- Would you want to live in one of these odd burgs?
They say every small town has a strange secret. But in some towns, the strangeness is out there on full display.
Whether it’s due to the conditions of their founding, some event that happened over the years, or something completely different, certain cities, towns, and villages are wholly unique. There’s simply no other place like them.
Here’s a collection of some of the oddest towns and cities in the world. You know, in case you need some travel inspiration.
1. Langley, Washington — The Rabbit-infested City
On the surface, Langley on Whidbey Island seems like any other small U.S. city. Look closer, though, and you’ll notice the rabbits.
The hundreds and hundreds of rabbits.
A feral population of domestic rabbits has completely overrun Langley and its surrounding areas. The bunnies reportedly escaped from a 4H fair some decades back and have only multiplied since.
Locals are divided on the rabbits, to say the least. Others think they’re adorable and draw in tourists; others think they’re verminous pests that devour gardens and poop everywhere.
Soon, however, it seems nature might take care of Langley’s rabbit problem. A virus causing rabbit hemorrhagic disease has gotten a foothold in the city and is currently tearing through the bunny population.
2. Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy — The Dying City
The village of Civita di Banoregio (population: 11) is officially designated one of the most beautiful sites in all of Italy. It’s also teetering on the brink of destruction.
Civita di Bagnoregio is located on top of a high hill consisting of volcanic tuff. Some kind of settlement has existed at this site for more than 2,500 years — despite it being a precarious position, to say the least.
Erosion is constantly eating away at the hills’ soft, porous rock. Despite efforts to reinforce the surrounding cliffs, it’s likely the hill will eventually crumble away and take the town with it.
This isn’t the only environmental disaster in the village’s history. In the 18th century, an earthquake tore a deep ravine between Civita di Bagnoregio and the nearest largest town, cutting it off from the rest of the world. It took until the 1960s before a new access bridge was built.
3. Yanjing, China — World’s Narrowest City
Yanjing, located in southwestern China, is often called the narrowest city in the world. Although there’s no such official designation, it’s easy to believe the title should go to Yanjing.
The city is built in a deep mountain gorge, following the meanders of the Nanxi River. Yanjing spreads for a long distance along the river, but the steep cliffs prevent it from straying very far from the shore.
At its widest, Yanjing is roughly 1,000 feet wide, while at its narrowest, it shrinks to a mere 100 feet. The unique location of the city has made it a popular tourist destination.
4. Ganvie, Benin — The City on Stilts
The town of Ganvie in Benin often gets called the Venice of Africa. Like its Italian counterpart, this town is built entirely over the lagoons of Lake Nokoue, with all of its buildings standing on tall stilts.
Ganvie’s unique location is due to a historically persecuted people’s stroke of genius. Back in the day, the Fon people of the area were being constantly raided by the Aja, who tried to capture the Fon into slavery.
The Aja, however, considered Lake Nokoue sacred and wouldn’t engage in any violence around it. So, the Fon packed up, rowed out to the holy lake and built their town over its waves.
Raider problem solved.
5. Neft Daslari, Azerbaijan — The Oil Rig City
Neft Daslari, located 24 miles off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, is technically not a town. Instead, it’s the world’s first (and still operational) off-shore oil rig, built between 1952 and 1978.
However, the installation is so massive that it’s considered a city of its own. Comprising more than 120 miles of streets, Neft Daslari hosts a population of around 2,000 people.
The platform has everything its residents need, from grocery stores to mechanics shops and even bars and entertainment venues. You could live your entire life on the oil rig and never leave.
6. Longyearbyen, Norway — The Frozen Town with Bizarre Laws
Longyearbyen in the Svalbard Archipelago is the world’s northernmost settlement with a permanent population of 1,000 or more people. Due to its location deep in the Arctic, the town has some unique laws that aren’t found anywhere else in the world.
For instance, cats are banned to protect the vulnerable native fauna and the kitties themselves, as rabies is common in the region. Also, whenever locals venture outside, they are required by law to carry means of scaring away polar bears (the recommended tool being a rifle).
It’s also a commonly cited “fact” that dying is illegal in Longyearbyen. That’s a misconception, though — dying isn’t illegal but burials are, as corpses will never decompose in the permafrost-covered soil.
Also, they would attract more polar bears.
7. Miyakemura, Japan — The Toxic Town
Miyakemura is a town of roughly 2,500 people, located on the volcanic island Miyakejima. Why anyone decided to settle here is a good question, considering the entire island is hazardous to life.
Mount Oyama, sitting in the middle of Miyakejima, is an active volcano that has erupted 13 times over the past 900 years. And when it’s not erupting, it’s belching out sulfur dioxide and other poisonous gases.
The volcano has killed plenty of people and forced evacuations of the entire island (the last of which happened in 2000). There have been periods in Miyakemura’s history where every resident has been required to carry a gas mask at all times.
In recent years, however, Mount Oyama has been quiet and locals haven’t needed their masks. However, the mountain could burp out a toxic cloud at any moment.
8. Auroville, India — The Experimental Town of Peace
Do you want nothing more than peace, quiet, and love? Then you could consider moving to Auroville, an experimental Indian town aiming to be a model for peace on Earth.
The settlement was founded in 1968 based on the peaceful vision of Indian yogi and philosopher Sri Aurobindo. Any person of any nationality, faith, and so on is welcome to settle in Auroville.
All local matters are settled through general meetings that all residents can participate in, and money is not in general use in the town. The most striking local sight is the Matrimandir, a spherical golden temple in the center of the town.
Now, the original vision of peace on Earth hasn’t always been adhered to and Auroville has had its share of controversies. Nonetheless, nearly 3,000 people currently reside in the town, looking for peace and purpose.