What NOT to Do When You See This

Bright Side

When you're out at the beach or exploring nature, keep an eye out for some dangerous things. Jellyfish might look cool, but their stings can be really painful, so steer clear. Watch out for poison ivy or oak – touching these plants can give you an itchy rash. Venomous snakes like rattlesnakes can be found in some areas, so if you see one, back away slowly. And remember, some animals, like bears or wild boars, can be aggressive if startled, so it's best to keep your distance and move away calmly.  Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV   Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en   Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

00:00:00Are you a pro swimmer? Brave enough to take a dip in any ocean or sea?

00:00:06Bad news. There are some places you should avoid no matter how well you swim or dive.

00:00:11Some of these places have dangerous underwater rocks, strong currents and tides.

00:00:16Others are famous for legends about monsters and mysterious creatures.

00:00:20So let's dive into this aquatic horror show.

00:00:24Have you ever heard the word, the strid?

00:00:26It's a variation of the word, the stride, that is used in Yorkshire.

00:00:30And it refers to a narrow section of the river wharf that's so small you could jump over it.

00:00:35But don't be fooled by its size. It's one of the most dangerous spots around.

00:00:40Even taking a step into the water can have dire consequences.

00:00:43The river wharf has a forceful current.

00:00:46And since the strid is so narrow, it's even stronger in that area.

00:00:50The intense water flow has eroded the limestone around the strid,

00:00:54which created hollow spaces much deeper than the rest of the riverbed.

00:00:59Here's the secret. The current has also weakened the banks of the strid from below.

00:01:04So, the ground you're standing on, admiring the rapid flow,

00:01:08is probably just a fragile ledge hanging over treacherous waters.

00:01:12There's no record of anyone who found themselves in the water of the strid and found their way out of it.

00:01:18And the worst part? You wouldn't even guess that this innocent-looking stream could be such a danger.

00:01:24So, my advice to you, my friend, is to stick to a safer body of water for your aquatic adventures.

00:01:32If you're looking for a weekend getaway in California, Horseshoe Lake is the spot for you.

00:01:36It's got everything. Sandy beaches, hiking trails, and picnic areas.

00:01:40But, wait, there's more to it than meets the eye.

00:01:44This lake has a dark side, namely around 100 acres of dead trees that surround it.

00:01:48And it's not just the trees that have been claimed by this lake.

00:01:52The earthquakes that hit in 1989 and 1990 unleashed carbon dioxide from under the hot magma.

00:01:58The gas seeped out into the air, damaging all the life around the lake.

00:02:04Even now, Horseshoe Lake is just as dangerous as it was 30 years ago.

00:02:08What makes it so scary is that the levels of this toxic gas change randomly.

00:02:14Warning signs that are posted everywhere certainly could give a horror film touch to a fun hike in the woods.

00:02:23In Kauai, Hawaii, there's a group of stunning waterfalls that used to be a popular destination for tourists.

00:02:29Kipu Falls, as they're called, were once the go-to spot for swimming and diving.

00:02:34To get to them, you had to take a long walk along a dirt path until you finally arrived at a breathtaking view of a 20-foot waterfall

00:02:42pouring into a crystal-clear pool below.

00:02:46But since 2011, this area has been off-limits to the public.

00:02:51Why, you ask?

00:02:53Well, there have been a lot of accidents at Kipu Falls.

00:02:56Obviously, jumping off the top of the waterfall would be an obvious reason for that.

00:03:00But in addition, there were much more mysterious cases.

00:03:05Witnesses tell tales of swimmers peacefully enjoying the pool at the bottom of the falls,

00:03:10only to be suddenly dragged under the surface.

00:03:13No definite explanation was found to these accidents.

00:03:17The locals believe that the water spirit Mo'o is to blame because it doesn't appreciate being disturbed by loud tourists.

00:03:24There's also a theory of a powerful whirlpool at the bottom of the pool.

00:03:28In any case, guide publishers do not mention Kipu Falls anymore, and trespassing is severely punished.

00:03:36The Samisen Hole, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is the ultimate spot for thrill-seeking divers, but it's also the most dangerous one.

00:03:46With a drop of 280 feet, it's the deepest diving site in the region.

00:03:51But its depth is not the only reason it is considered a place to avoid.

00:03:56The area is a major shipping zone for giant oil tankers.

00:04:00The strong currents around the hole make diving even more treacherous.

00:04:04And if that's not enough, the Samisen Hole is also home to deadly barracudas that could easily attack unsuspecting divers.

00:04:12The water is so murky that visibility is nearly zero, making it challenging to spot these aggressive sea creatures.

00:04:20All in all, the Samisen Hole is a breathtaking but extremely hazardous spot that should only be explored by experienced divers with nerves of steel.

00:04:29Let me tell you about New Smyrna Beach, the shark attack capital of the world.

00:04:35If you're looking for a relaxing vacation spot in Volusia County, Florida, you may want to reconsider this beach.

00:04:43The waters around New Smyrna Beach are teeming with fish, which attracts a lot of sharks.

00:04:49In fact, there have been so many shark attacks reported in this area that it's earned the title of the shark attack capital of the world.

00:04:58Even scientists have warned that if you go for a swim there, you're bound to get up close and personal with at least one of these creatures.

00:05:06We are talking about a distance of 10 feet, and in many cases you wouldn't even notice it.

00:05:10To make matters worse, the bull shark, one of the most dangerous and aggressive types of sharks, has been spotted in these waters.

00:05:20Once again, Kauai is on our list.

00:05:23The beach on Nepali coast called Hanakapiai Beach might look like heaven on earth, but don't be fooled.

00:05:30To get there, you have to trek through a super steep rocky two-mile trail.

00:05:36There are no lifeguards on this remote beach, so even if you decide to take a dip in the water, you're on your own.

00:05:44The biggest threat to your safety is the incredibly strong rip currents.

00:05:49They are almost always present because there are no reefs to shield the shore.

00:05:53And if someone gets caught in one, there's no safe place to swim to for miles.

00:05:58The nearest safe beach is six miles away.

00:06:01Trust me, this beach doesn't have the best track record in terms of safety, so it's highly advised that you stay out of the water if you end up at this beach.

00:06:12Let me tell you about a place that looks like it's straight out of a horror movie.

00:06:16We're talking about Berkeley Pit, which is an artificial lake situated in Butte, Montana.

00:06:23The first thing you'll notice about this place is that it has an eerie blood-red color that can only be described as unsettling.

00:06:31You might be tempted to take a dip, but that would be a grave mistake.

00:06:35Don't even touch it.

00:06:37The water is extremely dangerous due to the heavy metals present in it, such as cadmium, arsenic, zinc, lead, and copper.

00:06:46They come from the rocks that surround the lake and make the water super acidic.

00:06:51In fact, this place used to be an open-pit copper mine, hence its color.

00:06:57So if you want my advice, avoid this place like the plague.

00:07:02There are three lakes in Africa that maybe are the most dangerous places of all that I have mentioned so far.

00:07:08They're all located in Africa.

00:07:10Lake Monoun and Lake Nyos in Cameroon and Lake Kivu in Rwanda are all like ticking timers ready to go off.

00:07:18They were formed over underground pools of molten rock, and sometimes this molten rock releases toxic gases like methane and carbon dioxide right into the water.

00:07:29When this happens, the gases can build up until they suddenly burst out of the water, creating massive waves that can wipe out everything in their path.

00:07:38This type of outburst is called a limnic eruption, and it can release a cloud of poisonous gas that can be harmful to everything in the vicinity.

00:07:48The most terrifying part? These explosions can happen at any moment with no warning.

00:07:53So if you ever find yourself near one of these lakes, you'd better be on high alert, because you never know when the next accident might happen.

00:08:02Maybe you know other places you wouldn't recommend for a fun swim? Share your anti-recommendations in the comments below.

00:08:10The Baltic Sea Anomaly

00:08:12In 2011, a diving team came down to the bottom of the northern part of the Baltic Sea.

00:08:18They went on a treasure hunt, but what they came upon was a pretty weird object.

00:08:23When they took photos and showed them to others, many believed it was a sunken spaceship of another civilization.

00:08:32Other people thought that some natural causes formed the object, but the metals inside the structure definitely couldn't have been formed naturally.

00:08:40Now, some scientists even believe it was something that appeared way back in the Ice Age.

00:08:46Maybe it was even a meteorite that ended up trapped under ice back then.

00:08:52A maelstrom is a whirlpool, some sort of a powerful rotational current that forms when two currents collide and create a circular vortex.

00:09:02Even fearless Vikings were afraid of maelstroms because those were forces so powerful that they could sink large ships.

00:09:10These whirlpools remain dangerous even today, but luckily not for big modern ships that are large enough to withstand the power of maelstroms.

00:09:20But a cruise ship that gets into a maelstrom usually faces massive waves that can rock even big vessels from side to side pretty intensely.

00:09:30A maelstrom can be so strong it can turn into some sort of an underwater black hole.

00:09:36Yep, black holes are not only present in the cold expanse of space, you can find them here on our home planet too, swirling in the oceans.

00:09:45They're similar to those in space since they're compacted so tightly that nothing they trap can escape.

00:09:53Underwater black holes often span up to 93 miles in diameter, and if you got into one of those, you probably wouldn't even know it.

00:10:02These black holes act like vortices, but because of their size, even professionals can hardly see their boundaries.

00:10:11Here's something relaxing. Next time you go to the beach, pay attention, and maybe you'll see an optical phenomenon called the green flash.

00:10:20You can see it shortly after sunset or right before sunrise.

00:10:24It occurs when the sun is almost completely below the horizon, while its rim, the upper one, is still visible.

00:10:32For just a second or two, that upper edge of the sun will appear green.

00:10:38It's because you're looking at the sun through thicker parts of the atmosphere as it's moving down in the sky.

00:10:44As it's dipping below the horizon, light refracts, or bends, in the atmosphere and gets dispersed.

00:10:50Wait for a clear day with no clouds or haze on the horizon to see this phenomenon better.

00:10:58You've been looking forward to a nice swim, only to realize that the water in the ocean is red?

00:11:05Better avoid going in. Florida is known for its red tides.

00:11:10It occurs when the concentration of specific microscopic algae is higher than normal.

00:11:15Thousands of species of algae, in marine and fresh waters, are mostly harmless to animals and humans.

00:11:21They even help us, since they're an important source of oxygen.

00:11:25But some, like the algae that makes the ocean red, can be extremely dangerous for marine animals, like sea turtles, fish, and seabirds.

00:11:35This kind can grow out of control and produce neurotoxins harmful to humans,

00:11:40especially those who have some respiratory issues.

00:11:44Such people should avoid red tide areas, especially when winds are strong enough to push the algae toward the shore.

00:11:52Volcanoes can spew poisonous gas, ash, and red-hot lava.

00:11:57Those are the most obvious dangers most of us already know about.

00:12:01But submarine volcanoes can be very tricky in their own way.

00:12:04Sometimes, when they're located in shallow waters, they reveal their presence by blasting debris of rock and steam high above the surface.

00:12:13Since submarine volcanoes are surrounded by an unlimited supply of water, they can behave differently from those on land.

00:12:21When they erupt, seawater gets into active submarine vents.

00:12:27Lava can be spreading across a shallow seafloor.

00:12:31Lava can be spreading across a shallow seafloor, or sometimes even flowing into the sea from land volcanoes.

00:12:38When in water, it may cool down so quickly that it shatters into rubble and sand.

00:12:44So, there are large amounts of volcanic debris left there.

00:12:48You know those popular black sand beaches in Hawaii? That's how they formed.

00:12:54Hot lava and powerful eruptions certainly don't sound safe.

00:12:58But submarine volcanoes in deeper waters are equally dangerous, even though they're not necessarily erupting.

00:13:05They produce pockets of bubbles.

00:13:07These bubbles reduce the density of the surrounding waters, which can even sink ships.

00:13:14The worst thing is that when you look at the surface of the ocean, you can't understand something's wrong.

00:13:20But at the same time, tiny bubbles are there, causing ships to lose buoyancy, and with very little warning.

00:13:28A cross sea is a rare phenomenon, beautiful to observe, but also very dangerous.

00:13:35It's when you see square waves, which are more common in shallow parts of the ocean.

00:13:40That's something you can often see in France, or on certain beaches of Tel Aviv.

00:13:45But it can also happen in many coastal areas across the world.

00:13:50A cross sea occurs when two wave patterns travel at oblique angles.

00:13:55They form this checkerboard-like pattern.

00:13:58It mostly happens when two swells meet, or when a swell pushes waves in one direction, while a strong wind pushes them in another.

00:14:07These square waves can be dangerous for swimmers and boaters.

00:14:11The waves produced by strong ocean currents can be pretty unpredictable, and tall, sometimes up to almost 10 feet.

00:14:18This phenomenon is sometimes called white walls.

00:14:21These waves can be so powerful that they can turn over even big boats.

00:14:27If you fill a clear glass with some ocean water, and take a closer look, you'll see it's full of very small particles.

00:14:35Seawater contains dissolved salts, fats, algae, proteins, detergents, and other bits of artificial and organic matter.

00:14:45If you shake that glass, you'll see tiny bubbles forming on its surface.

00:14:49That's how seafoam forms when waves and winds agitate the ocean.

00:14:54When you see thick seafoam, algal blooms might have caused it.

00:14:58When big blooms of algae fall apart in the sea, large amounts of that matter move in the direction of dry land.

00:15:06Most kinds of seafoam aren't dangerous to humans.

00:15:10But when blooms of algae fall apart, it can have a negative impact on both the environment and people.

00:15:16For example, when seafoam bubbles pop, the toxins they contain get released into the air, and they can irritate your eyes or cause some other health issues.

00:15:28You can see a tidal bore in the areas where a river empties into a sea or an ocean.

00:15:34It's a powerful tide that goes against the current and pushes up the river.

00:15:39A tidal bore falls into a category of something called the surge, which is a sudden change in depth.

00:15:46A tidal bore is a positive surge, which means it pushes up a river, making it much deeper.

00:15:52A negative surge is when the river suddenly becomes very shallow.

00:15:58You won't see tidal bores everywhere.

00:16:00The river must be fairly shallow with a narrow outlet to the sea.

00:16:04The place where the sea and the river meet must be flat and wide.

00:16:08Also, the area between low and high tide must be at least 20 feet across.

00:16:15Of course, there are some exceptions, like the Amazon River, the world's largest one.

00:16:21The mouth of the Amazon is not narrow, but the river experiences tidal bores.

00:16:26That's because its mouth is shallow and has many sandbars and low-lying islands.

00:16:31The tidal bore is so strong there that the river doesn't even have a delta.

00:16:36Its sediment goes directly into the Atlantic Ocean, where fast-moving currents take it away.

00:16:43A tidal bore is often unpredictable and can be extremely rough.

00:16:47In many cases, it changes the color of the river from greenish or blue to brown.

00:16:53It can damage vegetation or even tear trees out of the ground.

00:16:56So, recreation sports like kayaking and river surfing can be hazardous in these areas.

00:17:04Even if you just want to take a look at a tidal bore, be careful.

00:17:08Tidal waves can sweep over lookout points and drag whatever or whoever is there into the churning river.

00:17:16Ah, the beauty of nature all around you, the fresh air,

00:17:20and days and days of meditative rest far away from civilization ahead of you.

00:17:25But you've been walking for quite some time to get this far, and now it's time to set up camp.

00:17:31The woods around are dense, and there's no suitable place to put up your tent.

00:17:36Then you notice a nice green patch completely devoid of trees and only sprinkled with some low-growing bushes.

00:17:43Well, you go there, smug about your find, and get to work on the tent.

00:17:48The ground is unusually soft and smooth, but that doesn't bother you too much.

00:17:52All the better! The pegs go into the soil like a knife into butter.

00:17:57By the time you're done, it's dark already, so you get inside the tent and crawl into your cozy sleeping bag.

00:18:04You wake up from a creepy feeling that something's not right.

00:18:09You feel wet?

00:18:11You start wriggling inside your bag, and yes, it's almost completely soaked from below.

00:18:17You rush out of the tent as quickly as you can and see that it's started to sink into the ground.

00:18:23Turns out, you've set up camp on a swamp.

00:18:27And you've been lucky too. Swamps aren't always obvious.

00:18:31Sometimes you won't even see them until you're knee-deep in muck and trouble.

00:18:36Getting out of there can be tricky as well.

00:18:39The moss and roots create a soft padding that's slowly pulling you under,

00:18:43and when you try to raise your feet, you might end up without your boots.

00:18:48Telling a forest swamp is fairly easy when you know what to look for.

00:18:52If you're in a dense thicket and see a lush, sunlit glade where nothing but moss and an occasional bush grows,

00:18:59chances are high it's a swamp.

00:19:02You can also check it by stepping lightly on this serene ground.

00:19:06If it feels springy, better stay away.

00:19:08One other thing the swamp can be dangerous for is, surprisingly, a forest fire.

00:19:14If you stay too close to a swamp and start a campfire, it might catch on, especially if there's a strong wind.

00:19:21Swamps and marshes are chock-full of tar hidden underneath the layers of water and moss.

00:19:27When it starts to burn, extinguishing it is nearly impossible.

00:19:31Always keep a safe distance from any swamp before starting a campfire.

00:19:36Another common mistake while breaking camp in the wild is not looking up.

00:19:41Let's say you found some solid ground to put up the tent,

00:19:45cleared it from all the nasty cones and stones, and made sure there aren't any anthills close by.

00:19:51You don't want anything to creep inside your sleeping bag at night, do you?

00:19:55The spot you've chosen is perfect, and the tree your tent is leaning to protects you from the wind and rain.

00:20:02You set up for the night, turning off your camping light, and suddenly, your tent is thrashing as if a wild beast has attacked you.

00:20:10Bewildered, you scramble out and see a huge branch has fallen on top of your tent.

00:20:16The worst thing about this is that you would've seen it coming if only you'd looked up before setting up camp.

00:20:23Half-broken and rotten branches are easy to spot, and it's never a good idea to put your tent straight beneath them.

00:20:29Such a thing can break off at any moment, and you'll be lucky if it doesn't tear your tent and harm you.

00:20:36Dozens of tourists make this mistake every year, and often pay dearly for it.

00:20:42Looking up will also help you make sure there are no wasp nests or spider nets above you.

00:20:49These might prove even worse than a branch, because wasps don't like to be disturbed, and spiders may turn out to be venomous.

00:20:57Now, if you see a beautiful river and decide to break camp on its banks, pay special attention to where exactly you put up your tent as well.

00:21:06If you stay too close to the water, especially in spring or fall, chances are you'll find yourself afloat in the middle of the night.

00:21:15Always check the weather forecast for the day and the night after.

00:21:19If there's a chance of rain, better stay away from any bodies of water, especially rivers.

00:21:23The rain might raise the water level in it and make it burst its banks, drowning your little camp and ruining your vacation.

00:21:32But even if you're far from water, rain could spoil it for you.

00:21:36Say you're once again deep in the forest and tree crowns are protecting you from the weather.

00:21:41Precipitation still gets to the forest floor, but at least it's not as bad as in the open.

00:21:47The next night, when you set up camp in another place, you feel the ground is soft and springy.

00:21:53It's not a swamp though, just the last night's rain has loosened the soil.

00:21:57If you're in such a spot, better move to somewhere solid.

00:22:01Thing is, soft and loose ground might start creeping out from under you at any point.

00:22:07This movement isn't as dangerous as when you're in a swamp, but the pegs of your tent might come loose too,

00:22:13and you'll end up buried underneath a pile of rugs that used to be your tent.

00:22:18And if you decided to set up your camp in a cozy-looking valley, and the rain starts falling when you're already there,

00:22:25well, prepare for a nice floating trip.

00:22:28All the water will naturally go down and into your shelter, eventually finding its way under your tent.

00:22:35No wonder you'll find yourself knee-deep in rainwater when you wake up.

00:22:39Oh, what a great spot for taking a bit of rest after a long walk.

00:22:43It's on a hilltop, so there's no water nearby, the sun shining, and not a single tree to block it out.

00:22:50Sunbathing here is gonna be fabulous!

00:22:53Well, it seems this way for the first few hours.

00:22:56But when you stay here long enough, you'll see the error of your decision.

00:23:01Direct sunlight on your tent can make it hot in a matter of hours due to the materials it's made of.

00:23:07And you'll feel it on your skin as soon as you crawl inside.

00:23:10Let's just say you won't want to stay in there for long until it's night, and the tent's cooled down at least.

00:23:17Same thing with the wind.

00:23:19In an open spot, gusts can reach crazy speeds, and if you haven't been careful while hammering down the pegs,

00:23:26you might say goodbye to your tent sooner than you'd like.

00:23:30It's best to find a spot near a tree that would protect you, both from the sun and the wind.

00:23:35Still, don't get tempted to camp near a lone tree when the weather forecast isn't in your favor.

00:23:41Both sunny and rainy weather are okay, but if there's a serious storm coming,

00:23:46a single standing tree will serve as a lightning rod.

00:23:50It's not hard to imagine what may come if lightning strikes a tree you're camping under.

00:23:55Hey, you might get a charge out of it!

00:23:58When winter camping, the weather can be even more treacherous.

00:24:01Remember what I said about direct sunlight? Forget it.

00:24:05In winter, it's best to have the sun shining on your tent.

00:24:09The cold might get to you no matter how cool and expensive your tent is,

00:24:13and the winds are generally much more vicious in the cold season.

00:24:17Direct sunlight will help you cope with much of the cold.

00:24:20One of the more common mistakes hikers make is starting a campfire too close to the tent.

00:24:26Again, the material of the tent conducts heat very well,

00:24:29and it's a good thing when it's warm.

00:24:32But it also catches on fire easily.

00:24:35Sometimes, one spark is enough to burn your shelter to cinders.

00:24:39Make sure there's enough room between your tent and the campfire,

00:24:43and never leave your fire unsupervised.

00:24:46When you go to sleep, it's a rule to extinguish the fire

00:24:50so that you don't wake up to a blazing inferno around you.

00:24:53Insects can ruin even the most exciting hike.

00:24:56Mosquitoes, ants, ticks, and other pesky bugs can find their way into your tent wherever you are,

00:25:04so make sure you protect yourself from them.

00:25:07Use skin repellents when you go outside,

00:25:10and put an anti-insect spiral next to the entrance to your tent.

00:25:14Don't put it too close or inside, though.

00:25:16The smell is irritating, and it can also cause a fire.

00:25:20To avoid the best part of mosquitoes, and especially ticks,

00:25:23try to stay away from lakes, ponds, and dense forests where swamps may occur.

00:25:29Skeeters reproduce in still water,

00:25:32so areas around such pools are replete with the winged pests.

00:25:36But they have a hard time flying when there's some wind,

00:25:39so choosing an open spot is your best bet to get rid of them.

00:25:43Don't let them bug you!

00:25:45This spiky tree knows how to shoot, so you better stay away from it.

00:25:50It's called a sandbox tree, and you can find it in Amazonia.

00:25:54Initially, its seeds are formed in the shape of a small pumpkin.

00:25:58As time goes by, they harden and mature.

00:26:02But here comes the fun part.

00:26:04Just as they reach peak maturity, the seeds pop and shoot out at a speed of 150 mph.

00:26:10They can even reach distances of 60 feet.

00:26:13That's what makes it so risky to be in their way during the blast process.

00:26:16Not to mention the seeds are poisonous too.

00:26:20Sure, some trees don't grow completely upright.

00:26:24But a tree that's altogether bent, with its branches even touching the ground,

00:26:29is a sight not to be missed.

00:26:31Such a tree, called the El Arbol de la Sabina, grows in Spain.

00:26:35Its shape depends on the wind, as the tree bends in its direction.

00:26:40As a result, not only does it often have a weird shape,

00:26:43but it can also change it completely during different times of the year.

00:26:47This flexible tree can reach more than 26 feet in height,

00:26:51and tends to grow in the most improbable of locations, like on rocks.

00:26:56Now how about a tree that's as old as dinosaurs?

00:27:00Discovered in 1994, the Wallamie Pine tree species

00:27:04can be seen in the Blue Mountains of Sydney, Australia.

00:27:07It dates back to over 200 million years,

00:27:10so it's easy to believe dinosaurs might have even roamed around it.

00:27:14Since these trees are endangered, and only 100 exhibits exist to this day in the wild,

00:27:20the scientists don't feel like disclosing their location.

00:27:23They want to make sure the trees are well-preserved.

00:27:26Also, they're important for science,

00:27:29as studying them may help us uncover new information on the Earth's past.

00:27:33The bark of the tree can teach us many different things,

00:27:35like different temperature periods, or exposure to various chemicals.

00:27:40The Tree of Life gets its name because it's able to withstand difficult conditions and actually thrive.

00:27:47Located in the desert outskirts of Bahrain,

00:27:50the Prosopis cineraria has a very deep root system,

00:27:54which allows it to survive in the scorching heat.

00:27:57The scientists still can't find out how it manages to get sufficient water.

00:28:01It's so special that it gathers over 50,000 tourists each year.

00:28:07La India Dormida in Panama is a mountainous area that's shaped like the body of a sleeping girl.

00:28:13It's part of a bigger, mysterious region called La Val de Anton,

00:28:18one of the largest inhabited dormant volcanoes in the world.

00:28:21And it has some pretty weird trees too, square ones.

00:28:25Even the rings of these trees, meaning the interior of their trunks, are the same shape.

00:28:30With sharp edges, sometimes even at a perfect 90-degree angle.

00:28:35Researchers have tried to piece together why these trees grow in this particular shape.

00:28:40They even tried taking samples of some of the trees and planting them elsewhere,

00:28:44to see if they retain that shape.

00:28:46It wasn't the case, so it's clear that the odd shape of the trees has something to do with the valley itself.

00:28:53Some people believe that a local farmer might have originally planted the trees in boxes,

00:28:57forcing the trees to grow like that, to reduce lumber waste,

00:29:01since round trees often end up being cut in sharp angled pieces.

00:29:06One of the oldest and biggest trees in the world is found in the Sequoia National Park of the United States.

00:29:13It's called General Sherman and stretches at 275 feet.

00:29:17It's almost as big as the Statue of Liberty.

00:29:20Its circumference is equally as impressive, as near the ground it is around 102 feet around.

00:29:27As for its age, we can only guess it to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years.

00:29:34It's an old tree!

00:29:36There are a lot of beautiful species of trees out there,

00:29:40but none as striking as the Rainbow Eucalyptus, found in the Philippines.

00:29:45It almost looks hand-painted because of its multicolored layers of bark.

00:29:50This tree also shades its layers irregularly, which means it shows a lot of colors at once,

00:29:55from green to blue, then purple to orange, and then finally reaching brown.

00:30:00It's not used for decorating purposes, but rather for paper manufacturing.

00:30:05Located in Namibia is a tree that's also weird in shape and pretty dangerous,

00:30:11the Bottle Tree.

00:30:13OK, in terms of shape, it's pretty self-explanatory,

00:30:16with a round trunk that narrows down toward the top.

00:30:19But the milky sap harvested from the tree is extremely poisonous.

00:30:23Legend has it that local hunters used to dip their arrows in it for added efficiency.

00:30:29It does look really beautiful during bloom season,

00:30:32with flowers that grow in pink and white with a red center.

00:30:36Now, to see a crooked tree every now and then isn't so special.

00:30:41But to see a whole forest of them, you'd have to travel to the Polish town of Grafino.

00:30:46Near it, there is a forest made out of 400 oddly-shaped trees.

00:30:50They've been curved with mechanical intervention.

00:30:53They didn't just grow like that, but their purpose remains a mystery to this day.

00:30:58Some have said it's because the wood from the trees was intended for furniture,

00:31:03or even for the construction of boats.

00:31:05But either way, the forest was eventually abandoned.

00:31:09A silk cotton tree has taken over the ancient Ta Prohm temples of Cambodia,

00:31:15creating a spectacular view.

00:31:17The massive branches of the silk cotton trees were free to grow over the structures for ages,

00:31:23going back as far as the 12th century.

00:31:25The temples have been restored and are accessible to tourists.

00:31:30The dragon's blood tree grows in the Canary Islands of northwest Africa.

00:31:34Locals used to say that once a dragon passes away, it transforms into a tree.

00:31:40Standing at an impressive 50 feet in length,

00:31:42the tree is named like that due to its red sap, which can be harvested from the bark.

00:31:48The red substance to this day is used for dyes and in medicine.

00:31:53One of the biggest, oldest, and most impressive trees in the world is the Sunland Baobab tree.

00:32:00It's 72 feet high and has a circumference of 155 feet.

00:32:05It's located in South Africa.

00:32:07What makes it even more spectacular is the fact that it is naturally hollow inside.

00:32:12So, a small lounge was set up inside the tree back in 1933.

00:32:17It initially could support up to 20 individuals, but it can now host up to 60 people.

00:32:23Not to mention, the tree dates back over 6,000 years.

00:32:27The silver birch tree spread across Scandinavia and northeast Europe and found a way to reflect light.

00:32:34Its bark became lighter in color, and during the colder season, when its branches also freeze over,

00:32:39the site is something of a natural winter wonderland.

00:32:43It also developed a partnership with a fungus that connects to its roots and fans out under the forest,

00:32:49gathering up nutrients that trees can't reach.

00:32:52For these services, the tree gives the fungus sugars in return.

00:32:57The birch's companion is dangerous and shouldn't be consumed by people.

00:33:01It's easy to recognize with the classical scarlet-topped, red-sprinkled mushroom head.

00:33:06A natural festival not to be missed is Japan's cherry blossom season.

00:33:12The pinkish-white blossom is deeply rooted in Japanese culture,

00:33:16going hand-in-hand with a local saying called mano no arare,

00:33:21which relatively translates to the fact that everything is temporary,

00:33:26regardless of how perfect or beautiful it is.

00:33:29Should you ever visit Japan, you'll quickly see that the cherry blossom symbol is everywhere,

00:33:35from company logos to even clothing or household items.

00:33:39Yosemite National Park in California once had an amazing tree structure that was turned into a tunnel.

00:33:46It was a Coast Redwood tree, stretching 227 feet tall.

00:33:50It was nicknamed wawona, the Native American word for the hoot of an owl.

00:33:55The tree fell in 1969 because of a heavy snow, but it survived as an ecosystem for animals, plants, and insects.

00:34:02It's now called the Fallen Tunnel Tree.

00:34:06One tree species known as furkapasvapavap, well, you read it, is the rarest plant on Earth.

00:34:12The Guinness World Record book recorded one single tree of its kind off the coast of New Zealand.

00:34:18It wasn't always that lonely, but humans brought goats to the island,

00:34:22which nipped at every other member of its family.

00:34:25Luckily, scientists are looking at ways to plant new specimens.

00:34:30Hello, distinguished guests, and welcome to Aquarium Bright.

00:34:34Here, you will get to see the most dangerous sea and ocean creatures.

00:34:38But don't let what I said mislead you.

00:34:40It's very well possible for you to come across one of these underwater animals during a walk on the beach.

00:34:46So, take a look at them carefully now, and you might just avoid a disaster.

00:34:52Is it fish or is it stone?

00:34:55What you're looking at is commonly known as the stonefish.

00:34:59But its fancier names include the doornorn and the sinansia.

00:35:04If you're into diving and observing the underwater, you might already have come across one without noticing.

00:35:10Its appearance makes it almost impossible to distinguish it from a real stone,

00:35:15due to its grey coloration and mottled appearance.

00:35:18Especially if you're wearing fogged snorkel goggles.

00:35:21So, you better pay attention because otherwise, the consequences can be unfortunate,

00:35:26since stonefish are the most venomous fish known.

00:35:29Although some types of stonefishes are known to live in rivers,

00:35:33and most of them are found in coral reefs near the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans.

00:35:38Their needle-like dorsal fin spines stick up when they're disturbed or threatened,

00:35:43and inject the poison they contain.

00:35:45The most common reason why stonefish stings occur is swimmers stepping on them without realizing it.

00:35:51However, you don't need to be in the water to get stung.

00:35:54Since they can survive out of the water for up to 24 hours,

00:35:57you'll have to watch where you step when you're at the beach as well.

00:36:01Those who got stung by stonefish describe their experience to be extremely distressing.

00:36:06Their venom can result in infection, and in some cases, it is known to cause shock and paralysis.

00:36:13It might come as a bit of a shock, but despite its bad reputation,

00:36:17stonefish is edible if it's prepared properly.

00:36:20When the fish is heated, its venom breaks down,

00:36:22and if the dorsal fins, which are the main source of its venom, are removed,

00:36:26raw stonefish is served as part of sashimi too.

00:36:31This creature might look like it came out of a science fiction movie, but it's very much real.

00:36:36Say hello to the blue-ringed octopuses.

00:36:39Don't be deceived by their small size, which can range between 5 to 8 inches including their arms,

00:36:45because they're packed with venom to cause great damage to as many as 26 people within minutes.

00:36:51Just like stonefishes, blue-ringed octopuses are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Japan to Australia.

00:36:59They typically live on coral reefs and rocky areas of the seafloor.

00:37:04Some may also be found in tide pools, seagrass, and algal beds.

00:37:09Blue-ringed octopuses are not aggressive in nature.

00:37:12When they're not seeking food such as crabs or shrimps, or searching for a mate,

00:37:16they often hide in marine debris, shells, or crevices.

00:37:20It's only if they're provoked, cornered, or handled that they get dangerous to humans.

00:37:25When they're threatened, they turn bright yellow or blue iridescent rings appear all over their body

00:37:31as a warning display towards the potential predators.

00:37:35Their bites usually come unnoticed, so you might not be able to realize you're bitten until it's too late.

00:37:41The venom of a blue-ringed octopus can cause dizziness and loss of senses and motor skills.

00:37:46And ultimately, paralysis.

00:37:49So, better try to keep your hands to yourself and back away in a hurry if you see one.

00:37:55Nope, it's not a flower bouquet, so don't try to pick and smell one of those pink tube-like things.

00:38:01What's standing before your eyes is a marine animal called a flower urchin.

00:38:06It may look gorgeous, but don't let the looks deceive you.

00:38:09It was named the most dangerous sea urchin in the 2014 Guinness World Records.

00:38:14Flower urchins inhabit the tropical areas of the Indo-West Pacific

00:38:19and are found among coral reefs, rocks, sand, and seagrass depths at depths of 0 to 295 feet.

00:38:27The most noticeable feature of them is their pedicularia,

00:38:31which are claw-shaped defensive organs that are also found in sea stars.

00:38:35What makes flower urchins differ from any other sea urchin is the fact that their pedicularia is,

00:38:40as the name suggests, flower-like and usually pinkish-white to yellowish-white in color,

00:38:46with a central purple dot.

00:38:48Hidden underneath those flowers, they possess short and blunt spines.

00:38:53Although many sea urchins deliver their venom through such spines,

00:38:57flower urchins deliver their venom through their pedicularia, or flowers.

00:39:02If they're undisturbed, the tips of these flowers are usually expanded into round, cup-like shapes.

00:39:07On their surface, they possess tiny sensors with which they can detect threats,

00:39:13and once they contact such threats, these flowers immediately snap shut and start injecting venom.

00:39:19What's weird is that the little claws of the flowers can sometimes break off from their stalks,

00:39:25stick to the point of contact, and continue injecting venom for hours into whoever touched it.

00:39:31Yeesh!

00:39:33Looks like a giant puddle of melted strawberry ice cream, right?

00:39:37You wish!

00:39:39It's a lion's mane jellyfish, which is also called giant jellyfish, arctic red jellyfish, or hairy jelly.

00:39:46They're known to prefer cool water, that's why they can mostly be found in the Arctic,

00:39:51northern Atlantic, and northern Pacific oceans.

00:39:54But it's possible to spot them around the British Isles or in the Scandinavian waters too.

00:40:00Lion's mane jellyfish are one of the largest known species of jellyfish.

00:40:04They get their name from their long, flowing hair-like tentacles and can reach lengths up to 10 feet.

00:40:11And although the average bell diameter of a lion's mane jellyfish is around 20 inches,

00:40:17they can sometimes attain a diameter of over 7 feet!

00:40:21The largest lion's mane jellyfish recorded was seen in 1865 off the coast of Massachusetts.

00:40:28It was measured to have tentacles around 125 feet long and a diameter of 7 feet.

00:40:35To help you picture it, this is longer than a blue whale!

00:40:39Lion's mane jellyfish hunt by extending their tentacles outward and creating a trap to catch their food.

00:40:45Since they have around 1,200 stinging tentacles, the fish would have to be extremely lucky to be able to escape them.

00:40:53The sting of a lion's mane jellyfish is usually not life-threatening,

00:40:58but you would still want to avoid swimming into its tentacles because it can be very painful to humans.

00:41:03And if you see one washed up on the beach, better not touch it because it can still deliver a sting long after they've been on the shore.

00:41:10Fun fact, the lion's mane jellyfish appears in the Sherlock Holmes story, The Adventure of the Lion's Mane, as a suspect.

00:41:18But don't worry, we won't give you any spoilers.

00:41:21The last marine animal you're seeing now is a sea snake, and yes, they are different from eels.

00:41:28There are 69 identified species of sea snakes.

00:41:32Most of them can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans,

00:41:38and they have been around for millions of years.

00:41:41To make things easier, scientists have separated all different species of sea snakes into two categories,

00:41:47true sea snakes and sea kraits.

00:41:51Whereas true sea snakes spend almost all their time at sea, sea kraits can spend some time on land as well.

00:41:58If you see a snake on the beach, you can tell whether it's a land or sea snake by looking at its tail.

00:42:05If it's paddle-like, then that's a sea snake you got there, but make sure to keep your distance in both cases.

00:42:11All sea snakes need to surface regularly to breathe since they have no gills.

00:42:15That's why you can come across one while swimming.

00:42:18If that happens, you better swim away as fast as you can because most sea snakes have more venom than the average cobra or rattlesnake.

00:42:26However, since they only attack if provoked, bites are quite rare.

00:42:31One more cool fact about sea snakes, they are the only reptiles to give birth in the oceans.

00:42:37The majority of sea snakes keep the eggs within themselves and give birth to nearly fully formed snakes while swimming.

00:42:43That's except for the yellow-lipped sea krait, though.

00:42:46They come onto land to lay eggs of their little ones.

00:42:49Remember the stonefish from the beginning of our tour?

00:42:52They're hunted by sea snakes.

00:42:54Blame the food chain.

00:42:56Check this out.

00:42:58There's a giant tornado heading towards you, and it's so fast.

00:43:01These twisters can move at crazy speeds of more than 250 miles per hour.

00:43:06Plus, they can carve a pathway 50 miles long and a mile wide.

00:43:09Sometimes you can see them coming clearly, while in some cases, low-hanging clouds or rain can hide them,

00:43:15so they sneak up on you and you don't even see them.

00:43:18And in most cases, a tornado can develop so fast that no one can even warn you in time if it's already too close.

00:43:25And now, this insane storm is really close.

00:43:28Maybe you have a couple of minutes to get somewhere safe.

00:43:31Did you have a basement? Go hide.

00:43:33Or maybe, I know this is a crazy idea, but what do you think?

00:43:36Maybe, I know this is a crazy idea, but what do you think about going inside a tornado to check what it would be like?

00:43:43Now, some tornadoes appear as rope-like swirls, while others have wide clouds in the shape of a funnel.

00:43:49And here's the second one, right before you.

00:43:52Look at these whirling winds, born in a thunderstorm.

00:43:55They extend down from it to the ground.

00:43:57Many times, hail joins the party, too.

00:44:00The U.S. itself has something like a thousand tornadoes per year.

00:44:03Texas holds the record with about 120 tornadoes per year, a record not to be proud of.

00:44:10But you'll generally see most twisters in Tornado Alley, which is a stretch of land in the Midwestern part of the U.S.

00:44:17They develop when warm, moist air coming from Mexico meets cool, dry air from Canada.

00:44:23These two clash and turn into a powerful storm that at some point can spawn tornadoes.

00:44:28And you'll see most tornadoes there between April and June.

00:44:31Though lately, some have come even in December.

00:44:35They can range from a regular dust storm to an incredibly powerful force that can carry away cars, large trees, and even houses.

00:44:43But this is a unique chance. You've never been this close, right?

00:44:47Plus, it's a gigantic one. You don't often get to see such a big one.

00:44:51OK, ready then? It's getting closer.

00:44:54You feel the wind getting stronger while tossing dirt and debris in your face.

00:44:58You close your eyes and WHOOSH! You're inside, and it's crazy!

00:45:03Vicious winds are hurling and spinning you around.

00:45:06They're lifting you up at the same time.

00:45:08Feeling dizzy? Feeling like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz?

00:45:12Now may be a good time to check what's really happening to you.

00:45:16While inside, swirling with winds and… oh wait!

00:45:19Is that your neighbor's motorcycle spinning together with you?

00:45:22Hope it'll stay that far away.

00:45:24Now, let's take a moment to catch up.

00:45:26Being in the middle of a raging tornado is actually something you might survive.

00:45:31But I won't lie to you, it won't be easy.

00:45:34The first thing you'd sense would likely be the temperature changes.

00:45:38Inside this crazy twister, it can be 36 degrees colder than outside of it.

00:45:44That's because the center of the tornado funnel spins all the time.

00:45:48All that funneling makes the inside of the vortex way colder, and it makes the air way thinner than you used to.

00:45:53The air would be 20% less dense than, for example, what you would find at high altitudes.

00:46:00Now, I hope you're not planning to stay there for too long.

00:46:03Disclaimer here, the atmospheric pressure inside this swirling vortex is so low

00:46:09that your lungs won't be able to extract enough oxygen.

00:46:12Now to give you a perspective of all this,

00:46:15breathing inside a tornado is like trying to get some air at an altitude of 26,000 feet.

00:46:20That's a pro level, similar to climbing Everest.

00:46:24So yeah, you'll need some help just to be able to take a regular breath.

00:46:28In short, you'll probably pass out after only a couple of minutes.

00:46:32But don't worry, I brought you this special mask, so breathing is not a problem anymore.

00:46:37Hey, did you notice how smooth the airflow from the inside is?

00:46:42Some storm watchers ended up inside a tornado.

00:46:44Later, they said it all looks so chaotic with all those raging clouds and winds swirling around.

00:46:50But from the inside, the air is surprisingly smooth.

00:46:54But that doesn't mean you'll get a peaceful ride because of it.

00:46:57And it's not a solo party in that thing.

00:47:00The neighbor's motorcycle is not the only thing you'll see there.

00:47:03Wood, bricks, glass, maybe even cars, cows, motorhomes, bricks, roofs, and other big objects.

00:47:10You'd be pretty lucky if nothing crashes into you in all that chaos.

00:47:15With all that debris that's swirling at, for instance, 310 miles per hour, you can hardly avoid it.

00:47:22But let's just say a miracle happens and you got through it.

00:47:26Now you're really dizzy, and you're just wondering when all of this is gonna be over,

00:47:31and if you're even gonna be able to come out of this gigantic tornado.

00:47:35Well, the tornado will eventually slow down.

00:47:37It happens because cool air enters the twister.

00:47:41Just because things are settling down, it doesn't mean you can relax.

00:47:45Well, your stomach can, since all that crazy swirling is done.

00:47:49But the tornado will drop you from whatever height you're on when it stops.

00:47:53If you're somewhere in the countryside, there might be some soft bale of hay to break your fall.

00:47:59Oh wait, we're talking about a twister that's probably more than 45,000 feet tall.

00:48:04So that won't work.

00:48:05I hope you brought your parachute, because now would be a good time to pop it.

00:48:09Nope. Hey, don't worry, I'm all about happy endings, so I'll help you out.

00:48:14Here you go.

00:48:16And now you're slowing down, enjoying the view, if you even see anything around you from all that dizziness.

00:48:22How come there are clear sunlit skies from your left, you may wonder.

00:48:27It's not unusual. Tornadoes often form near the edge of a thunderstorm.

00:48:31It's like a border between two different worlds.

00:48:34And it wasn't even windy, plus the air was very still before it hit, right?

00:48:39Well, that's common too.

00:48:41Okay, I think you know this kind of scenario is impossible in reality.

00:48:45So it would be best to find a safe spot quickly if a tornado was close by.

00:48:50Use your underground shelter first.

00:48:53And if you don't have one, your basement could be the next best choice.

00:48:57Prepare ahead of time with a battery-operated TV or radio.

00:49:01Together with fresh batteries.

00:49:03Or a device with Internet to be able to hear the latest updates on the tornado.

00:49:07Include some non-perishable food, water, and other essentials prepared too.

00:49:12As it turns out, some people really were picked up by tornadoes, and they managed to go through it.

00:49:18A tornado actually dropped them a few hundred feet away without a scratch.

00:49:23Hey, I'd say that's a whole lot of bother just to save some bucks on Uber.

00:49:27But you can't have a guarantee you'll be safe or where you'll end up.

00:49:32It would be incredibly hard to get out of one of those big and fierce ones, though.

00:49:36Like supercells.

00:49:38They fall into the category of the strongest type of storms.

00:49:41Mostly thunderstorms.

00:49:43And imagine falling into water spouts.

00:49:46Those could be fine, though.

00:49:48At least the beginning, because they're weak and they form over warm water.

00:49:51So they could be like a part of your spa day.

00:49:53At least until they move inland and turn into a real tornado.

00:49:57Now dust devils wouldn't be that pleasant.

00:50:00They're not that big, but we're talking about columns of air that rotate at large speeds.

00:50:05And you can easily see them because of all that dirt and dust they pick up.

00:50:09Which is why you need glasses for that.

00:50:12Whoops, wait, I forgot that.

00:50:14So I can't help you this time.

00:50:16But if it makes you feel any better, they're not associated with thunderstorms.

00:50:20Hmm, don't know why that would make anyone feel better when I think about it.

00:50:24But if you're willing to jump into a fire tornado,

00:50:28I'll find you a special suit that will keep you safe while spinning through smoke, gas and flames.

00:50:33I promise.

00:50:35Columns here are narrow, and they rise vertically into the air, similar to a dust devil.

00:50:39Of course, the heat is crazy.

00:50:42And as updrafts are becoming stronger, and if there's enough dry fuel,

00:50:45a fire whirl is turning into a real fire tornado

00:50:49that extends from the ground up to the cloud, moving incredibly fast.

00:50:53Okay, let's stop now. I'm pretty dizzy.

00:51:00Imagine you're hanging out somewhere in the forests of Australia.

00:51:04You're thirsty, so you go to the nearest stream.

00:51:07Suddenly, you feel that you have a runny nose.

00:51:10It's strange, because you're perfectly healthy.

00:51:12You stop and wait.

00:51:14A few seconds pass.

00:51:16Your nose is itching.

00:51:18A few minutes pass.

00:51:20Your eyes are watering.

00:51:22Your throat is going crazy.

00:51:24You can't breathe freely, and you're constantly sneezing.

00:51:27It seems you're breathing poisoned air.

00:51:30But what's poisoning it?

00:51:32The smallest particles of the most dangerous plant in the world are flying around you.

00:51:36It's called Gimpy Gimpy.

00:51:38There it is.

00:51:40It looks ordinary.

00:51:42It's only got wooden stems and leaves.

00:51:44The closer you come, the worse you're feeling.

00:51:47You need more air, and your skin is turning red.

00:51:50It physically hurts you to be here.

00:51:53You may lose consciousness if you stay here for a little bit more.

00:51:56Do you know what will happen if you touch this plant?

00:51:59Well, it will feel like red-hot needles penetrating your skin.

00:52:03And even if you run away as far as possible from here right now,

00:52:06the pain will not subside.

00:52:08The effects of the sting will last for several hours.

00:52:10Days will pass, and the pain will remain.

00:52:13Weeks and months will pass, but you'll still feel it.

00:52:17You can wash the touch area with cold water and soap,

00:52:20but this won't help a lot.

00:52:22It might not go away for several years.

00:52:25And all those tiny plant hairs that penetrated your skin

00:52:28can stay with you forever.

00:52:31The toxicity of Gimpy Gimpy is so high

00:52:34that even if you tear off one leaf and touch it after a year,

00:52:37it will still cause damage to your body.

00:52:40The bad news is that this plant is hard to spot.

00:52:43You can easily confuse it with burdock or nettle.

00:52:46Just imagine what will happen if someone falls into the bush.

00:52:49Its distinctive feature is a thin layer of fluff on each leaf.

00:52:53But be careful.

00:52:56This fluff consists of thousands of poisonous hairs.

00:52:59They also fly around the plant,

00:53:02so it's dangerous to be here without a gas mask.

00:53:04An ordinary medical mask won't help here

00:53:07since the hairs can get through the fabric.

00:53:10The good news is there aren't many of them around the world,

00:53:13and people usually put warning signs near them.

00:53:16This bad guy grows in Australia.

00:53:19Gold miners discovered this plant in 1860

00:53:22near the town of Gimpy,

00:53:25and something is telling me it wasn't the happiest discovery.

00:53:28Even now, Gimpy Gimpy poses a serious danger to loggers and tourists.

00:53:31You may accidentally touch it with your hand.

00:53:34One touch is enough to make you lose your working capacity

00:53:37for several weeks.

00:53:40In some cases, the affected area continues to hurt for decades.

00:53:43One man fell into the bush

00:53:46and lost his mind because of the pain.

00:53:49People compare a Gimpy Gimpy sting

00:53:52with a bite of 30 wasps at the same time,

00:53:55and you won't know how to get rid of it.

00:53:58One guy experienced an unpleasant feeling

00:54:01at the time he took a shower

00:54:04for two years after touching this plant.

00:54:07If you want to study it,

00:54:10you need to wear a protective suit and a gas mask.

00:54:13There should be no open areas on your body.

00:54:16Tuck your pant legs into your boots,

00:54:19put on protective gloves, and move out into the forest.

00:54:22It grows on the edge next to streams.

00:54:25Gimpy Gimpy is one of the six species

00:54:28of poisonous trees native to Australia.

00:54:31The leaf is poisoned.

00:54:34When it contacts any surface,

00:54:37it opens and sprays a burning toxin.

00:54:40Then the pain increases and the skin turns red.

00:54:43The duration of the effect depends on the number of hairs

00:54:46that penetrate your body.

00:54:49After a few years, you can put pressure on the bite site

00:54:52and feel the hairs are still there.

00:54:55There's no antidote because scientists still don't know

00:54:58what the toxic poison's components are.

00:55:01Gimpy Gimpy lasts a very long time, several years.

00:55:04It can withstand cold and hot temperatures.

00:55:07Water only enhances its effect.

00:55:10Botanical samples of this plant in laboratories

00:55:13are still dangerous despite scientists keeping them for several years.

00:55:16After you have passed by Gimpy Gimpy,

00:55:19don't forget to disinfect yourself.

00:55:22Carefully remove clothes, shoes, masks, and glasses.

00:55:25Put a protective suit in the washing machine

00:55:28and wash everything else well.

00:55:31Don't forget to wear the sleeves of your jacket, so be careful.

00:55:34This toxicity makes Gimpy Gimpy

00:55:37the most protected plant in the world.

00:55:40But wait, what's that?

00:55:43Do you see these little holes on its leaves?

00:55:46It seems that someone is eating it.

00:55:49These are the usual nocturnal beetle species.

00:55:52They can devour Gimpy Gimpy all day long

00:55:55as the poisonous hairs can't harm them.

00:55:58These bugs just don't care.

00:56:01And yes, all the animals living nearby

00:56:04know that it's better not to get close to it.

00:56:07But there's one mammal that is not afraid of Gimpy Gimpy.

00:56:10It's a red-legged padamelon.

00:56:13It looks like a little kangaroo

00:56:16and loves to eat the Gimpy Gimpy leaves.

00:56:19Scientists still don't know what exactly protects this animal from toxic hairs.

00:56:22We know almost all the places where this plant grows.

00:56:25People mark them with signs.

00:56:28If you see one, just don't go there.

00:56:31Gimpy Gimpy is a terrible plant.

00:56:34But how about a plant that can take over the whole world

00:56:37and destroy all the crops?

00:56:40It doesn't need favorable conditions for growth.

00:56:43It can survive in the rain, in arid places under the scorching sun,

00:56:46at low and high temperatures.

00:56:49It's called the giant hogweed.

00:56:52If the seed of this plant gets into a vegetable bed or a wheat field,

00:56:55the plant will displace all competitors in a few weeks.

00:56:58The wind can blow on the giant hogweed seeds

00:57:01and destroy its territories.

00:57:04This plant can worsen ecosystems around the world.

00:57:07It grows faster than people manage to destroy it.

00:57:10If you spray poison on the leaves, it doesn't even care.

00:57:13If you let parasitic beetles into giant hogweed territory,

00:57:16it doesn't care either.

00:57:19It multiplies very fast and lives longer than many plants.

00:57:22The giant hogweed can reach the height of a one-story house

00:57:25and go deep underground with its roots.

00:57:28It's also dangerous to touch it with your hands.

00:57:31It'll make your skin red, and it won't feel good to say the least.

00:57:34That's how it's making it so hard to fight against it.

00:57:37This poison destroys any plants, bushes, and flowers nearby.

00:57:40Scientists still can't create an effective poison

00:57:43to combat this green monster.

00:57:46No beetles feed on it.

00:57:49That's why the giant hogweed is one of the most dangerous plants in the world.

00:57:52It simply has no enemies in nature.

00:57:55But scientists are sure that evolution will create some creatures

00:57:58capable of destroying the giant hogweed.

00:58:01It can be small bugs or parasitic bacteria.

00:58:04But until that happens,

00:58:07people have to fight this beast on their own.

00:58:10They spend millions of dollars trying to destroy the plant,

00:58:13but it doesn't always work out.

00:58:16You can burn a field, but if one seed remains,

00:58:19it will quickly grow on the scorched ground.

00:58:22You've seen some of the most dangerous plants in the world.

00:58:25But what about trees?

00:58:28A manchineel tree grows in Florida.

00:58:31It's dangerous for your skin,

00:58:34but it gets much worse during the rain.

00:58:37When water falls on the bark, it mixes with the poison.

00:58:40Then these poison drops can bounce off the tree

00:58:43and get on your skin.

00:58:46Leaves and fruits also have this toxin,

00:58:49so never hide under this tree in bad weather.

00:58:52Mushrooms, shrubs, and flowers don't grow near this tree either.

00:58:55Animals never come close to it.

00:58:58Birds never sit on its branches.

00:59:01It's dangerous in hot weather and high temperatures.

00:59:04Never try to burn it.

00:59:07The smoke released during combustion is toxic and dangerous to your eyes.

00:59:10The locals mark this tree with red circles.

00:59:13Who do you think will win?

00:59:16A hungry grizzly or a ripe berry?

00:59:19An angry tiger or a beautiful flower?

00:59:22A huge python or a green bush?

00:59:25The answer's not so obvious.

00:59:28Now you'll see who really controls the jungle and forests.

00:59:31This is the water hemlock.

00:59:34It grows in North America in swampy areas of fields and meadows.

00:59:37Also, you can find this plant on the shores of rivers and streams.

00:59:40It seems harmless,

00:59:43but it's one of the most poisonous plants in the U.S.

00:59:46Water hemlock toxins can cause critical damage

00:59:49to an adult in 15 minutes,

00:59:52but only if you swallow it.

00:59:55Many people mistakenly confuse it with artichoke, celery, and anise.

00:59:58Despite the dangerous poison,

01:00:01water hemlock is used to cure migraines

01:00:04and intestinal diseases.

01:00:07This plant has caused a lot of damage to livestock.

01:00:10White snake root grows in fields and pastures.

01:00:13When a cow bites it,

01:00:16the plant releases a fat-soluble toxin.

01:00:19This poison gets not only inside the animal,

01:00:22but also into the milk.

01:00:25Young calves who drink the milk also become infected.

01:00:28Poisoned milk is also dangerous for people.

01:00:31This plant, native to North America,

01:00:34is one of the longest-lived autumn flowers.

01:00:37Now in modern farms,

01:00:40the poison of this plant is not so dangerous.

01:00:43But on small private pastures,

01:00:46white snake root is the number one danger.

01:00:49We all know two kinds of beans,

01:00:52the ones we eat and the ones that Jack used

01:00:55to get to the realm of giants.

01:00:58In addition to them, there are poisonous ones.

01:01:01One of the most dangerous toxins in the world,

01:01:04ricin. As soon as it enters your body,

01:01:07it blocks the production of proteins necessary for life.

01:01:10Without these proteins, your cells stop functioning.

01:01:13The more cells are destroyed,

01:01:16the more your body suffers.

01:01:19The castor bean releases ricin when squeezed.

01:01:22Several beans can cause dehydration, weakness,

01:01:25hallucinations, seizures, and other problems.

01:01:28About seven beans are enough to cause critical damage.

01:01:31They look like this and never touch them

01:01:34if you see them in the woods.

01:01:37One of the most beautiful plants on the planet

01:01:40is also one of the most dangerous.

01:01:43This is oleander. Everything is poisonous in it.

01:01:46The stem, the root, and the pink flower.

01:01:49Even a tiny piece of this plant can lead to severe poisoning.

01:01:52It doesn't need to get inside your stomach

01:01:55to create severe problems.

01:01:58Just a little touch to the juice of the flower

01:02:01or the smoke of a burning oleander

01:02:04has toxic effects too.

01:02:07And now, the most dangerous plant in the world.

01:02:10One touch of it will hurt you for several years.

01:02:13Or you may feel the consequences all your life.

01:02:16The gimpy gimpy plant,

01:02:19also called the Queensland stinger,

01:02:22looks like an ordinary burdock bush.

01:02:25It doesn't look like anything poisonous at all.

01:02:28But if you stand next to this plant,

01:02:31you'll see thousands of tiny poisonous hairs

01:02:34on the leaves of this flower.

01:02:37They're so light, they can hang in the air

01:02:40and spread by the wind.

01:02:43So you should put on a gas mask if you want to look at the plant.

01:02:46But if you lightly touch gimpy gimpy,

01:02:49you're in big trouble.

01:02:52Some compare one gimpy gimpy sting

01:02:55to 30 wasp stings at the same time.

01:02:58Poisonous hairs easily penetrate under your skin

01:03:01that you can't pull them out.

01:03:04Wash with soap and water, use some disinfecting ointment,

01:03:07and you'll see that the situation is only worsening.

01:03:10The hairs can't be pulled out of there.

01:03:13They sit there, releasing toxins and driving you crazy.

01:03:16There's no antidote

01:03:19because scientists still don't know

01:03:22what components the toxin consists of.

01:03:25It can withstand cold and hot temperatures.

01:03:28Unpleasant sensations can last for several hours,

01:03:31but people who touched the plant

01:03:34said that the pain from the sting returned

01:03:37even after a few years.

01:03:40But if it's impossible to get rid of the hairs,

01:03:43then the only way out is to wait for them to lose their toxicity.

01:03:46But there's another problem here.

01:03:49You can tear off one gimpy gimpy leaf with gloves

01:03:52and put it in the laboratory,

01:03:55dry it, and forget about it for a few years.

01:03:58And here it lies in front of you,

01:04:01but it's not.

01:04:04Even after many years, the poisonous hairs remain on the leaf's surface

01:04:07and still cause toxin effects.

01:04:10Gimpy gimpy only grows in Australia.

01:04:13It loves the sun and dense green forests.

01:04:16It used to pose a severe danger to tourists and loggers.

01:04:19But now, all places with this plant

01:04:22are marked with a warning sign.

01:04:25At botanical exhibitions, scientists put this plant in a cage

01:04:28so people wouldn't touch it.

01:04:31Rosary peas can be white seeds with a black eye

01:04:34or black seeds with a white eye.

01:04:37You can find these plants in Africa, Asia, Australia,

01:04:40and the Pacific Ocean region.

01:04:43Some species were transported to Florida and Hawaii by people.

01:04:46You could encounter this plant even on city streets.

01:04:49Rosary pea seeds are used in jewelry and some toys.

01:04:53People who wear rosary pea bracelets

01:04:56probably don't know about its seeds' toxicity.

01:04:58Rosary peas, as well as the castor bean,

01:05:01contribute to the destruction of cells.

01:05:04Interestingly, rosary pea seeds are used

01:05:07not only as decorations,

01:05:10but also for healing certain health conditions.

01:05:13This is the only poisonous plant from the list

01:05:16that looks poisonous.

01:05:19You probably won't want to pick it up when you notice it.

01:05:22See this red stem that looks more like an artery

01:05:25or an enlarged nervous system?

01:05:28Doll's eye looks a little creepy.

01:05:31Their internal structure is also as unpleasant as their appearance.

01:05:34Doll's eye has a dangerous toxin.

01:05:37The longer they grow,

01:05:40the more poisonous their composition gets.

01:05:43Doll's eye chemicals have a sedative effect on muscles and hearts.

01:05:46This means that your body relaxes so much

01:05:49that it stops working.

01:05:52You've probably seen this plant in reality

01:05:55or wildlife movies.

01:05:58These are rare representatives of carnivorous plants.

01:06:01Fortunately, they're not as dangerous for humans

01:06:04as for insects.

01:06:07But in any case, you shouldn't stick your finger in them.

01:06:10So here's how they work.

01:06:13The plant opens its mouth.

01:06:16There's a red petal with a fragrant smell in its middle.

01:06:19It's a decoy.

01:06:22A fly or some beetle notices this and decides to try it.

01:06:25They climb inside the flower,

01:06:28and tiny sensitive hairs inside the plant

01:06:31count the movements of the fly.

01:06:34If the fly has made more than two movements within 20 seconds,

01:06:37the plant closes its mouth in less than a second.

01:06:40This interval prevents the Venus flytrap

01:06:43from needlessly slamming when some garbage lands there.

01:06:46Then the fly becomes trapped.

01:06:49The bristles on the plant's jaws work like a cage.

01:06:52Prey cannot escape.

01:06:55Then the Venus flytrap injects digestive juice into its mouth.

01:06:58Which destroys the fly.

01:07:01Five to 12 days later, the plant opens again

01:07:04and waits for a new lunch.

01:07:07The Venus flytrap can eat flies, beetles, spiders,

01:07:10and even little frogs.

01:07:13Giant hogweed causes the most extensive damage among all plants.

01:07:16It's dangerous not specifically for one person,

01:07:19but for entire forests and fields.

01:07:22Giant hogweed is an invasive plant.

01:07:25It's like a parasite.

01:07:28It attacks quickly and destroys all other flowers in the area.

01:07:31Insects don't feed on giant hogweed.

01:07:34It's also problematic for people to destroy it,

01:07:37since giant hogweed causes an allergic reaction on the skin.

01:07:40It grows quickly,

01:07:43it's immune to poisons,

01:07:46and lives long.

01:07:49Giant hogweed can reach the height of a one-story house

01:07:52and be deeply rooted in the ground.

01:07:55It releases its seeds and a light breeze spreads them for miles.

01:07:58But we can't create an effective way to combat it.

01:08:01There's nothing that can defeat giant hogweed in nature.

01:08:04Well, not yet.

01:08:07Nature and evolution always find a balance.

01:08:11Texas is home to some of the oddest,

01:08:14creepiest, and most unusual animals you've ever heard of.

01:08:17It might come as a surprise,

01:08:20but this state is full of creatures you'll hardly see in other places.

01:08:23So, let's have a look at the most amazing ones.

01:08:29This truly beautiful, bright blue creature

01:08:32is called the Blue Sea Dragon.

01:08:35Despite such an imposing name,

01:08:38the critter is actually tiny.

01:08:41Usually no bigger than a grape.

01:08:44You may find it on the beach or floating beside you in the water.

01:08:47Now, you need to remember one thing.

01:08:50However pretty this little slug may look,

01:08:53never ever touch it.

01:08:55There are two of these pretty dragons on the shore of Mustang Island.

01:08:58He scooped one of the creatures up.

01:09:01He wanted to film it.

01:09:04Luckily, he put it back into the water before it could sting him.

01:09:07Otherwise, it would have ended badly

01:09:10since the Blue Sea Dragon is venomous.

01:09:13Despite their tiny size,

01:09:16their sting can pack a punch.

01:09:19All because of their diet.

01:09:22Their favorite dish is the Portuguese Man O' War,

01:09:25which is one of their favorite foods.

01:09:28The Blue Dragons first use mucus to neutralize

01:09:31the jellyfish's infamous stinging cells.

01:09:34And then, they steal these cells from the Man O' War's tentacles

01:09:37and store and concentrate them within their own tissues.

01:09:40Then, they release these stinging cells on contact,

01:09:43which makes their own sting more powerful,

01:09:46even worse than that of the Man O' War itself.

01:09:49These awesome creatures are also extremely sneaky.

01:09:52Even though their appearance is bright, to say the least,

01:09:55they are well-known masters of disguise.

01:09:58You see that vibrant blue coloring is actually on their bellies.

01:10:01And when they float on their backs,

01:10:04they simply blend with the water.

01:10:07As for their backs,

01:10:10they're great to camouflage these animals on the seafloor.

01:10:13Now, how about a funny fact?

01:10:16A group of tiny dragons floating together is called a Blue Fleet.

01:10:19And another fact,

01:10:22Blue Dragons normally lay a string of around 16 eggs.

01:10:25And they hatch into larvae.

01:10:28Blue Sea Dragons rarely make it to the shore.

01:10:31They're soft-bodied,

01:10:34so when the animals finally get through the surf zone and are deposited on the shore,

01:10:37they're already broken apart.

01:10:40And still, watch out!

01:10:43Even in this case, the venom in their bodies doesn't dissipate.

01:10:46But of course, Blue Sea Dragons aren't the only unusual animals inhabiting Texas.

01:10:49Have a look at this nightmarish creature.

01:10:52Poisonous, slimy,

01:10:55and kinda immortal.

01:10:58Meet the Hammerhead Worm.

01:11:01The worst thing?

01:11:04It might be lurking in your garden while you're watching this video.

01:11:07You can easily recognize this worm by its creepy spade-shaped head.

01:11:10It doesn't look like any other invertebrate you've ever seen.

01:11:13Or any other creature, that is.

01:11:16At first, it was only found in East Texas.

01:11:19But later,

01:11:22researchers spotted these spine-chilling creatures

01:11:25all over Texas.

01:11:28Basically everywhere but the arid areas of West Texas.

01:11:31One of the most terrifying things about this worm

01:11:34might be its length.

01:11:37This creature can grow as long as one foot.

01:11:40Luckily, such giants aren't very common.

01:11:43Most Hammerhead Worms only reach 6 inches in length.

01:11:46You can come across two species of these worms in Texas,

01:11:49and both of them will have a dark stripe down the middle.

01:11:52The larger of these two species

01:11:55are earthworms, which is actually a big problem.

01:11:58You might know that earthworms play an important role

01:12:01in keeping the soil rich in minerals

01:12:04and overall healthy.

01:12:07If earthworms disappear, plants in such areas

01:12:10won't be getting the nutrients they need.

01:12:13Even for humans and pets,

01:12:16meeting a Hammerhead Worm isn't the most pleasant experience either.

01:12:19Hammerheads are the only terrestrial invertebrates

01:12:22that secrete a very dangerous neurotoxin.

01:12:25It's as dangerous as pufferfish produce.

01:12:28Thanks to the sheer size of the human body,

01:12:31touching a Hammerhead Worm won't hurt you too much,

01:12:34but it may still cause your hand to start tingling

01:12:37or even go numb.

01:12:40It's much more dangerous for pets.

01:12:43There have been cases when dogs ate Hammerheads

01:12:46which left them feeling sick for the whole day.

01:12:49Interestingly, these worms are native to Southeast Asia.

01:12:52But they must have mastered the art of hitchhiking

01:12:55already found in the US.

01:12:59Keep in mind that if you want to get rid of a Hammerhead Worm,

01:13:02which is the best course of action,

01:13:05the worst thing you can do is chop it with a shovel.

01:13:08The thing is,

01:13:11flatworms reproduce by ripping themselves in half.

01:13:14So by cutting it, you actually help the populations of the worms,

01:13:17turning one into two.

01:13:20That's the reason why Hammerheads are sometimes described as immortal,

01:13:22which is a bit of a stretch,

01:13:25since these creatures can't survive in vinegar or salt.

01:13:28Now even though you're safe from the Hammerhead Worm in West Texas,

01:13:31it doesn't mean you can't come across another dangerous animal,

01:13:34such as the Land Lobster from Hell.

01:13:37These creatures are also known as Vinegaroons,

01:13:40and they're not real crustaceans.

01:13:43They're arachnids!

01:13:46Huh? Who would have guessed?

01:13:49Anyway, these eight-legged critters have a really nasty bite,

01:13:52but it's not the worst thing about them.

01:13:55Land Lobsters, brace yourself,

01:13:58spray vinegar-like 85% acid from their tails.

01:14:02Mostly they do it to protect themselves,

01:14:05but it still sounds like an unfriendly thing to do, right?

01:14:08A Land Lobster can also pinch a finger that's gotten too close

01:14:11with its heavy mouthparts.

01:14:14At the base of their abdomens,

01:14:17Vinegaroons have long whip-like tails.

01:14:19That's why these arachnids are often called Whip Scorpions,

01:14:23even though they're neither related to scorpions nor have stingers.

01:14:27Summer rains lure these arachnids out of their burrows

01:14:31in search of food and love.

01:14:34Luckily, experts claim that Land Lobsters aren't poisonous to humans,

01:14:38but they're very likely to leave a mark with their large pinchers,

01:14:41which they use to capture insects.

01:14:44Vinegaroons can be considered useful

01:14:46since they eat millipedes, crickets, scorpions, and cockroaches.

01:14:51They hunt by sensing the vibrations of their prey

01:14:54with those long front legs of theirs.

01:14:57Since Land Lobsters prefer to come out after dark,

01:15:00you aren't likely to see one in the daylight.

01:15:03But if you stumble upon one, check it out.

01:15:06If it's a female, it may be carrying her hatchlings on her back.

01:15:11Now, imagine it's the middle of spring

01:15:13and you're walking among blooming flowers and greenery.

01:15:17Suddenly, you spot something extremely bizarre on the ground.

01:15:22The animal looks cute, fluffy, and soft-looking.

01:15:26The desire to touch it is irresistible.

01:15:29Watch out!

01:15:31The sting of the hairy caterpillar can pack a serious punch.

01:15:34This one is called the Pus Moth Caterpillar, or ASP.

01:15:39There are several stinging caterpillar species in Texas.

01:15:43Pus Moth Caterpillar, Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar, Saddleback Caterpillar, and Eel Moth Caterpillar.

01:15:50And touching any of them can lead to unpleasant consequences.

01:15:54If you had touched that pretty hairy thing in the park,

01:15:57you'd most likely start feeling a burning sensation and develop an itchy rash.

01:16:02In the worst-case scenario, you'd even have to go to the emergency room.

01:16:07The main problem is that people react very differently to caterpillar toxins.

01:16:11Some may develop more severe reactions than others.

01:16:15Plus, how bad the consequences are also depends on the thickness of the skin in the affected area.

01:16:21In most cases, the unpleasant sensation and rash go away in a few hours or sometimes days.

01:16:27On the bright side, such caterpillars later turn into moths and butterflies that help pollinate flowers and trees.

01:16:35Getting rid of these critters means doing a massive disservice to the area where you live.

01:16:39Specialists are sure that coming across a stinging caterpillar won't lead to anything bad if you keep in mind the rule of thumb.

01:16:47If a caterpillar looks fuzzy, don't touch it.

01:16:50And the best solution to dealing with such creatures is educating people on what such caterpillars are,

01:16:57what they look like, and why it's dangerous to touch them with unprotected hands.

01:17:03Look at this pretty creature. It looks cute and totally harmless.

01:17:06But you should know that appearances are deceptive, and the blue-ringed octopus is an extremely venomous species of octopus.

01:17:13In fact, they are one of the world's most venomous marine animals.

01:17:17These creatures are found in tide pools and coral reefs.

01:17:21Despite their small size, a mere 5 to 8 inches, they are very dangerous to humans if provoked.

01:17:27Their venom contains a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin.

01:17:30When the animal feels threatened, its first instinct is to flee.

01:17:34But if the threat persists, for example, if you don't give up the idea of picking the octopus up,

01:17:39it will go into a defensive stance and display its blue rings.

01:17:43If the octopus is cornered and touched, it may bite its attacker, and it can end very, very badly.

01:17:49Tetrodotoxin causes severe consequences and sometimes results in total body paralysis.

01:17:54When the victim is fully aware of the surroundings but unable to move,

01:17:57the victim remains conscious and alert, but because of the paralysis, there's no way of signaling for help or indicating distress.

01:18:04Interestingly, in its chilling mode, the blue-ringed octopus looks brown or even pale.

01:18:10But once it feels endangered, it switches on its psychedelic pattern.

01:18:14Such a response is called aposematic behavior.

01:18:18In simple words, it's when an animal flashes bright colors warning others that, should they take a bite,

01:18:23they won't live to tell the tale.

01:18:26Of course, the blue-ringed octopus isn't the only dangerous animal that looks harmless out there.

01:18:31For example, look at this creature.

01:18:34This animal looks super cute, fluffy and soft-looking.

01:18:38The desire to touch it is irresistible.

01:18:41Watch out!

01:18:43The sting of the hairy caterpillar can pack a serious punch.

01:18:46It's called the Puss Moth Caterpillar or ASP.

01:18:49Hidden among that luxurious fur, there are venom spines equipped with stinging cells like jellyfish.

01:18:54People react very differently to caterpillar toxins.

01:18:57Some may develop more severe reactions than others.

01:19:00Plus, how bad the consequences are also depends on the thickness of the skin in the affected area.

01:19:06In most cases, the unpleasant sensations and rash go away in a few hours or sometimes days.

01:19:12The next animal on our list is the poison dart frog.

01:19:15There are more than 170 species of these frogs.

01:19:19And funnily enough, not all of them are actually poisonous.

01:19:23Those which are secret, extremely dangerous toxins through their skin.

01:19:27On the bright side, the frogs never use these toxins for hunting or attacking.

01:19:32They only have them for self-defense.

01:19:35Experts aren't sure, but they suppose that the frogs' ability to produce these toxins

01:19:40might come from a diet rich in toxin-containing animals, for example, centipedes or ants.

01:19:45Indigenous peoples in Central and South America

01:19:48have been known to rub their arrows and darts on the frogs in order to give them a poison tip.

01:19:53The main thing you need to keep in mind,

01:19:55if you touch a poison dart frog, seek assistance immediately.

01:19:59Especially if you've come across the golden poison dart frog, it's the most toxic one.

01:20:05The flamboyant cuttlefish is the only known venomous cuttlefish species.

01:20:09This creature has incredibly poisonous muscle tissue,

01:20:11despite its tiny, 2 to 3 inches at most, frame.

01:20:15Watch out for a dark brown underwater animal with two tentacles and eight arms.

01:20:20It's also likely to have purple and yellow around its arms.

01:20:23Anyway, your best bet is to avoid biting into one of these intriguing creatures,

01:20:28and you'll most likely be safe.

01:20:30Predatory cone snails are very slow animals.

01:20:33This is the main reason why they have no means to capture their prey mechanically.

01:20:37I mean, they can't really grasp another animal or bite it.

01:20:39Instead, the cone snail has evolved potent venom that helps it survive.

01:20:45Probably the coolest thing about these creatures is that, among almost 1,000 species,

01:20:51there's no overlap in the toxins produced by each of them.

01:20:55Even though cone snails don't have fangs,

01:20:57they have a venom-covered harpoon they use to sting their prey.

01:21:01There's a tube-like structure at the end of a venom bulb,

01:21:04and a modified tooth can shoot out of the tube at a mind-boggling speed of 400 mph.

01:21:08So being slowpokes doesn't actually bother cone snails.

01:21:12And since the venom is unique to certain species,

01:21:15some of them can deliver a minor sting,

01:21:17while others might cause serious harm to your health.

01:21:20For example, this reef-dwelling little fella unleashes a harpoon-like tooth to sting its prey,

01:21:25and there is no known cure for its venom.

01:21:28When you think of pufferfish,

01:21:30you probably imagine a bloated-looking creature with impressive 360-degree quills.

01:21:34But beneath those funny spikes, there is a vicious creature.

01:21:39And the most dangerous part of this creature is its poison,

01:21:42which is considered to be one of, if not the most dangerous and potent in the world.

01:21:47The good news is that you won't get poisoned unless you eat the fish.

01:21:51So maybe better stick to the California roll.

01:21:54Now look at this insect and try to never approach it.

01:21:57It's the Japanese giant hornet.

01:21:59This monstrously-sized creature, which can grow to be almost 2 inches long,

01:22:02is known to be highly aggressive.

01:22:05Its impressive stinger packs enough venom to make the sting very, and I mean it, painful.

01:22:10Some people don't survive being stung by this insect.

01:22:13Even though the venom isn't the most potent,

01:22:16the large size of the creature makes the dose too big.

01:22:19And if it's not one but several hornets attacking you,

01:22:22well, the consequences are likely to be dramatic.

01:22:25The giant hornet isn't necessarily unfriendly toward people or other animals,

01:22:29but it will sting if you provoke it.

01:22:32This truly beautiful bright blue creature is called the blue sea dragon.

01:22:37Despite such an imposing name, the critter is actually tiny,

01:22:40usually no bigger than a grape.

01:22:42You may find it on the beach or floating beside you in the water.

01:22:45Now, you need to remember one thing.

01:22:47However pretty this little slug may look, never ever touch it.

01:22:50Despite their tiny size, their sting can pack a punch, all because of their diet.

01:22:55Their favorite dish is the Portuguese man o' war,

01:22:58a jellyfish that has enough venom to paralyze small fish and crustaceans.

01:23:02The blue dragons first use mucus to neutralize the jellyfish's infamous stinging cells,

01:23:08and then they steal these cells from the man o' war's tentacles,

01:23:12and store and concentrate them within their own tissues.

01:23:15Then they release these stinging cells on contact,

01:23:18which makes their own sting even more powerful,

01:23:21even worse than that of the man o' war's itself.

01:23:24These awesome creatures are also extremely sneaky.

01:23:27Even though their appearance is bright, to say the least,

01:23:29they're well-known masters of disguise.

01:23:32You see, that vibrant blue coloring is actually on their bellies,

01:23:37and when they float on their backs, they simply blend with the water.

01:23:41As for their backs, they're grey to camouflage these animals on the sea surface.

01:23:45The Irukandji jellyfish, found in Australia,

01:23:48looks tiny and totally innocent, but appearances are deceitful,

01:23:52and this baby the size of a human thumbnail is actually extremely dangerous.

01:23:57During stinger season, which lasts from November to May,

01:24:01tons of beaches get closed because of these itsy-bitsy creatures.

01:24:05What makes the jellyfish particularly dangerous is their miniature size.

01:24:10People simply fail to notice them while swimming.

01:24:13The infamous box jellyfish, named for its cubic body shape,

01:24:17lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

01:24:19Stay away if you spot a creature with a squarish bell and long, dangling tentacles,

01:24:23and even if you only see a single tentacle without the jellyfish attached to it,

01:24:28don't come close or touch it.

01:24:30The box jellyfish can grow up to 10 feet,

01:24:32and each of its tentacles has about 500,000 microscopic harpoons to inject venom.

01:24:38Unlike other jellyfish, box jellyfish are hunters.

01:24:42They can latch onto you by wrapping their slender tentacles around your limb or body.

01:24:46With how dangerous their venom is, it won't be a pleasant experience.

01:24:50You're relaxing at the beach when suddenly you notice a huge flock of birds.

01:24:55They're excited about something near the water.

01:24:58You get the urge to go and investigate what's going on there.

01:25:01Here's some advice.

01:25:03Sit back down and stay away from the water.

01:25:06I get it, you think you're tough enough to handle a few pecks from a seagull.

01:25:10But it's not the birds that have me worried.

01:25:13It's what's lurking beneath the water.

01:25:14Fish are a staple of many diets across the animal kingdom, both above and below the ocean.

01:25:20Tuna, squid, and octopus, as well as marine mammals like seals,

01:25:25all prey on a wide variety of smaller fish.

01:25:28Species such as bluefish and striped bass are their favorite dinnertime meal.

01:25:34They're also the favorite of another ultra-predator,

01:25:37which is why you shouldn't join those birds by the water.

01:25:40If you do, you're risking your life.

01:25:42If you do, you're risking an encounter with a creature that can measure up to 20 feet long.

01:25:48That's three times the size of an average human.

01:25:51These are the size credentials of a great white shark.

01:25:55If there are fish around, they may come up near the ocean's surface to feed.

01:26:01A great white shark has the strongest bite force among animals.

01:26:06The only other animal species that comes close to them is the saltwater crocodile.

01:26:11And boy, is their ability to catch whiffs strong.

01:26:15Scientists believe it to be more than 100 times stronger than a human's.

01:26:20They don't even use the nostrils located beneath their snouts to breathe.

01:26:24It simply serves as a specialized sniffer.

01:26:29Thankfully, though, we're not the favorite meal of a shark,

01:26:32and the creature isn't going out of its way to hunt us.

01:26:35Researchers claim that the odds of being attacked by a shark are as low as 1 in 3.7 million.

01:26:43When unfortunate meetings between sharks and humans do happen,

01:26:47a shark may mistake a human for a seal or an extremely large striped bass.

01:26:52This is why you should stay away from those birds and fishes,

01:26:55and just let the other animals animal.

01:26:58You just focus on catching a tan in that sun chair.

01:27:02So, I guess this means that sharks have poor vision? Not quite.

01:27:06Their vision in clear water is up to 10 times better than that of humans swimming in the same environment.

01:27:12The structure of a shark's eye is quite similar to that of our own.

01:27:16It consists of a cornea, lens, retina, deep blue iris, and the pupil.

01:27:22Their eyes have two types of photoreceptors, rods and cones.

01:27:27Just like humans.

01:27:28Although we're not too sure how well rods and cones perform for sharks,

01:27:32research has shown that they possess only one type of cone.

01:27:36It means they most likely don't have full color vision like a human.

01:27:40This might explain why they can sometimes mix humans up with other creatures.

01:27:45But hey, who's ever really fully focused when they're about to devour their dinner?

01:27:50Shark eyes also have tapetum lucidum.

01:27:53This is a layer of mirrored crystals located behind the shark's retina.

01:27:56These crystals allow the shark to see quite well in extremely dim light and murky water.

01:28:02The crystals reflect incoming light, which gives the rods inside the retina

01:28:07a second chance at detecting light that they might have missed the first time around.

01:28:12Fun fact, cats also have tapetum lucidum.

01:28:16This is why your cat's eyes glow in the dark when you shine a light on them.

01:28:20Another telltale sign that sharks may be hovering around in nearby waters is the presence of whales.

01:28:26Sharks have been known to stalk the creatures for over 100 miles.

01:28:31They'll follow pods waiting for one of the members to become vulnerable before expertly striking.

01:28:37So, lesson learned?

01:28:40If you now see birds by the water, it's probably not a good thing.

01:28:44Unlike when you see thousands of birds flying together through the sky.

01:28:47This is known as murmuration.

01:28:50You can see thousands of starlings unite together in the sky, moving in unison,

01:28:55dipping and swerving at the same time.

01:28:58It's like they're competing in some sort of synchronization event at the Bird Olympics.

01:29:03This happens when the birds begin to roost.

01:29:06It can be as early as September in some places and as late as the end of November elsewhere,

01:29:11with more birds joining the nightly displays during this time.

01:29:14Are they doing it for our entertainment?

01:29:17Well, not really.

01:29:19Grouping together in the sky offers protection for predators, like falcons.

01:29:24It can also get cold when you're flying that high up.

01:29:27So, the birds gather in their thousands to keep warm and exchange information on potential feeding sites.

01:29:34Okay, so in this case, a huge group of birds doesn't mean anything evil.

01:29:38But if you ever see some flying towards you whilst in a wooded area,

01:29:41it's probably time to leave the area.

01:29:44Birds and other animals flee wildfire areas.

01:29:48Certain mammals, like amphibians, may actually stay in the fire.

01:29:52Instead of fleeing for their lives, they will dig underground to escape it.

01:29:57But nearly all other animals will try their best to leave.

01:30:01Oh, and don't forget to jump out of the way whilst all those animals are running towards you.

01:30:06Why don't we switch back from birds to birds?

01:30:08Yes, we now know if there are birds near the ocean surface,

01:30:12then sharks will probably be quite close as well.

01:30:15But what if there are no sharks anywhere near at all?

01:30:18If you ever happen to be in the ocean and notice some sharks heading deep towards the bottom of the ocean,

01:30:23this may be a sign that a hurricane or tropical storm is on the way.

01:30:28Sharks can sense the drop in barometric pressure that accompanies the storm,

01:30:33so they could be trying to get out of the water.

01:30:35Sharks don't quite care for humans,

01:30:38so they don't view our sandy beaches and inland towns and cities as safety zones.

01:30:43They're quite intelligent creatures and know the deeper they go in the ocean, the safer it gets.

01:30:48But the ocean's not always the best place to go in an emergency.

01:30:53Case in point, if you come across sea creatures who usually live in water randomly resting on the sand,

01:30:59don't get inside the water.

01:31:01This is a sign that the water is potentially toxic.

01:31:04It's possible that a red tide is congregating in the water near the beach.

01:31:09Red tides happen all over the world, but one algae species causes them in the Gulf of Mexico.

01:31:15A red tide occurs when the water is full of more toxic algae than normal.

01:31:21It can make the water reddish or brown, but sometimes the water's color is normal.

01:31:25If you go in the water, you might experience respiratory irritation like coughing or an itchy throat.

01:31:31If this happens to you, you should thoroughly rinse your mouth with fresh water.

01:31:36Speaking of water, frogs are famous for their croaking,

01:31:40but if you've ever heard them do it a lot more than usual, it might be because it's about to rain.

01:31:45One theory says that this might have to do with the weather.

01:31:48If you've ever heard them do it a lot more than usual, it might be because it's about to rain.

01:31:53One theory says that this might have to do with their mating.

01:31:57They first do it, then lay eggs in bodies of fresh water.

01:32:01A good rain means more watery real estate for the frogs.

01:32:05That's why male frogs invite the ladies for a date before the showers with a croaking symphony.

01:32:12If you hear a lot of buzzing around, meaning the bees are more active than usual,

01:32:18it could be on the way.

01:32:20When they feel like it's approaching, bees start working even harder and faster to collect more nectar before the storm.

01:32:28And once they're done with it, they'll always come back to the hive 10 to 15 minutes before the heavy rain,

01:32:35even when there are no obvious signs of it.

01:32:38Their secret is super sensitive hairs on their back that can pick up electrostatic buildups from storm clouds.

01:32:49Something interesting has recently happened in South Dakota.

01:32:55It was all over the Internet, so perhaps you already know about it.

01:32:59In July of 2022, the sky in this state suddenly turned green.

01:33:05So what happened there?

01:33:07Was it caused by a human or by nature?

01:33:10Let's find out.

01:33:12Tuesday, July 5th, 2022.

01:33:15Shortly after a heavy storm, the sky over South Dakota in the U.S. was still overcast.

01:33:22Locals finally went outside and saw that the sky had an intense dark green hue, and they'd never seen anything like that before.

01:33:30People said that it looked like something straight up from science fiction or even a horror movie.

01:33:36Unsurprisingly, South Dakotans immediately started spreading the news all over social media.

01:33:42People shared their beautiful yet very eerie pictures on Twitter.

01:33:47They showed the sky over the city of Sioux Falls and a few other towns.

01:33:52Even though it may look like something supernatural, in reality, this is not a terrifying phenomenon at all.

01:34:00It's a simple play of the light and the atmosphere.

01:34:03Something like this happens quite rarely and usually means that really bad weather is approaching.

01:34:09And that's also true to what happened in South Dakota.

01:34:13Just before people started sharing photos, a thunderstorm swept through the town of Sioux Falls.

01:34:19This was confirmed by the U.S. Weather Service.

01:34:21This hurricane was terrible.

01:34:23The wind speed was about 100 miles per hour.

01:34:26According to the Buford Scale on wind speeds, this is the fastest and most destructive storm.

01:34:32There are only 12 numbers on this scale and the maximum wind strength starts at 73 miles per hour.

01:34:39But why isn't this all over the news then?

01:34:43Well, because it's kind of a usual thing for the residents.

01:34:48Thunderstorms occur very often in the United States, especially in the warmer months.

01:34:53And 1 out of 10 such thunderstorms can become something serious, like a tornado.

01:34:59This one wasn't an exception.

01:35:01It was the so-called Dorayko storm.

01:35:05Dorayko is very widespread and long-lived.

01:35:09It's actually a combination of a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms and downpours.

01:35:15People often say that a Dorayko is as strong as a tornado.

01:35:19Still, there's a difference between them.

01:35:22A tornado is a vortex, a rotating column of air.

01:35:26It's usually about 500 feet in diameter.

01:35:28Although sometimes its width can reach up to 2.5 miles.

01:35:32I don't envy those who would stumble upon that.

01:35:35But the main point is that they rotate.

01:35:38The wind moves very fast in a circle near some invisible center.

01:35:44A Dorayko is a strong thunderstorm or a system of strong thunderstorms with straight-line winds.

01:35:51In other words, it doesn't spin.

01:35:53Instead, the Dorayko chooses a point somewhere and simply runs to it.

01:35:59Like a very motivated marathon runner.

01:36:03If we compare a Dorayko to an ordinary tornado,

01:36:07the latter has six levels of strength, from 40 to 380 miles per hour.

01:36:12So, a Dorayko is kind of like a small, average-level 1 to 2 tornado.

01:36:17Usually, its speed is within the range of 73 to 113 miles per hour.

01:36:24And, in both cases, they can be accompanied by severe thunderstorms, lightning, and rain.

01:36:30But still, these are different things.

01:36:34A storm becomes a Dorayko if the damaged trail left by it exceeds 240 miles

01:36:40and if the wind speed is at least 58 miles per hour.

01:36:43It's quite difficult to predict.

01:36:46It can form even on a clear day when meteorologists don't even anticipate any storms.

01:36:52And then, the winds appear suddenly.

01:36:55It's so surprising that they may even feel explosive.

01:36:59But the National Weather Service tries to warn people at least half an hour or an hour before this happens

01:37:05so that residents have time to prepare and hide.

01:37:09It wasn't any different this time.

01:37:11The storm swept through almost all of South Dakota, as well as the states of Minnesota and Iowa.

01:37:17The consequences were quite serious.

01:37:20More than 30,000 people were left without electricity.

01:37:23Fortunately, people were fine.

01:37:26That's because the locals are pretty used to Doraykos.

01:37:31However, the green sky is something different.

01:37:35It became a very unusual sight for the locals.

01:37:37Everyone was wondering why it happened.

01:37:40Was it a bad sign or a normal weather phenomenon?

01:37:45Well, to be honest, scientists don't have an exact explanation.

01:37:50But although there are only assumptions, they sound pretty convincing.

01:37:56A green sky is a very rare phenomenon.

01:37:59Most scientists think that this happens when a powerful storm approaches the area

01:38:03before sunset or sunrise.

01:38:06Then the sky will turn green in this area.

01:38:10NBC meteorologist Bill Cairns, who once faced a similar event himself,

01:38:15suggests that the green sky appeared because of the huge hail before the storm.

01:38:21First, let's talk about why the sky looks blue.

01:38:25Or any other shade, depending on its mood.

01:38:28In short, the sun simultaneously kills the clouds,

01:38:31or in short, the sun simultaneously carries all the rays of the color spectrum.

01:38:36It may seem white to us in total, but it actually has all the colors at the same time.

01:38:43However, these color waves all have different lengths.

01:38:47For example, blue rays are shorter than the other ones.

01:38:51They jump away from the air molecules better than the red waves,

01:38:55so they reach us faster.

01:38:57Because of this, on a regular clear day, the sky seems blue.

01:39:03At the same time, red and orange color waves are very long and move slower,

01:39:08so they are usually left behind.

01:39:11But when the sun goes below the horizon, or rises,

01:39:15the rays' directions change, and these waves reach us better.

01:39:20It all means that even if the sunrises and sunsets seem red and orange to us,

01:39:25in fact, there are still blue and green waves among them.

01:39:30But they have to bounce off something to reach us faster,

01:39:33and become stronger than the red rays.

01:39:36Have you guessed what I'm getting at?

01:39:40This is where the water comes into play.

01:39:43Clouds are made up of water droplets.

01:39:46When they become large enough, but don't fall yet,

01:39:49for example, due to strong winds, they affect how the light behaves in the sky.

01:39:55Large heavy storms mostly consist of water and hail,

01:39:59and water reflects blue and green rays best of all.

01:40:03That's exactly the reason why the water in rivers and lakes seems bluish green to us,

01:40:08although in reality, it's transparent.

01:40:11And, yeah, algae matter too.

01:40:15So, there are a couple of key factors why the sky may turn green.

01:40:20First off, the sun should be at the horizon level.

01:40:23Another factor is that while the storm clouds are approaching,

01:40:27they shouldn't cover the sky completely.

01:40:30There still must be a little room for the sun rays.

01:40:33Then, barely noticeable blue rays jump up to storm clouds.

01:40:37They're repelled by water droplets and hail.

01:40:40Mixing with the red sunset, they turn into a bright green light.

01:40:45And this green light is spreading all over the sky.

01:40:49That's why in most of these cases, when the sky turns green,

01:40:53people can only see it in the evenings.

01:40:56Yeah, it can also happen in the middle of the day.

01:40:59But since the conditions are already quite specific,

01:41:02seeing something like that during the day is even rarer.

01:41:07Still, if you see a green sky, you don't need to panic.

01:41:11It doesn't necessarily mean that a terrible storm is approaching.

01:41:14The chances are high, though.

01:41:17But still, it's not a rule.

01:41:19It can be just heavy rain.

01:41:21Or a heavy hail.

01:41:23In other words, if you see a green sky,

01:41:26then you'd better hide.

01:41:28And hide your car.

01:41:30However, if you were lucky enough to see the stunning sky

01:41:33from the comfort of your own home,

01:41:35it's indeed very exciting.

01:41:37If you get a glimpse of something like that,

01:41:39just know that you had a chance to experience something very rare and special.

01:41:44Some people said it was the most incredible thing they had ever seen.

01:41:50Ah, beautiful.

01:41:52You're walking with your friend and look up at the sky.

01:41:55The sun looks a bit different today.

01:41:57Like it has some kind of ring around it.

01:42:00A rainbow-type thing.

01:42:02Huh, look at that.

01:42:04Your friend pulls his head up out of his phone.

01:42:06You shouldn't look directly at the…

01:42:08Stop everything!

01:42:10He says.

01:42:12It's a sun halo!

01:42:14Unless you have the world's biggest umbrella on you!

01:42:17A sun halo is nature's sign that there's a snow or rainstorm on its way.

01:42:23It's caused by clouds that are made of bazillions of small ice crystals.

01:42:28Sunlight goes through those crystals,

01:42:30which causes the light to split and refract.

01:42:33Like when there's a rainbow.

01:42:35Now, don't look at the sun halo directly.

01:42:37It's going to be tempting,

01:42:39because it's not something you see every day.

01:42:41Plus, it's really beautiful.

01:42:42But ultraviolet light can burn the exposed tissue of your retina

01:42:46and cause serious damage,

01:42:48so it's not worth it.

01:42:50Grab some sunglasses and you're good to go.

01:42:53This phenomenon lasts around 40 minutes.

01:42:56These clouds are the same ones that can cause a spooky ring around the moon at night sometimes.

01:43:01In June 2020,

01:43:03what the people were looking at was an anvil cloud,

01:43:06a rare storm formation in the sky.

01:43:09Formed when strong air currents carry water vapor upwards,

01:43:13the air expands and spreads out as it hits the bottom of the stratosphere.

01:43:18It pushes the dense cloud into the cool anvil shape you see,

01:43:22and sometimes it even gets to be a mushroom.

01:43:25Anvil clouds produce some of the most dangerous lightning of all storms,

01:43:30one that's called a bolt out of the blue.

01:43:33This lightning strike seems to magically come out of the blue sky,

01:43:36with the storm being many miles away.

01:43:39This type of bolt comes from the top of the anvil

01:43:42and can be 10 times more powerful than a typical lightning strike.

01:43:46People got so frightened after witnessing a giant cloud

01:43:50that they thought something terrible must have happened.

01:43:53The locals had pictures of the large billow on social media

01:43:57before officials could explain what was going on.

01:44:00Authorities managed to calm everyone's fears

01:44:02by informing them it was nothing more than a natural phenomenon

01:44:06than the beautiful one at that.

01:44:08Before dissipating, these clouds typically stay in one area,

01:44:12regardless of how strong the wind is.

01:44:15If you look off the western coast of France,

01:44:18you'll see the Isle of Rey.

01:44:21Thanks to its beautiful blue waters,

01:44:23clean sandy beaches, and stunning lighthouses,

01:44:26this place is a very popular vacation spot.

01:44:29But perhaps the coolest part about the Isle of Rey

01:44:32is what you see just beyond the shore.

01:44:34Square waves.

01:44:36This strange wave pattern looks like a giant chessboard over the ocean.

01:44:40Many visitors to the island become captivated by these waves

01:44:44and go to high up places like nearby lighthouses

01:44:47to take pictures of this natural phenomenon.

01:44:50They say that when looking down at these square patterns in the water,

01:44:53it's almost as if there's some sort of metal grid underneath it.

01:44:57And while these wave patterns are truly fascinating,

01:45:00the people who choose to enjoy them from afar are doing it right.

01:45:04They know to stay out of the water.

01:45:07To understand how these square waves come to be,

01:45:10it's important to know how waves occur in the first place.

01:45:14Generally, waves can travel many miles over the surface of the water,

01:45:18depending on local winds and weather.

01:45:21And even on days when the weather seems somewhat calm,

01:45:25storms located elsewhere can send in crashing waves

01:45:28that affect the surrounding calm waters.

01:45:31When waves travel onto the shores of distant lands,

01:45:34they're called swells.

01:45:36This is different from a wave that occurs from local wind.

01:45:39When two different swells coming from opposite directions meet,

01:45:43it's known as a cross sea.

01:45:46This is what generates these square waves you see near the Isle of Rey.

01:45:51While these waves are one of the reasons why people flock to this island,

01:45:55they can still expect to enjoy calm, relaxing waters most of the time.

01:45:59The cross sea only occurs during certain times of the year in specific weather.

01:46:05Plus, it's common knowledge around Rey to steer clear of the ocean

01:46:09when these square waves appear,

01:46:11so it's not often that you hear about anyone getting caught in them,

01:46:15because most people know better.

01:46:17And since a lot of people on the island are tourists,

01:46:20there are plenty of signs around warning them to get out of the water during this time.

01:46:25However, not everyone gets the memo.

01:46:27There have been a handful of cases where people got caught in the cross sea,

01:46:32but thankfully and luckily, they managed to get out safely.

01:46:37These square waves have become somewhat famous over time,

01:46:41given that there's really no other place in the world that boasts a cross sea like this one.

01:46:46In fact, no one has ever spotted square waves anywhere but the Isle of Rey.

01:46:52However, there are swells that can be found throughout the oceans in the world,

01:46:55and a cross sea can take place.

01:46:58But if the angle they approach each other at is more shallow,

01:47:02the wave may actually look like it's coming from the same direction, even when it's not.

01:47:07Not to mention, swells can slowly lose momentum as they drift further and further away,

01:47:13so their crest, or the top of the wave, appears more round and less jagged.

01:47:18The Isle of Rey's specific wind and weather patterns are literally the perfect storm

01:47:23and create a cross sea that people can clearly recognize.

01:47:28It's 2009 in Italy.

01:47:31A man was hanging out in his kitchen.

01:47:34Then he saw some flickering lights.

01:47:36He knew just what to do.

01:47:38He moved his family to a safe place.

01:47:40A couple of seconds later, a massive earthquake hit the whole region.

01:47:45His family survived thanks to his quick reaction.

01:47:48He knew these flickering lights were actually a sign of an upcoming earthquake.

01:47:53People have been seeing these mysterious lights for ages.

01:47:57Some thought it was some kind of sign coming from space.

01:48:00Scientists never used to take them seriously, but after the invention of photography,

01:48:06more and more evidence of these strange lights appeared.

01:48:09Soon, they realized the connection.

01:48:12The lights appear, and pretty soon, the earthquake hits.

01:48:16After a bit of digging around,

01:48:18they actually found some records of these earthquake lights from hundreds of years ago.

01:48:24There were bluish flames coming out of the ground right before an earthquake.

01:48:29Oh, creepy.

01:48:32The Christmas Island Crab is part of an amazing phenomenon once a year.

01:48:37Their migration period is determined by the phase of the moon

01:48:41and the first rainfall between October and February,

01:48:44although the precise date can't be predicted.

01:48:46Once the crabs have been prompted,

01:48:49they leave their homes amongst the forest and migrate in massive hordes towards the sea.

01:48:54Numbering in millions, a sea of red crabs is observed

01:48:59as they make their journey across the island,

01:49:02creating roadblocks and making their way to the ocean.

01:49:05There, they lay their eggs and then make their trek back,

01:49:09returning to the forest until the next year.

01:49:12There are bridges in the Indian state of Meghalaya

01:49:16created entirely of living tree roots.

01:49:19The bridges are made up of tangled thick roots

01:49:22that are strong enough to hold over 50 people at a time.

01:49:26The Khasi and Jaintia tribes became masters in the art of growing these insane bridges.

01:49:33They need them to cross the streams below with ease.

01:49:36Some of these root bridges are over 180 years old.

01:49:40To make them, the members of the tribes care for the roots

01:49:43until they grow long enough to reach the opposite bank.

01:49:46It can take as long as 10 to 15 years to grow a bridge.

01:49:50In the process, the roots become tightly entwined with one another.

01:49:55This is how the bridges get so strong.

01:49:58And once a bridge is fully grown, it can last for over 500 years.

01:50:02While some roots decay, new ones are continually growing.

01:50:06That's why the unusual natural constructions last so long.

01:50:11Light pillars are colorful beams of light

01:50:13that either jet up from Earth towards the sky or shine down from the clouds.

01:50:19Usually, they only occur in cold temperatures

01:50:22as they form when the sunlight gets reflected off ice crystals floating in the air.

01:50:27The higher the crystals are in the air,

01:50:29the taller these bright and colorful pillars become.

01:50:32They're most common at sunrise and sunset.

01:50:35There are hidden caves all over the world that are filled with glowing light.

01:50:40This light comes from hundreds of glowworms that have made a cozy home in the caves.

01:50:46Some of the caves are more than 30 million years old,

01:50:49and most of them can be found in New Zealand and Australia.

01:50:53The worms themselves don't actually glow,

01:50:56but baby worms, called larvae, form silk strings made out of mucus.

01:51:01These strings form nets.

01:51:04It's these nets that can illuminate the entire cave.

01:51:06Their purpose is to attract flies and other tasty insects for the glowworms to munch on.

01:51:13Rainbow trees are 100% a real thing.

01:51:17Hailing from the Philippines and Indonesia,

01:51:20these colorful wonders are called rainbow eucalyptus, or rainbow gum.

01:51:25The rainbow hues are created by the contrast in colors of old and new bark.

01:51:30As the thin surface layers of bark peel away,

01:51:32they reveal newer ones with brighter, more eye-catching colors.

01:51:37The brand new bark is green.

01:51:40Then it changes to purple, then red, and finally brown.

01:51:44This is because the trees contain a substance called chlorophyll.

01:51:48It makes the bark green.

01:51:50As each strip of bark ages, it loses chlorophyll and slowly changes its color.

01:51:56Ah, the beauty of nature all around you.

01:51:59The fresh air, and days and days of meditative rest far away from civilization ahead of you.

01:52:06But you've been walking for quite some time to get this far, and now it's time to set up camp.

01:52:12The woods around are dense, and there's no suitable place to put up your tent.

01:52:17Then you notice a nice green patch completely devoid of trees,

01:52:21and only sprinkled with some low-growing bushes.

01:52:24Well, you go there, smug about your find, and get to work on the tent.

01:52:29The ground is unusually soft and smooth, but that doesn't bother you too much.

01:52:34All the better! The pegs go into the soil like a knife into butter.

01:52:38By the time you're done, it's dark already,

01:52:41so you get inside the tent and crawl into your cozy sleeping bag.

01:52:46You wake up from a creepy feeling that something's not right.

01:52:50You feel… wet?

01:52:53You start wriggling inside your bag, and yes, it's almost completely soaked from below.

01:52:57You rush out of the tent as quickly as you can, and see that it's started to sink into the ground.

01:53:04Turns out, you've set up camp on a swamp.

01:53:08And you've been lucky too. Swamps aren't always obvious.

01:53:12Sometimes you won't even see them until you're knee-deep in muck and trouble.

01:53:17Getting out of there can be tricky as well.

01:53:20The moss and roots create a soft padding that's slowly pulling you under,

01:53:24and when you try to raise your feet, you might end up without your boots.

01:53:29Telling a forest swamp is fairly easy when you know what to look for.

01:53:33If you're in a dense thicket and see a lush, sunlit glade where nothing but moss and an occasional bush grows,

01:53:40chances are high it's a swamp.

01:53:43You can also check it by stepping lightly on this serene ground.

01:53:47If it feels springy, better stay away.

01:53:49One other thing the swamp can be dangerous for is, surprisingly, a forest fire.

01:53:55If you stay too close to a swamp and start a campfire, it might catch on, especially if there's a strong wind.

01:54:02Swamps and marshes are chock-full of tar hidden underneath the layers of water and moss.

01:54:08When it starts to burn, extinguishing it is nearly impossible.

01:54:12Always keep a safe distance from any swamp before starting a campfire.

01:54:17Another common mistake while breaking camp in the wild is not looking up.

01:54:22Let's say you found some solid ground to put up the tent,

01:54:26cleared it from all the nasty cones and stones, and made sure there aren't any anthills close by.

01:54:32You don't want anything to creep inside your sleeping bag at night, do you?

01:54:36The spot you've chosen is perfect, and the tree your tent is leaning to protects you from the wind and rain.

01:54:43You set up for the night, turning off your camping light, and suddenly, your tent is thrashing as if a wild beast has attacked you.

01:54:51Bewildered, you scramble out and see a huge branch has fallen on top of your tent.

01:54:57The worst thing about this is that you would've seen it coming if only you'd looked up before setting up camp.

01:55:04Half-broken and rotten branches are easy to spot, and it's never a good idea to put your tent straight beneath them.

01:55:10Such a thing can break off at any moment, and you'll be lucky if it doesn't tear your tent and harm you.

01:55:17Dozens of tourists make this mistake every year, and often pay dearly for it.

01:55:23Looking up will also help you make sure there are no wasp nests or spider nets above you.

01:55:30These might prove even worse than a branch, because wasps don't like to be disturbed, and spiders may turn out to be venomous.

01:55:38Now, if you see a beautiful river and decide to break camp on its banks, pay special attention to where exactly you put up your tent as well.

01:55:47If you stay too close to the water, especially in spring or fall, chances are you'll find yourself afloat in the middle of the night.

01:55:56Always check the weather forecast for the day and the night after.

01:56:00If there's a chance of rain, better stay away from any bodies of water, especially rivers.

01:56:04The rain might raise the water level in it and make it burst its banks, drowning your little camp and ruining your vacation.

01:56:13But even if you're far from water, rain could spoil it for you.

01:56:17Say you're once again deep in the forest and tree crowns are protecting you from the weather.

01:56:22Precipitation still gets to the forest floor, but at least it's not as bad as in the open.

01:56:28The next night, when you set up camp in another place, you feel the ground is soft and springy.

01:56:34It's not a swamp though, just the last night's rain has loosened the soil.

01:56:38If you're in such a spot, better move to somewhere solid.

01:56:42Thing is, soft and loose ground might start creeping out from under you at any point.

01:56:48This movement isn't as dangerous as when you're in a swamp, but the pegs of your tent might come loose too,

01:56:54and you'll end up buried underneath a pile of rugs that used to be your tent.

01:56:59And if you decided to set up your camp in a cozy-looking valley, and the rain starts falling when you're already there,

01:57:06well, prepare for a nice floating trip.

01:57:09All the water will naturally go down and into your shelter, eventually finding its way under your tent.

01:57:16No wonder you'll find yourself knee-deep in rainwater when you wake up.

01:57:20Oh, what a great spot for taking a bit of rest after a long walk.

01:57:24It's on a hilltop, so there's no water nearby, the sun's shining, and not a single tree to block it out.

01:57:31Sunbathing here is gonna be fabulous!

01:57:34Well, it seems this way for the first few hours.

01:57:37But when you stay here long enough, you'll see the error of your decision.

01:57:42Direct sunlight on your tent can make it hot in a matter of hours due to the materials it's made of.

01:57:48And you'll feel it on your skin as soon as you crawl inside.

01:57:51Let's just say you won't want to stay in there for long until it's night, and the tent's cooled down at least.

01:57:58Same thing with the wind.

01:58:00In an open spot, gusts can reach crazy speeds, and if you haven't been careful while hammering down the pegs,

01:58:07you might say goodbye to your tent sooner than you'd like.

01:58:11It's best to find a spot near a tree that would protect you, both from the sun and the wind.

01:58:16Still, don't get tempted to camp near a lone tree when the weather forecast isn't in your favor.

01:58:22Both sunny and rainy weather are okay, but if there's a serious storm coming,

01:58:27a single standing tree will serve as a lightning rod.

01:58:31It's not hard to imagine what may come if lightning strikes a tree you're camping under.

01:58:36Hey, you might get a charge out of it!

01:58:39When winter camping, the weather can be even more treacherous.

01:58:42Remember what I said about direct sunlight? Forget it.

01:58:46In winter, it's best to have the sun shining on your tent.

01:58:50The cold might get to you no matter how cool and expensive your tent is,

01:58:54and the winds are generally much more vicious in the cold season.

01:58:58Direct sunlight will help you cope with much of the cold.

01:59:01One of the more common mistakes hikers make is starting a campfire too close to the tent.

01:59:07Again, the material of the tent conducts heat very well,

01:59:10and it's a good thing when it's warm.

01:59:13But it also catches on fire easily.

01:59:16Sometimes, one spark is enough to burn your shelter to cinders.

01:59:20Make sure there's enough room between your tent and the campfire,

01:59:24and never leave your fire unsupervised.

01:59:27When you go to sleep, it's a rule to extinguish the fire

01:59:31so that you don't wake up to a blazing inferno around you.

01:59:34Insects can ruin even the most exciting hike.

01:59:37Mosquitoes, ants, ticks, and other pesky bugs can find their way into your tent wherever you are,

01:59:45so make sure you protect yourself from them.

01:59:48Use skin repellents when you go outside,

01:59:51and put an anti-insect spiral next to the entrance to your tent.

01:59:55Don't put it too close or inside, though.

01:59:57The smell is irritating, and it can also cause a fire.

02:00:01To avoid the best part of mosquitoes, and especially ticks,

02:00:04try to stay away from lakes, ponds, and dense forests where swamps may occur.

02:00:10Skeeters reproduce in still water,

02:00:13so areas around such pools are replete with the winged pests.

02:00:17But they have a hard time flying when there's some wind,

02:00:20so choosing an open spot is your best bet to get rid of them.

02:00:24Don't let them bug you!

02:00:26That's it for today!

02:00:28So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity,

02:00:30then give the video a like and share it with your friends.

02:00:32Or, if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!

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