00:00Some mountains look so picture-perfect that you'd swear they were hand-sculpted by a divine architect.
00:07And the thing is, you're not that wrong if you think so.
00:10Wait, did someone really build mountains?
00:13Hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest, there's a bizarre cone-shaped peak that raises that exact question.
00:20And halfway across the world, there's a landscape that looks like someone spilled a massive bag of Hershey Kisses across a green field.
00:28No, you can't make this stuff up.
00:30Get ready to learn what would happen if a Hershey's Kiss and the Road to El Dorado movie had a baby in real life.
00:37Because we're diving into two of the most mysterious and oddly satisfying natural formations on Earth.
00:44Cerro El Kono in Peru and the Chocolate Hills in the Philippines.
00:48One might be an ancient lost pyramid, and the other turns into chocolate every year.
00:53Well, sort of.
00:54Let's start with El Kono.
00:55This strange, solitary mountain rises more than 1,300 feet above the treetops in the heart of the Amazon, right near the Peru-Brazil border.
01:05Sure, the Amazon is no stranger to mountains.
01:08There are impressive ranges, like the Ameri Mountains farther north and the Andes, not in the Amazon per se, but running along Peru's spine.
01:17But you see, El Kono is different.
01:20For starters, it's completely isolated.
01:23If you fly over the region in a helicopter, all you'll see for miles is an endless emerald sea of rainforest.
01:31Then, boom, out of nowhere, a perfectly cone-shaped mountain juts into the sky like a giant green Dorito.
01:38It's not part of any major mountain chain, it doesn't have any siblings, and it looks so symmetrical that it almost feels artificial.
01:47And it's covered by forest.
01:49Now, naturally, this has sparked all kinds of theories.
01:53Some people think it's an extinct volcano.
01:55Others say it's a freak of erosion.
01:57And then, there are those who whisper more exciting possibilities.
02:02What if it's a lost pyramid?
02:04And, before you roll your eyes, this idea is not as wild as it sounds.
02:09And some people actually stand by this theory.
02:12After all, the ancient civilizations of South America built pyramids too.
02:16What?
02:17Yeah, can you believe that the Egyptians didn't actually invent the concept of pyramids?
02:21No joke!
02:23The Mochichachapoya and Inca civilizations all built monumental structures.
02:28In fact, pyramids are found all over the world, from Ethiopia and Thailand to Greece, Mexico, and even Italy.
02:35So, why do pyramids keep popping up throughout history?
02:39Simple.
02:40They're structurally sound.
02:41The broad base supports the weight, and the pointed top was often seen as a symbolic connection to the heavens.
02:47Okay, but what are the chances of all these people coming up with the same idea at the same time?
02:54Okay, calm down.
02:56Ancient aliens.
02:57Yeah, that's possible.
02:59But, as it turns out, ancient people did talk to each other.
03:03Via trade, migration, and cultural exchange.
03:06Ideas like pyramids didn't need to come from a secret one-world civilization.
03:11They just came from smart, curious humans scattered across the globe,
03:15all looking up at the stars and wondering how to get closer.
03:19In fact, recent archaeological discoveries have revealed massive ancient cities deep in the jungle
03:25that were completely swallowed by nature.
03:28In Guatemala, scientists uncovered a lost Maya city with its own pyramid structures.
03:33In Mexico, an entire metropolis was found buried beneath forested hills.
03:39So, yes, humanity can forget an entire city.
03:42Take another look at El Kono from the air.
03:45And you might start believing it, too.
03:47Its slopes are smooth.
03:49Its symmetry is uncanny.
03:51From above, it resembles a colossal step pyramid or ziggurat,
03:55cloaked in jungle vines and secrecy.
03:58And if someone told you it was the moss-covered remnant of an ancient civilization,
04:03you might just nod and say, yeah, I see it.
04:06Of course, no one's proven anything yet.
04:08But the mystery is delicious.
04:11Like a myth waiting to be cracked open.
04:14At the same time, for people who live nearby, El Kono isn't just a geological curiosity.
04:20It's sacred.
04:21In Andean cosmology, mountains like El Kono are known as Apus, spiritual guardians of the land.
04:28These aren't just rocks.
04:30They're living beings.
04:31Protectors.
04:32Deities.
04:33Think Tefiti from Moana.
04:35But South American and a little more mysterious.
04:38The indigenous tribes in the region still pay their respects to this mountain,
04:42treating it not as a tourist attraction, but as a sacred ancestor.
04:46And while everyone's busy debating whether El Kono is a mountain or a pyramid,
04:52nature's just vibing.
04:54The area surrounding El Kono is now part of Sierra del Divisor National Park,
04:59created in 2015 to protect one of the richest ecosystems in the Amazon.
05:04We're talking about rare plants, hundreds of bird species, many types of monkeys,
05:09and endangered animals like jaguars, giant armadillos, and even tapirs,
05:14the jungle's adorable pig-elephant hybrid.
05:17And yes, there are caves, springs, and even undiscovered ruins
05:21hidden deep in the forest around El Kono.
05:25So, what is El Kono, really?
05:28Some geologists think it's likely a volcanic cone, based on its shape.
05:32That's the official word from UNESCO, anyway.
05:35Others argue it's a rare example of erosional geomorphology.
05:39A fancy way of saying, wind, water, and time teamed up to carve a perfect mountain out of the landscape.
05:46Like geological origami, shaped by millions of years of natural forces.
05:51But the truth is, we don't know.
05:53Not for sure.
05:54Not yet.
05:55Until someone launches a respectful, science-based expedition,
05:59with drones, ground-penetrating radar, and a green light from the local communities,
06:04El Kono will keep its secrets.
06:07And maybe that's the best part.
06:08Sometimes, it's mysteries that make the world feel truly magical.
06:13Now, let's jump onto a metaphorical plane and head to the Philippines,
06:18where the mystery continues and gets a little sweeter.
06:22Spread across more than 20 square miles,
06:24there are between 1,200 and 1,700, or even more,
06:29perfectly shaped hills that look like chocolate kisses.
06:33Like seriously.
06:33In the dry season, the grass turns brown,
06:37and suddenly, it's like someone dropped hundreds of Hershey kisses all over the landscape.
06:42Sweet, right?
06:44These are the chocolate hills.
06:46Duh.
06:47And they're some of the Philippines' most iconic natural wonders.
06:50From afar, they look almost too symmetrical,
06:53like some alien landscaper came down with a measuring tape and a sense of humor.
06:59But how did they get here?
07:01Well, according to scientists, the chocolate hills are a rare type of karst formation,
07:06a term used to describe landscapes formed when slightly acidic rainwater dissolves soft rock like limestone.
07:13In this case, the hills were once coral reefs and marine limestone that were pushed above sea level by tectonic forces.
07:21Over time, the exposed rocks got eroded by wind, rain, and underwater rivers,
07:26leaving behind this stunning army of symmetrical mounds.
07:30It's a geological marvel millions of years in the making.
07:34But science isn't the only explanation in town.
07:38Local legends are more fun.
07:39One story says the hills were formed when two giants got into a rock-throwing fight,
07:44launching boulders at each other until they collapsed and exhausted,
07:48leaving the landscape littered with mouths.
07:51Just like that one scene from The Hobbit movie.
07:53Another tale speaks of a heartbroken giant whose tears turned into earth,
07:58forming the hills as a tribute to his lost love.
08:01Aww.
08:02Today, the chocolate hills are a national geological monument
08:06and a major tourist attraction in the Philippines.
08:09They're also being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
08:13Because, really, where else can you find such a naturally satisfying mix of geology and dessert?
08:20If you ever want to visit, it's pretty easy.
08:23Fly into Boho Palango International Airport, or take a ferry from Cebu,
08:28and then head to the towns of Carmen, Batuan, or Sambangya.
08:32There are designated viewing decks, eco-parks, and even ATV tours that'll let you explore the hills up close.
08:41So, whether you're chasing lost pyramids in the jungle,
08:44or climbing a mountain that turns into chocolate in the summer,
08:47the planet still has places that surprise and delight.
08:51And that's the real treasure.
08:53Sometimes, nature's weirdest, most beautiful shapes aren't hiding aliens or ancient tech.
08:58They're just proof that Earth has a wild imagination.
09:03That's it for today.
09:04So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.
09:09Or, if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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