It can fairly be said that the Middle East is a place of wonders and mysteries where you can certainly expect the unexpected.
Here is a top 5 list of the eeriest spots in the Middle East and neighboring countries:
1. The Door to Hell, Karakul Desert (Turkmenistan)
Almost surreal, the crater gives off a 'doorway to hell' vibe.
The hole was actually created by geologists 40 years ago and has yet to be covered up.
Even though the former president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, requested it be closed in 2010, it continues to attract tourists.
2. Madinah Magnetic Hill, Wadi e Jinn (Saudi Arabia)
Madinah Magnetic Hill, located in Wadi e Jinn, is a place where many go to test how objects roll uphill.
People set their vehicles on neutral and if brave enough, dismount the car to watch it get "dragged" uphill from the sidelines.
There are a few allegations around this occurrence. Some claim that it is created by the magnetic power of the surrounding mountains, while others say that it is an optical illusion - meaning that the road is actually going down while appearing as though it's going up.
The confusion could be caused by the surrounding area, in which there is no horizon to be used as a reference point.
3. Giant Geoglyphs (Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen)
The Giant Geoglyphs, also known as the “works of old men,” are a series of wheel-like designs with patterns. Some of the patterns are said to be at least 8,500 years old.
They were first spotted in 1927 by a pilot flying an airmail route over Jordan.
They are believed to be either linked to notions of ancient astronomy or to methods of burial.
4. Khatt Shebib (Jordan)
The wall was first reported to be seen in 1948 by a British Diplomat who spotted it from the window of his plane. It runs for 93 miles (150 kilometers) and remains an unanswered mystery to archaeologists.
Locals claim it was constructed by prince Amir Shebib el Tubba’i el Himyari of the Himyarite dynasty. Others suggest it was built even earlier and was only used by Prince Shebib.
Since the wall was put together by loose field stones, it has made it difficult for archaeologists to attempt to point out when and who constructed it.
5. The Desert’s River of Ice (Iraq)
In 2015, a video of a group of men by a river in Iraq went viral. Instead of pulling sand from what seemed like a sand river, two men are seen pulling out ice.
The flow of ice was the result of a huge hail storm that occurred sometime before the video was shot, yielding hail as large as the size of golf balls.