ardent

Alacritis Is Expanding!



Ardent

Administrator

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Pup
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12-27-2013, 03:56 PM (This post was last modified: 01-09-2014, 05:19 PM by Deteste.)


LAND CONTEST



Hello Alacritians! We're expanding our lands to even out their numbers and make room for any new packs that may move in now that pack creation has been opened. We need lands for every territory but mostly for the North, West and the Islands. The slots available will be listed below.




For every territory that we use from you, you will be awarded 20 gems.




SLOTS AVAILABLE



NORTH: 5 Slots

EAST: 2 Slots

SOUTH: 2 Slots

WEST: 8 Slots

ISLANDS: 3 Slots





Malia


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12-27-2013, 04:15 PM
FunFunFun!!!!!

Viva Copse, West
Viva Copse is a small group of trees located on the western side of Alacritis. The trees in the area are close together, making it a small and compact space, but not quite a thicket. There is little sunlight since the tress don't let much in, but it is still fairly easy to navigate. The limbs of spare branches often make it appear as if there are shadowed figures lurking your every move.

Foxglove Falls, East
The first waterfall is somewhere around 50 feet high. Below, a wolf could see a shimmering pool of cerulean water, clear enough to see the fish swimming in the depths. Any wolf could see the bottom and begin to doubt its depth. Further inspection would show that the pool opened into another, much smaller waterfall, roughly ten feet tall. Surrounding the pools were trees of all sizes with brightly colored flowers and rocks that glistened in the moonlight with the moisture from the falls. Surrounding the magnificent falls are several foxglove plants. These purple flowers grow in abundance because of the average temperature and climate of the area.



Ardhel


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12-27-2013, 04:48 PM
Title: The northern mines
Description: The northen mines are an abandoned mine system, left by humans long ago. The mines are reasonably stable, but are collapsed in some areas. It is easy to get lost as they span for miles. You can find various bunkers, containing things left behind by the miners that used to work there, helmets, torches, long extinguished fires. But if you do go in too far, there is no food, water or heat. So it is a dangerous place to go lost in.

Sorry for the weakness of it, my brain has gone to sleep and this is pretty much the best I can come up with :(



Syren


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12-27-2013, 06:23 PM
Alabastrine shrine

Time seems to be a thing of the past in the shrine. The trees are draped in ivory vines and their barks are as white as bones. It?s as if all life has been sucked out from their barks. Treading Deeper into the heart of the shrine is a circle of stones etched with runes and in the middle is a glowing spring. Its waters seem to capture the mind. If glanced into the waters creatures swear they see their past memories. The fish that swim deep in its waters strike the algae that give it its unique glow but it seemed magical. It is said that sometimes, when the moon as full and the world grows quite that the spirits of the past may come and speak to the living on the other side of the pound.



�ir Geal

Loner

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12-27-2013, 06:34 PM
Gale Gorge, North
This valley is quite mysterious, seemingly caused by a massive, prehistoric meteorite which crashrd into the earth. It is simply, a large crater-like gorge in the middle of a dense pine forest. The valley is very round and deep, and giving it's location, on the side of a maountain, large gust's of wind which seem to get caught in the bowl. These wind conditions make it hard for anything to live here, but over time small spruce and low undergrowth have dtarted to grow, very hardy plants. Aswell as this greenery, some very rare herbs can be found here if you look close enough.



Satu

Loner

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6 Years
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12-27-2013, 07:08 PM (This post was last modified: 12-27-2013, 08:54 PM by Satu.)
WEST

Druid's Moor

This is a land seemingly eternally wreathed in mists. Soft grey-green heather blends into the fog, the only colour the bright eye catching herbs, rare outside this land, that thrive in the few areas where the sun has driven away the fog. Deep in the mists, Druid's Moor hides a secret: an ancient circle of stones whose origins are lost to time. Mystical and mysterious, Druid's Moor is a haven for all wolves seeking peace and solemn solitude.

Dead Forest: (because it rhymes with red forest!)

Once this land was a massive redwood forest stretching nearly to the northern Red Forest. Now what is left of it skirts the edge of a desert. A petrified forest, every remaining tree turned to stone long ago. Many of the towering monoliths have tumbled, but others still stand, their ghostly branches a testament to the ravages of time. Many find the oppressive silence eerie...


North

Jotunheim Ridgeway

Far in the north a sharp rise in the earth marks the ridge known as Jotunheim. Though dangerous in it's own way, with bitterly cold temperatures and sudden snowstorms, it is the safest and therefore most common path past the treacherous glacial valley below it. Stay on the relatively flat, well-beaten path and you should make it unscathed to the other side. Wander to far from it, and you may find yourself broken on the razor sharp ice far below.



Hajime


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12-27-2013, 08:00 PM
Jules pool
Seemingly a endless void of water in the middle of the western lands of ala. The pool is surrounded by dik diks that come to take a look at the strange lands. It is best not to take a swim in them the various outside terrain though gives perfect cover for small mammals. During the night hours the pool gives of a faint neon glow because of the creatures that lurk underneath.



Aranya


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12-28-2013, 09:56 PM
Oh, count me in! But as for Lu's Companion Contest, I don't really need a companion right now. If I by any chance happen to win it, please pass it along to the next person! (:

The God's Garden: (South)
Stone foundations and rotting wooden poles strew the ground, clustering in a cleared field. The thicket of the woods encroaches year by year, but for now the clearing remains choked with herbs of all sorts. Once cultivated and grown in neat clusters, they now spread wild, and many otherwise rare plants grow in abundance.

The Barrows: (East)
Low, rolling hills crisscross the horizon, in unnatural shapes. The smell of death and decay is always faint on the air, though the land is plentiful and lush. Seen from above, they swirl into shapes of birds, serpents, and two leg objects. If you are lucky and vigilant, you can sometimes find old relics that have worked their way up through the soil.

Redwater Rocks: (West)
Ironically, there is very little water to be found in this place. The land, all barren sandstone, seems to ripple as if it is the surface of a giant wave. It is colored and layered in every shade of red, brown, tan, and white, as if painted by the hands of the gods. The wind and rain has scoured the surfaces smooth, carving out canyons and gulleys and caverns. Where the rock is not rolling, it stands as tall monoliths, with the occasional large stone balanced precariously on columns of harder rock.

The Marble Wash: (North)
This ancient riverbed is like few others. Nestled at the bottom of a verdant valley, the age-old river, now dried and gone, spent centuries wearing at the earth. By happenstance, it eroded along a long vein of white, gray, and gold marble. The rock of this landscape gleams a pristine white, as milky as bone. It colors steep cliffs and smooth, shining boulders at the base of the valley, and occasional spurts shooting up from the dirt. In bright light, or late dusk, the stones gleam and give off an otherworldly glow.

The Orchard: (South)
What may once have been a neat, orderly stand of fruit trees, is now an overgrown, rundown grove of apples, pears, peaches, and plums. In the spring time the land is filled with a sweet, heady sccent and the buzzing of insects. In fall it is overrun with prey animals trying to get their fill. Pups might enjoy a sweet taste of fruit every now and then, and the blossoms make for a serene area to spend the day with a mate or loved one.

Wild Grape Woods: (North)
Ancient oaks, walnuts, and beech trees dominate this grove, and blot out almost all of the sunlight. Their thick trunks are rivaled only by the redwoods. From the heights drop thick vines of Wild Grape, some nearly as wide as a wolf's torso. It is a maze of twisting, curling fauna. No undergrowth mars the silky, sandy soil, save for the most hardy. When the grapes are at their ripest, in late fall, the wood bursts to life with the sound of birdsong.

Shimmer Sand Creek: (East)
Flecks of mica dot the substrate of this waterway, bringing the small, bubbling creek alive with glittering light. Large, smooth, moss covered boulders border the causeway, and oaks and maples make silent sentinels in the surrounding woods. The occasional fallen tree makes a peaceful perch over the water: an excellent place to meditate or relax. The water is so clear you can see down to the rocks below, no matter the depth.

The Everforest: (West)
An ancient volcanic eruption buried these trees in ash. Over time the organic matter decomposed, and was filled with firmer, sturdier stone. Over time, as the rain and wind worked the land, only the fossil trees were left standing. At most they seem to be only queer pillars of rock, but occasionally one has retained branches or hollows, betraying their true nature. The land is rocky, with little plant growth, and lends visitor's an eery, unnatural feeling.

Ghost Swamp: (North)
This murky, dank bog is a treacherous place indeed. It is shrouded in constant fog, and the sphagnum moss and peat sinks could easily swallow the unwitting. It is most certainly haunted, though by what is unknown. At night, those lost among it's depths might see lights flickering from within, and be led astray. Eerie calls, moans, and howls whistle through tree branches, which are always bare, no matter the season. This is a good place for dark deeds.

The Berry Patch: (South/East)
This small grove is the perfect play place for pups, or just for a relaxing day. The sunny meadow is surrounded on all sides by trees, and meadow grass fills its center along with a plethora of fruit bearing shrugs. Elderberries, blueberries, cloudberries, strawberries; No one is certain how the seeds all got to this piece of land, but it is a popular location for wolves, birds... and bears.

Fossil Ridge: (West)
An earthquake struck this rolling plain long ago, and as consequence the sides of several hills and ridges fell away. No one could have expected the mysterious it would expose. Buried in the black soil and rock are large, ancient bones of all sorts. Skulls, femurs, fangs, vertebrae. A curious wolf might spend hours studying and excavating this area.

The Runestones: (North)
The fact that these standing stones are certainly man made does not make them any less fascinating. Whether it be a naturally lain boulder or a carved, chiseled pillar, all the stones in this mossy clearing have been inscribed with strange runes. X's, arrows, spikes, forks, spires, all unknown and unreadable, yet beautiful. The stones are made of granite, and glimmer in the moonlight.

Heron Lake: (South)
This small lake is a prime migration stop for many aquatic birds, and dozens of species can be found here at any given time. The most prominent of these are the Great Blue Herons, which can be found in the hundreds during the spring time. The water is clean, with a bounty of fish in it's water, and a bounty of eggs and birds ripe for the hunting on it's shores.

Lily Pad Lagoon: (East)
This lagoon is a set of tranquil cascades and pools. Stones smoothed by years of flow cover it's banks and bottoms. The water is crystal clear and mountain spring fed. Cattails border off pools, offering a certain sense of privacy, and Lily Pads float gently, hosting flowers and frogs. The buzzing of dragonflies, croaking of frogs, preeing of salamanders, rustling of leaves, and gurgling of water make a symphony so sweet, its equal cannot be found anywhere else.

Iron Peak: (North)
This mountain top is cold and forbidding, and dark as night. Starting from halfway up it's length, veins of iron grow in number, coming together in a solid metal cap at it's top. During the summer months, when the snow retreats, this black mountain stands out in stark comparison against it's gray brothers. Plant life is scant in the metallic soil, where soil even exists. Little warmth is born or held in the ground, and even in summer the air here holds a chill.



Zafira


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12-28-2013, 10:59 PM (This post was last modified: 01-03-2014, 01:46 PM by Zafira.)
The Dark Forest (because without one up north where will Zafira live?)

Shadows have claimed this land, as the name of it so clearly states. A vast array of trees rules this place; from redwoods to evergreens to birch to maple, all growing to immense heights, their canopies blocking out the sun and the moon above, therefore nothing grows on the forest floor, which is covered in dead and decaying foliage which has fallen from the massive trees. Not many dare to enter here, because the creatures that do reside here are known to attack, due to the hunger caused by the absence of prey. With no shrubs, ungulates do not come here, nor rodents, so nothing can eat. However, it is a haven for creatures that climb, the treetops diverse with life that chatters away; which sounds almost menacing from the ground far below.

Avian Estuary (West)

A marshy wetland is home to a nesting ground for birds of all kinds. Herons, storks, ducks, swans, and in the trees surrounding many songbirds feed their young with the insect larvae that spawn in the spring. Frogs are also abundant, their tadpoles becoming dinner for many young birds. In the centre of it all, there is an island with a single willow tree in the middle, big enough for a few wolves to gather for a meeting; or simply a place for young lovers to escape and be alone together wrapped in the songs of thousands of birds.

Firefly Lake (East)

It looks quite a bit like every other lake, surrounded by cattails and reeds in some places, so thick with the plants that it's hard to get through them, other places are soft sandy beaches, and in others water smoothed pebbles make up the shore. However, when night falls, the fireflies come out from their hiding places and swarm over the surface of the lake and all over the grassy fields around it. It appears the stars have fallen from the sky and are floating about the land as far as the eyes can see.

Scaled Island (Islands)

The island is completely barren, it is mostly rocks and the occasional stunted, gnarled tree strong enough to poke up from the volcanic soils below. It is home to a variety of reptilian life, large lizards, snakes, and there is even a muddy crocodile pit in the centre of the island's small archipelago where about seven large saltwater crocodiles eat the fish they can get to in the ocean. Altogether, it is not a place for the faint of heart.



Isabella


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12-29-2013, 12:57 PM
Crown of the Gods, North

High up the mountain where the air is thin there is a cave that is easy to miss. The entrance is just a sliver in the mountain that takes a bit of moving to get though. Though the entrance is tight, once in the cavern wideness and is comfortable even for the largest wolf. Going deeper in visitors will find themselves standing before quarts crystals cross crossing the cave. Here and there the walls of the cave are broken letting in light that makes the crystals seem to glow. The ground is far below but that does not matter as the crystals are large enough to walk on should a wolf be brave enough to make the journey. On the other side of the cavern is a dome like room that has crystals of various colors all along the wall. A great spot for a couple or a wolf seeking beauty in the cold north.



Vyvienne


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12-29-2013, 07:19 PM (This post was last modified: 12-29-2013, 07:26 PM by Vyvienne.)
Mummer's Mausoleum, North
Nobody expects the crack in the ice, often concealed by snow. Depending upon the season, an unfortunate soul can either impale themselves upon ice or land on hard ground. Depending on the year, a wolf might even get lucky enough to land upon powdered snow. Inside the hidden cave itself are frozen bodies of wolves, captured by the ice long ago. Grins and grimaces alike decorate their faces, and they exist in varying states of decay, depending upon the melting of the ice. The only way out is through a long, frightening tunnel. Most give up, and thus many a skeleton can be located in the thin halls of the mausoleum.

The Phantom's Throne, South
Dripping water and darkness fills this cavern system, with the unsettling sound of rushing water in the background. In the center is a large, white rock formation resembling a chair. They stalactites and stalagmites have been known to break off, proving occasionally lethal. Small rats and beetles scurry around, although certainly not enough to sustain very much life at all. It is pretty to look at, however, if you can manage to adjust your eyes to the darkness.

Ambrosian Wastelands, South
There is nothing more unsettling that the hollow emptiness of the Wastelands, where one's only company are the winds and the occasional cactus. A desert famed for being particularly dry and lifeless, illusions often come to the minds of those who cannot find their ways out, tricking the innocent wanderers into believing they are in a tropical paradise. The massive dunes contain little heat at night, when the temperature cools off to hypothermic levels.



Erebos


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01-02-2014, 10:49 PM
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Cairo


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01-03-2014, 11:09 AM
The Grapevine - north

found in the lower part of the northern regions of Alacritis a beautiful, large, and particularly diverse spanse of garden variety grapes grow on what is nothing short of a field of grape vines. Coiling around anything and everything some vines hve grown on others and some of them have made their wy to trees and begun to grow upwards instead of outwards. It's beautiful haven where prey is bound to be plentiful given the high amounts of nutrients available.

Rockwell Geiser - North

An exactitude of its name the Rockwell Geiser is a massive pile of rocks that have solidified together and have formed the perfect spout for a massive geiser that spans about fifty feet in radius. It's a massive death trap and it's particulary dreadful, yet it retains a charming beauty. From a distence. It is to be noted, however. that the Geiser only puts out any kind of dangerous heat during the winter. Any other time it would appear to be a hole in the ground.



Song

Loner

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KatG2
01-03-2014, 11:33 AM
Ice-Bound Forest- A forest of untold age, ancient trees weave themselves together to form an almost impenetrable wall. If you are able to infiltrate the border it is best to keep yourself within sight of daylight, the gnarled trunks block out most of the sun. It's easy to loose oneself in the deep almost unending maze of tree, it's unknown if the mass is but one tree or hundreds. The oddest part? The whole forest seems to be growing from a sheet of ice.
North

Whisperer's Gorge-
There used to be a river that ran through the smooth formation of rock, but it sank deep into the earth. What's left is a labyrinth of caves and passageways. Large and small rooms alike can be found, as well as hidden treasures. Some places you can easily see the surface light, but if you go further there's something else that will glow.
West

Glacier's Heart-
Bright blue ice surrounds the dark hole that leads deep under the glacier. A small stream runs out of the entrance, it's cold water incredibly refreshing. The further laying cave was created totally by ice, choose your steps wisely. Beware the ever changing inner sanctum.
North



Loccian

Loner

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01-09-2014, 05:00 PM
Tar Pits (we have a quicksand area, why not tar pits)
- A geological occurrence where subterranean bitumen leaks to the surface, creating a large area of natural asphalt, smaller pools of such a substance surrounding the main one. Animals are usually unable to escape from the asphalt when they fall in, making these pits excellent locations to scavenge, but be wary, one wrong step and your done for. The area generally smells of death and fear, most predators masking their scent, waiting from their prey to make a mistake. One should be very careful when passing through.



Jaeger

Loner

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5 Years
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Male
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130
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Medium
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01-09-2014, 05:25 PM
traveler's lake
a dry lake bed that is surprisingly flat, with only a four centimeter height differential between the north and south ends. when the heavy desert rains come, water pours onto the lake bed, forming a very shallow lake. due to the hot temperatures of the region, the water evaporates, leaving behind a layer of soft, very slick mud. there is a theory that high winds move the rocks at this time, the thin layer of mud acting as a lubricated surface. however, the fact that some stones move and others do not, or that some will simply change direction... makes the wind theory slightly suspect.

!! jae wears a full deer carcass (excluding legs) draped over himself



Gossamir

Loner

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01-09-2014, 05:58 PM
Arcadian Canyon (west)

Carved by an ancient glacial river the Arcadian canyon bears an unusual shape due to the dramatic bend in it's center. Numerous caves and crevices pock the canyon walls making for excellent densites if patrons aren't to afraid of the steep incline. The walls of the canyon are a mix of various colored rock from warm greys to russet tones to the occasional band of cream hued stone. Affected by the rainshadow of Alacrits' mountain ranges, the weather here is fairly dry and arid. However, remnants of that ancient river still flow through the canyon providing a source of water for it's visitors.

Northern Badlands (north)

Dry and cold the fragile soil of this area has been brutally worn away by wind, snow, ice and water into an abstract labyrinth. The mounded forms of weathered rock bear steep slopes and minimal vegetation making it a poor place to live but an excellent hideout. The Northern Badlands are unique in their deep blackish-blue coloring that comes from the heavy deposits of coal stria. This unique color gives rise to many a superstition and the lack of wild life adds to the eerie silence.

Cerulean Rainforest (west)

Like most temperate rainforest the Cerulean Rainforest receives most of it's precipitation in the winter when the weather is slightly cooler. Near the ocean, the forest also receives moisture from this large body of water, generally in the form of fog that rolls into the forest in the morning and dissipates by noon. Bordered on all sides by steep sided valley's, the Cerulean Rainforest sits below sea level and acts almost as a rain catcher leading to it's unique climate.

Bellicose Mountains (north)

Towering and jagged the Bellicose Mountains lie just south of the tundra in the norther part of Alacritis. Rocky and cold these mountains aren't the tallest but they do feature many crevices and steep inclines that can trip up or kill unwary travelers. Ancient coniferous trees rise high around the base of this range but they quickly shrink in size leaving the tops of these mountains bare of vegetation. However, while vegetation is scant these mountains still provide a home for high altitude creatures such as mountain goat and pika.



Isardis

Loner

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01-09-2014, 07:16 PM
The Polar Sound, North
A fjord in the south-east reaches of Alacritis' North, The Polar Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Sea, and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise to 1000 metres or more on either side. The Sound sports two permanent waterfalls, however after heavy rain many dozens of temporary falls can be seen running down the steep faces of slate that line the fjord. They are fed by the rain-drenched moss that litters the scape in abundance, and will last a few days at most once the down-pour ceases. Accumulated rainwater has been known to cause portions of the wintry forests above to lose their hold against the slopes, resulting in tree avalanches deep into The Sound. The slopes are virtually unclimable, and it is from within the canyon that wolves gain entrance. Protected beneath the slopes of stone, winter-loving moss will cling to the waters edge, growing a shallow abundance of greenery a midst the salt hydration. Seals and Penguins are frequent vistors to The Sound, and seem to appreciate the shelter of it's impressive, and visually appealing confines as much as the wolves.



Maverick


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01-09-2014, 07:32 PM


North

Mile-High Woods

Upon reaching the mile high woods, one would first notice the gnarled trees above them touching the sky like a blanket. Though the ground below is nothing special, a creature of almost any size can quickly scale the trees, which lean on each other like ladders, in order to climb toward the sky. Once among the branches of these tall and sturdy oaks it is easy to find birds, squirrels, and other treedwelling prey to feed upon. Likewise, the trees offer many sturdy limbs to rest in if you aren't afraid of falling.



West

Sky's Stairway

Breaking away from the rather flat terrain of the desert, Sky's Stairway is a grand conglomeration of cliffs that rise high into the sky. Each cliff is a few feet higher than the one before it, leading almost into the low-lying clouds. When one reaches the highest cliff the air is thinner and cooler. The steps just below the top are moist with constant dew, and therefore ripe for vegetation. Prey is not particularly present here, but the occasional reptile can be found.



Will add more if I think of some.





Sephiroth


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01-09-2014, 11:22 PM
Mother Nature is an evil bitch that wants us dead. We know this, we accept it, we try to burn one plant a day as petty revenge against her for it and we move on with our lives. But sometimes her traps are so unsubtle, so obviously, blatantly designed to do nothing but murder human beings, (And wolves) in the most awful ways possible that we can't help but stand and applaud her sheer balls. In that spirit, here are five of Mother Nature's more vicious bear traps:

because Ala could use more mysteriously dangerous places

1. The Boiling Lake: East
The Boiling Lake in Dominica is remotely located, 200 feet deep and straight-up boiling, 24/7. No, it's not "kind of warm" and "really bubbly, so it looks like it's boiling," like a natural hot spring. If you take a therapeutic dip in the Boiling Lake, you'll come out poached. The water temperature at the edge of the Boiling Lake sits at 197 degrees Fahrenheit on average. That's on the shore; no measurements at all have been taken at the center, where the water is perpetually roiling. the rocks are slippery at the lake's edge, so you should exercise extreme caution while visiting.
Image of the land: Boiling Lake


2. Tsingy de Bemaraha: West
Tsingy is a 250-square-mile tiger trap made up of massive limestone obelisks riddled with jagged spears. And yes, they will cut your pretty face. And no, they won't not cut your pretty face, no matter how much you cooperate. Tsingy is so impassable and uncharted, in fact, that every time someone goes in to try and explore, new species of animals are always found. which means you can probably find a dinosaur living somewhere in its depths. The structures of Singy really are razor sharp. "Tsingy" is actually the Malagasy word for "Where you cannot walk barefoot." One would have to proceed with Extreme caution if you so choose to enter these lands.
Image of the land: Tsingy 1, Tsingy 2, Tsingy 3, Tsingy 4

3. The Afar Triangle: West or South
The Afar Triangle has been possibly the most unstable area on the planet, with huge, gaping cracks splitting open at seemingly complete random. But if you fall in, it's not just the drop that will kill you: The cracks are not only frighteningly deep and dark, but also fire out blasts of superheated air (around 750 degrees Fahrenheit). The sound of bubbling magma can be heard from the depths of some cracks, and plumes of sulfurous gas erupt from others. If the Tsingy park is Mother Nature's tiger trap, the Afar Triangle is its Bond-villain-esque trapdoor of doom. So if you ever find yourself having to visit the Afar Triangle, just make sure that you're the absolute best at whatever you're doing. The Afar Triangle does not tolerate ...disappointment.
Image of the land: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

4. The Corryvreckan Maelstrom: Islands
We know that whirlpools are a thing. But we tend to think that, in the real world, they're either relatively small-scale phenomena or, at worst, a temporary hazard -- something caused by a shift in tides, or a sinking mass -- that'll eventually just go away on its own. However, that rule does not apply to the Corryvreckan Maelstrom...Earth it seems, decided to throw in just another thing to try and eat things whole. It's a massive, eternal whirlpool off the coast of Scotland. The vortex is caused by a dramatic underwater pinnacle that rises to within about 100 feet of the ocean's surface, and it's directly adjacent to a large depression. Complex tidal forces and the unique geological formation combine to create an incredibly powerful, perpetually spinning whirlpool of death. This maelstrom has a depth of over 650 feet deep, and if ANYTHING happens to swim near it, it is impossible to get out of. The maelstrom can produce standing waves of over 15 feet high, and contains incredible force. Use caution when swimming within a certain radius.
Image of the land: Maelstrom 1, Maelstrom 2

5. The Bolton Strid: West, East, or Island
This is the Bolton Strid, and we have to admit, it's a pretty innocuous-looking thing to be on a list of nature's most dangerous booby traps. It appears to be no more than a quaint country brook. The Strid is a section of the river that is much deeper than it is wide. The river before the Strid, perhaps sixty feet wide and six feet deep, is abruptly turned on its side and funnelled through a long rocky channel, maybe six to eight feet wide and nobody-knows-how-deep.Failure to jump the Strid is inevitably fatal and no one who has fallen into the tumultuous gorge was ever known to survive. There's a powerful undercurrent sweeping down into the vast, unseen caverns and massive underwater pockets that hold all of the rest of the river's water. Though if there happens to be a bout of particularly dry weather, the waterline does start to drop, and you can just see the tops of the giant formations below. It's relatively common for people to assume they can jump the creek, walk across its stones or even wade through it (again, just looking at it, the Strid really seems to be only knee-deep in places, and certainly not the instant, precipitous drop into a watery grave that it is). Most of the time, they never even find the body. Which means there are just dozens of corpses down there, pinned to the walls of the underground chasms, waiting for you to join them ...

It's exactly how water works in a video game: It looks all stupid and harmless, but the second your foot touches the surface, you get some bullshit drowning animation and die instantly.

Image of land: Strid 1, Strid 2, Strid 3, Strid 4