Art Foundation public survey conducted to trace the history of the village, this mysterious place was once inhabited by the Al Kutbii tribe.

One theory is that the village could have been a part of the Sha’bi housing project by the UAE government which endeavoured to provide the Bedouin population with well-constructed settlements. But considering the current state of the village, it seems like things didn’t go to plan. Some locals attribute the abandonment to the lack of infrastructure and electricity.

A widely held belief behind the abandonment of the village is that place is haunted by a notorious group of “djinns” – the supernatural beings that are said to possess places and people. Locals also believe that there is something mysterious in the sand that caused it to invade the houses, leading the locals to flee the village. Other tales place the blame squarely on Umm Al Duwais, a female jinn said to have cat eyes and machetes for hands, whose story is integral to Emirati folklore.

Be ready to walk a lot if ever you decide to explore the ‘abandoned village’ of Al Madam. As you’ll walk closer to the village (inside), you’ll find well-built houses in well shape, half covered in sand. It’s a sad sight, agreed, but slowly the sight will start to creep you out by the presence of some unseen negative vibes. Part of the appeal is that the village is so open for exploration and contains hidden treasures for explorers to find. There are no plans to develop Al Madam as a tourist attraction at present though tourists are welcome to visit.

A strange law states that if someone gets run over by a wagon, or a ‘thelagari’, then he is the one who has to pay a fine of fifty taka to the wagon driver, as anyone dumb enough to walk into a wagon deserves to be fined, even though a few of his toenails could get skewered easily.

Those of you who have problems remembering addresses, beware, because there is a Vagrancy Law in this land. If you’re stopped on the road by a policeman, and he asks you where you’re heading and if you cannot give them a definite address, then he has every right to arrest you and put you in a jail for vagrants where you’ll be kept until someone from your family can come and free you!

Some forty years back, in the public universities, if a guy wanted to talk to a girl in his class, he had to take permission from the proctor! If a guy was caught talking to a girl without permission, he could be suspended. This law still stands, though it is never implemented.

This law is for those who spend sleepless nights on the phone with their so called ‘soul mates’, because there IS a mobile law that says it is illegal for children under 18 years of age to talk on the phone after twelve o’clock!

And those of you who are sneering at your teachers because of the latest law making it illegal for teachers to hit students, you should know that under the Bangladeshi law, children over 15 years of age can be jailed for cheating in a final examination!

While most abandoned buildings looks like they’re haunted, they’re really just the derelict remains of mansion that a family struggled to sell or the shell of an old warehouse. But the history behind Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital is actually as creepy as it looks. Built as a tuberculosis sanatorium, this enormous hospital complex stands 30 miles southwest of Berlin. It was used to treat Nazis during World War II and the Soviet Army up until the 1990s. This is also where a young Adolf Hitler recovered after being wounded in World War I.

Attempts were made to privatize the hospital complex (after the Soviet withdrawal from Germany) but it came to naught. Today few sections from the complex are used as a neurological rehabilitation center and as a center for research and care for victims of Parkinson’s disease. The rest of the building remained unused. Lack of maintenance and care has paved the way for trees and plants to encroach on the buildings giving it a feel of the desolated ghost town. The once pristine walls of the sanatorium are now littered with graffiti. The crumbling walls mutely witness the gradual ruination of Beelitz sanatorium.

Vines and climbers have gleefully accepted the exterior walls as their prop while the courtyard is now overgrown with plants and looks like a miniature forest. The 60 Building Hospital complex had its own butcher’s, restaurant, bakery, and laundry service.

Wearing helmets inside premises : The majority of Brazilian states have a law that forbids the use of helmets or any other type of object or piece of cloth covering the face of individuals upon entering a public or private premise. This law was passed in order to reduce the number of attempts of robbery by bikers. By removing the helmet or piece of cloth, the individual is more easily recognized by security tapes.

Using cellphones inside bank agencies : Most Brazilian municipalities have a law that forbids the use of cellphones inside banking agencies. The main reason for this law is to secure the banking agency’s users from being robbed upon leaving the site. The penalty for not following the law is a fine to the banking agency.

Topless for women : Women being topless at the beach can be regarded as a legal offense in Brazil. According to the the Penal Code, every obscene act is considered a crime and being topless at the beach can be considered an act of public indecency or indecent exposure. Despite that, the law is also subject to interpretation, so there is no consensus about whether being topless should be regarded as a crime as public breastfeeding is not.

Test the dead : If a driver in an accident dies the police are still required to do a breathalyzer test to legally be able to determine who was at fault for the accident. If the deceased refuses to take the test they can face fines and a suspension of driving privileges.

SÃO LUIS : It is against the law to wear masks at parties, except during Carnaval celebrations or by obtaining a licence.

The Nahanni Valley is a vast expanse of land in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Nahanni Valley is a region in Nahanni National Park, in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, about 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife. It’s a huge, remote and inhospitable area that you can only visit by plane or boat. It’s well known for the South Nahanni River and four 3,000+ foot canyons, called First, Second, Third and Fourth Canyons respectively, which line the river. It has some of the most diverse landforms in the country, with canyons, caves, tufa mounds and a waterfall twice the height of Niagara Falls all in the valley.

Animals thrive here too, given its remote location and general absence of humans. Bears, wolves, bison, caribou, owls and even the elusive wolverine all call the Nahanni home, within the mountains, plains, spruce and aspen forests of this massive area. It’s a land of jagged mountains, harsh forests and eerie fogs – a place steeped in supernatural lore and mystery, best reflected in its better-known moniker: ‘Valley of Headless Men’. The Dene people who lived in the Nahanni for at least 10,000 years prior to the arrival of European explorers in the late 18th century had long spoken of mythical creatures, hidden tropical gardens and rivers that should be avoided at all costs. There may be good reasons for that. At least four headless bodies have turned up in the Nahanni Valley since the early 1900s.

There are at least five mysteries tied to the Nahanni Valley, but the most famous and likely the one you’ve heard, is the mystery of the headless bodies. That’s where the Nahanni gets its rather creepy moniker ‘Valley of the Headless Bodies’. People have vanished here, be they explorers, miners, plane pilots and others who simply dared set foot in this foreboding region. More abstract, however, is the Nahanni’s reputation as being a place of evil, where men disappear after going downstream, tribes mysteriously vanish without a trace, giants that cook meals in the valley’s hot spring, and harbingers of doom when that spring is empty.

One of the world’s most extreme deserts might be the last place one would expect to find a waterfall, but in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valley, a five-story fall pours slowly out of the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney. And it’s not just the idea of a waterfall in the frozen world of Antarctica that is strange: the waterfall is bright red, like blood running from a cut in the glacier. Known as the Blood Falls, this unique phenomenon was first discovered by scientists as a frozen waterfall in 1911. Scientists had noticed that a part of the cliff had been stained dark red and the reason was unknown. They then believed that the discolouring of water was due to the presence of algae. However, there was no proof to verify the same.

The Blood Falls are not only unusual in terms of their colour but also grab attention because it is the coldest glacier on earth and supports constantly flowing water filled with iron. The falls remained a mystery for the longest time since one can see spot the glacier melting at the surface of the cliff, despite the average temperatures being -17 degrees celsius. After much research, the reason behind the blood-red colour of the falls was discovered.

About two million years ago, the Taylor Glacier had managed to seal beneath it a small body of water, which is also home to an ancient community of microbes. These microbes remain trapped under a thick layer of ice to date, isolated from their surroundings. Existing and evolving under conditions that have no contact with the outside world, these microbes barely see any light or oxygen and almost no heat.

The trapped lake is highly saline and rich in iron, and when it reacts with the oxygen outside, the waterfall gets its unique red colour. Essentially, it is the same phenomenon that lends iron its dark colour when it rusts. Underneath the glacier lies a complex network of subglacial rivers as well as a subglacial lake, which are all rich in iron. The lake under the glacier is also unusually salty, and since salt water has a lower freezing point, and releases heat while freezing it melts the ice and hence the river on it flows. As one moves closer to the falls, the content of salt also increases.

This subglacial lake flows out by means of a fissure in the glacier and thereby forming the falls without disrupting or contaminating the ecosystem within. According to researchers this salty water also takes nearly 1.5 million years to finally reach Blood Falls owing to its path being fissures and channels in the glacier.

List 7 reasons why you would love to visit Ireland.

1. Jaw-dropping natural landscapes

When you think of Ireland, it may conjure up images of green rolling hills, rugged seaside cliffs, and windswept rock formations. When you visit this Celtic country, you will be rewarded with all that and more! You’ll be able to admire or hike the high mountains of Wicklow and McGillycuddy’s Reeks. Take in the views over the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast cliffs. Sail or walk along the majestic lakes such as Lough Erne and Lough Leane. And explore the islands where you could learn more about the Gaelic culture and language.

2. Music and festivals

Ireland is a place to visit not only for its beauty and history, but because of its lively atmosphere. The Irish are known worldwide for their festive celebration and the country hosts many events and festivals along the year. This includes the TradFest held in Dublin every January. It is the largest festival of traditional music in Ireland. Not to be missed if you’re a fan! The town of Dingle also hosts its own in September. St Patrick’s Day is a five-day affair in Dublin. In September, Galway hosts the International Oyster and Seafood Festival, for lovers of this gastronomy. At the same time Dublin hosts the Fringe Festival, as well as a Bram Stoker Festival in October.

3. Regal castles

Irish history goes back centuries if not millennia, from the Vikings and Celts to warrior clans. Because of this, there is an estimated 30,000 castles and ruins dotted all over the country. During your journey, you could visit as many as you wish and time allows.

Here are some of our favourite castles:

• Blarney Castle – where you can kiss the famous Blarney Stone
• Bunratty Castle – one of the most complete castles left today in Ireland
• Dunluce Castle – a cliffside fortress with majestic sea views
• Rock of Cashel – an ancient royal site
• Ross Castle – a 15th-century fortress set amidst a national park

4. Guinness and whiskey

If you are a lover of beer and whiskey you will be in for a treat on your trip to Ireland! There are multiple brewers around the country, but the most famous is, of course, Guinness. Come taste the ‘black stuff’ in its hometown at the Guinness Storehouse. You won’t be surprised to hear it’s Ireland’s number one attraction! Whiskey distilleries are dotted around the country as well. If you want to visit one, you’ll have plenty of choice, from Jameson in Dublin to Kilbeggan in Westmeath,  to the isle’s oldest whiskey distillery at Bushmills or Micil in Galway. Or, you could forgo attractions and simply curl up in a pub and order a pint or a dram of whiskey.

5. Lively cities

Known for its stunning natural landscapes, Ireland is also ideal for city breaks! Dublin will probably be the starting point of your trip to Ireland. The capital is a stunning mix of modern and historic architecture. It is full of fun attractions like the Guinness Storehouse and St Patrick’s Cathedral. We recommend adding extra days to your itinerary to make the most of it. In the west, you’ll want to stop by Galway. This laid-back city has a thriving music and foody culture. In the south, Cork is Ireland’s second largest city and the area’s cultural hub.

6.  Delicious food

During your time visiting Ireland, you’ll be able to taste the hearty local food. Among other things, dig your teeth into the famous Irish soda bread and the lesser-known boxty, an Irish potato pancake. At B&Bs and other accommodation, you may be able to try the full Irish breakfast. It’s typically served with eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, beans and toasts or boxty. In small fishing villages along the west coast, we also recommend ordering some seafood. And you can’t leave Ireland without trying the famous Irish stew! Cities, like Dublin, Belfast, Galway and Cork, have plenty of fine dining restaurants. They focus on local and seasonal produce to give you a modern taste of Ireland.

7. Irish People

The Irish people truly make Ireland special! As a visitor to their shores, you’ll experience their fun sense of humour and warm hospitality, especially by staying in B&Bs and smaller hotels. You can also participate into the cheerful atmosphere by visiting pubs. Every city and town has at least one! Here you could have a drink with the locals, taste the Irish flavours and even listen to traditional music.

And Irish ladies – oh gosh! That accent and the gorgeous red hair (well I do know of some gorgeous non-redheads) will make you want to listen to them for hours on end.

Prompt from 31 March Writing Prompts at Mamakatslosinit

1. Cars are not allowed to stop at crosswalks : Cars are not allowed to stop at a pedestrian crossing. This law is strange since it is usually known that cars need to stop at crosswalks so that pedestrians can cross the road. But this is not the case in China where cars are not allowed to stop and let the pedestrians pass. This is according to the Beijing Traffic Laws which states that power-driven vehicle is forbidden to stop at a pedestrian crossing and even face a fine. Therefore, when one is at a pedestrian crossing in China they should wait for cars to pass before they cross the road.

2. Intentionally having sex with another man’s wife is not allowed : This is one weird law where it is prohibited for one to have sex with another man’s wife intentionally. This means that when a man has sex with another person’s wife unintentionally then it is allowed. This beats the purpose of the law since one can argue that they did not know that the woman was married and thus beat the purpose of the law.

3. Dating a colleague is not allowed : Most workplaces make provisions for colleagues who are dating in the workplace. However, in Guangzhou province, an internet company has implemented some strict policies on dating where male employees who have been employed for less than a year are not allowed to date a colleague. Women in the company who have been employed in the company for three months and find a boyfriend who is not an employee of the company, the company has to vet him to determine if he is suitable. This law is strange in that a person’s partner does not concern the company since it is their private life.

4. The secrets of sericulture are not to be shared : The art of silk making is associated with China since it is notable for this activity for the past centuries. Therefore, an ancient imperial rule was enacted that banned sharing of the secrets of sericulture. This law states that anyone found guilty of the offence was to be tortured to death. The law is quite strange in that in contemporary society, it normal to exchange ideas so that one can come up with a better way of doing something and making work easier. However, this is not the case in China in that if one wants to lose their life then they just share the trade secrets of sericulture.

5. Naming children with strange names are not allowed : China prohibits naming children strange names. This law is strange as one would expect that the choice of a baby’s name depends on the parents as they are the ones who gave birth. In China, it is quite different as the government does not allow naming a child a name that sounds weird. Therefore, if a name that a parent has thought of sounds okay to them but is considered to be weird, then they are not calling the child that name. To some extent, the rule is nice as it would ensure that people do not have names that make someone wonder what inspired them to name their child that particular name. The given names should also be translatable to Mandarin.

6. Children are required to salute passing cars : In China, it is customary for children to salute passing cars by raising their hands. This law is in place in Guizhou Province where the students of Luolang Elementary School are obligated by law to stop and raise their hands on the street when they see an incoming car. This law is weird but surprisingly, it has helped in reducing cases of small children being involved in accidents in that when they raise their hands, the drivers can see them and thus avoid hitting them.

7. Russians need to be announced when they approach : This rule is among the top strange things that are practised in China in that the citizens need to announce that a Russian is approaching. This law was implemented in 1907 where if a person failed to announce that a Russian was approaching, then the offence was punishable by death. The consequences of this rule were a bit drastic as one nay has failed to announce that there was a Russian approaching because they were not paying attention to him. It is also strange that it was a requirement to announce that someone was approaching just because they were of a different nationality.

8. Storing explosives in the basement is not allowed : China restricts house owners from storing more than a tonne of explosives like fireworks. This is a strange one in that why would someone be storing that many explosives in their house. For the law to be enacted, it means that they were people who were keeping that amount of fireworks in the basement which makes it even more bizarre.

9. Adult content is forbidden : China has a strict rule on the dissemination of adult content in that the information on the internet is restricted by the government. This rule is a bit strange in that even if the content is restricted, it will not prevent a person from being dirty-minded and thus beat the whole purpose of the law.

10. The students get loans from loan sharks : In most countries, students get their loans from the government which they will use to fund their education and then pay them later when they have already gotten jobs. This is not the case in China in that student loans are gotten from loan sharks who may take advantage of the students and set high-interest rates with limited timelines.

Don’t take what isn’t yours : In Louisiana, they are known for two animals more than maybe any others: alligators and crawfish. Maybe that’s why stealing either can land you in jail for up to ten years or carry a fine of up to $3,000.

Don’t tie your alligator to a fire hydrant : We’re not sure we want to know why this law was written, but it’s illegal to tie your alligator to a fire hydrant in New Orleans.

No snakes at Mardi Gras parades : It’s a crime to have a snake within 200 yards of a Mardi Gras parade.

No blood rituals : Breaking either of these laws could lead to a fine or even some jail time! Of course, we think the best option is just to leave your scaly pets at home.

No blood rituals : Ingesting blood or other bodily fluids during a ritual of any kind is prohibited in Louisiana. People breaking this law could be fined up to $25,000, or spend up to 25 years in jail.

Limits on funeral food : If you’re attending a Louisiana funeral, you’re only allowed three sandwiches at the wake by law. We’re not sure what caused this law to be enacted, but be sure to bring a snack if you’re in the second line.

Reporter restriction : During a Mardi Gras parade, TV reporters are not allowed to throw anything to the crowd. Why? Your guess is as good as ours.

False teeth assault : Biting someone with false teeth can be classified as aggravated battery, since false teeth count as a weapon, which is reasonable.

Cursing curfew : A law likely leftover from a time when folks had more sensitive ears, it’s illegal to use obscene language while on the telephone in Sulphur.

No voodoo : Practicing voodoo within New Orleans city limits is a fineable offense, so try to keep any magic rituals to a minimum when visiting the city.

You may be surprised to learn that this quirky St. Paddy’s Day tradition is not Irish at all. Yep, you heard that right. Green beer is actually American. Rumor has it that the world’s first introduction to green beer happened in 1914.  In preparation for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner at the Schnerer Club in New York City, mastermind Dr. Thomas Hayes Curtin decided the best way to make his event more festive would be to make absolutely everything green – including the beer! But the physician’s secret ingredient was just as shocking to partygoers as the color of the beer – a laundry whitener called “Wash Blue.”

While many were concerned about the potential health risks of his concoction, Curtin assured them that because the solution was added to the beer in a small enough quantity, the blue dye it contained would successfully tint the beer green without causing his guests any illness. Ironically, “green beer” had previously been used to describe “young” beer that had not been fully fermented and could make consumers sick. Despite the addition of a potentially poisonous dye, Curtin’s guests were able to enjoy the festive drink completely unharmed. But what gave Curtin the inspiration to dye beer in the first place? There is reason to believe he may have received the idea from a mysterious article written in the Spokane Press circa March 17, 1910. The article divulged news of a bar on First Avenue in Spokane, Washington, that was serving green beer – though the bartender wouldn’t share how he made his concoction.

But why green? Green was not always the color associated with Ireland – let alone beer! In the 17^th century, the color became a symbol of unity for the Irish people in their struggle against oppressive English rule. It was particularly important as a distinguisher between Catholics and Protestants in the country, where Catholics were represented in green and Protestants in orange. Of course, today Ireland’s flag proudly flies with green and orange colors, a stripe of white between the two to symbolize peace. Every March 17th, Irish people around the world celebrate St. Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, for driving snakes off of the island – though this is really just an allegory for how he converted many Irish people to Christianity.