Amazing wild places around the world

Amazing wild places around the world are more than beautiful destinations. From mountains to forests, lakes to waterfalls and rocks, people have been making up stories that have captured the imagination behind the mysterious, powerful, witches, warriors, and magical beings. These locations range from the Scottish fjord of Loch Ness, the sacred mountain of Mount Kenya, to the legendary forest of Broceliande in France, bridging nature and culture, and ancient tales.

There are legends that have persisted for thousands of years and hundreds adding to the already amazing terrain. Find out how these extraordinary places and landscapes have become so memorable and the myths, beliefs and legends associated with them.

Legendary landscapes

Whether they are windswept, rocky islands or mist-laden falls; enchanted woodlands or holy mountains some of earth's most remarkable natural landscapes, though they provide spectacular sights for the eye, also hold deep inside curious legends and mysterious tales intricately woven together by the art of storytelling over time, and from these tales, societies and people emerge and are forged.

Kjos Fossen, Norway

The rushing white waters of Kjos Fossen waterfall cascading over dark, rugged rocks in Norway.

The Kjos Fossen, one of the most phenomenal stations of the breathtaking Norwegian Flam Railway, seems to turn into steam when tumbling over the blackened rock that embraces it.

Travelers stepping down to where it spills over, stretching legs, cannot quite believe their eyes when a supernatural dancing maiden in front of the fall comes into sight. She wears red and is a huldra – a being with similarities to a siren, luring man-things into the wood.

Loch Ness, Scotland, UK

It is most famously associated with mythical powers of any lake in the world - the opaque, cold depths of Scotland's Loch Ness have forever been a place attributed to a monstrous beast. Everybody knows the creature that inhabits Loch Ness is the monster ('Nessie'), the appearance of the creature being like that of a dinosaur. It's widely thought Nessie has a long neck, or in the likeness of a brontosaurus, with a hunched back and is a dinosaur, as has been proved true.

Descriptions of these supposed creatures have been attributed to this mysterious land for over one thousand five hundred years now, even though none of these so far have had scientific proof yet, up until November 2003 the Scottish monster of Nessie had approximately over a thousand and one hundred possible sightings.

Harz National Park, Germany

Once a year, on Walpurgisnacht (30 April), a coven of witches traditionally meets on top of the Brocken, which is the highest peak in Germany's Harz Mountains. Stories of witches and their merrymaking, particularly around this time, deeply root into Saxon folklore so that a hiking trail now exists to facilitate them.

The Harz Witches' Trail is six miles (100 km) long and winds its way through the ghostly domain of eerie, black forests; deep, echoing valleys and mists clinging to mountains and old market towns.

Knock area, Ireland

This fearsome warrior queen of Connaught was known as Medb (Maeve to the English). Medb waged two bloody battles against the Ulaid, actively participating in them while warrior goddesses from other cultures often used magic to join in. Although she ruled from Rath Croghan in Co.

Roscommon, she is much more readily associated with Sligo. She is reputed to lie on Knock area, a limestone hill, buried upright and armed with a spear under a cairn, facing the direction of the Ulaid, forever ready for a fight.

Takachiho, Japan

In the heart of Kyushu Island, lost within a green wonderland sliced up by shaded paths and vast ravines lies one of Japan's most sacred spots. Deep within a cave, located near Takachiho in northern Miyazaki is the shrine of Ama-No-Iwato-Jinja dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu who hid here from her sibling, the storm god Susanoo, leaving her fellow gods without their bright light.

Other gods eventually persuaded her out after they placed a mirror in the entrance to the cave, which she believed was another of herself and could not resist going out to see what made the world so bright.

Mount Kenya

For many tribes in Kenya-such as the Maasai, Kikuyu and Embu-the most sacred place is Mount Kenya. A dormant strato-volcano, its summit is also the second highest peak in Africa.

Its many spiritual beliefs and myths play an integral role in the communities that inhabit the lower reaches of the mountain and it is where the paramount god, Ngai is said to have placed the first man and women on Kirinyaga (Mount Kenya, as referred to by the Kikuyu). Ngai observed from his position on Kirinyaga as Kenyan history's first offspring were brought into the world.

Devils Tower, Wyoming, USA

Aliens to modern people, myths and whispers also surround this strange rocky monolith that presides over the Black Hills. However, the local Native American tribes have worshipped this rock formation for generations. Each tribe has its own belief as to how the Devils Tower formed, though the Sioux version tells how it lifted from below the earth to save two boys from a Great Bear, which left its mark on the face of it claws and all.

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The towering geometric rock formation of Devils Tower rising sharply against the Wyoming sky above the Black Hills.

Broceliande Forest, France

The ancient woodlands of Broceliande Forest, now called Paimpont Forest, hold the reputation as the resting place of Merlin, the magician and most loved of King Arthur. Beside Merlin's reportedly burial site, within this mix of old deciduous and conifers lies Morgan le Fay's malevolent Valley of No Return where adulterous lovers are apparently locked up.

This forest intertwines with tales of magic; the ancient trees characterize themselves by their twisted oak forms, with fairy pools and supposedly magical springs existing in situ.

FAQs

1. What are legendary landscapes?

Legendary landscapes are natural places associated with myths, folklore, religious stories, mysterious creatures, or ancient cultural traditions.

2. Which wild place is famous for the Loch Ness Monster?

Loch Ness in Scotland is famous for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, commonly known as Nessie.

3. What is the legend behind Kjos Fossen?

Kjos Fossen in Norway is associated with the huldra, a supernatural female being from Scandinavian folklore said to lure people into the forest.

4. Why is Mount Kenya considered sacred?

Mount Kenya holds deep spiritual importance for several Kenyan communities, including the Kikuyu, Maasai, and Embu, and is connected with traditional beliefs about the god Ngai.