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Brace yourself for a journey to the edge of civilization and into the heart of bustling communities in this video.
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00:00Welcome to the spooktacular tale of the John Lawson House in New Hamburg, just 80 miles north of New York
00:08City.
00:09This 150-year-old home is known for its creepy mannequins that used to magically change outfits and poses on
00:18the front porch.
00:19Some say these mannequins were haunted by spirits from tragic events that happened nearby in the 19th century.
00:28Back in the day, the Lawson family built this historic home in a bustling Riverport village.
00:35Tragedy struck when a train accident and a destructive fire occurred near the house in the 1870s, causing chaos and
00:43taking many lives.
00:46The mysterious mannequins appeared without explanation, dressed in old-timey clothes and accessories.
00:52The homeowner was unknown when that creepy stuff was first noticed.
00:57Sometimes, mannequins would hold something in their hands, like books.
01:01Also, it seemed like those spine-chilling figures didn't fancy bad weather.
01:07They would vanish during storms and even face the site of the lethal train accident.
01:12But suddenly, in 2016, the mannequins vanished without a trace,
01:18leaving behind a mystery that still haunts the John Lawson house to this day.
01:28Venice, the one in Italy, not a neighborhood in California, may be considered the city of love and all,
01:35but Poveglia Island has a fishy reputation.
01:38Made up of two natural islands and one human-made one with wooden pillars and layers of earth,
01:44this place is like a creepy puzzle waiting to be solved.
01:48One island is covered in greenery, another has the main buildings, and the smallest is basically a fort.
01:55The island is now deserted with just a few lonely structures left standing.
02:00Rumor has it that about half of the land on the island is made up of human ashes.
02:09According to stories, when a plague hit, the hospital had to figure out what to do with all the bodies.
02:15Supposedly, they ended up burning them.
02:17But some say that over 100,000 victims were actually buried in mass graves, called plague pits.
02:23The details about how all these bodies were disposed of are sketchy at best,
02:28leaving room for spooky speculation about what went down on the island.
02:33Whether they were torched or buried, the sad truth is that thousands of lives were lost and left behind on
02:39Poveglia Island.
02:41Another creepy tale involves a crazy asylum director who supposedly jumped off the clock tower after being swallowed up by
02:48a mysterious fog.
02:50But this story may have originated from shows like Ghostbusters, with no actual proof that this dude even existed.
02:57There are also whispers of patients seeing ghosts within the psychiatric hospital, adding to the island's spooky vibe.
03:05While these stories might be a bit out there, they definitely add to the mystery surrounding Poveglia Island.
03:13Despite all the exaggerated stories and urban legends, one thing remains true.
03:18Poveglia Island has a dark history filled with tragedy.
03:21This place has seen it all.
03:23The empty buildings and abandoned landscapes are like sad reminders of the sorrowful past that haunts this eerie island.
03:32Hush, don't move.
03:34We're in the clearing in Hoya Bacu, Transylvania,
03:38which has a funky reputation for being one of the creepiest places in the world.
03:45The trees there wouldn't grow in a clearing that has a perfect oval shape.
03:51Soil scientists have been unable to explain this anomaly.
03:55The area attracts a variety of people, from Romanian witches to sword-wielding Americans attempting to cleanse the forest through
04:03yoga.
04:05Hoya Bacu gained international attention in 1968,
04:09when someone captured a photograph of a mysterious flying object hovering over the clearing.
04:15Some people are sure those must have been guests from another planet.
04:21This event, along with the alleged paranormal occurrences reported by visitors,
04:26has added to the forest's enigmatic reputation.
04:29Local guides also share other anecdotes linked to this forest.
04:34For example, some time ago, a group of 60 people from Bucharest attempted to open a gate into another dimension
04:41there.
04:42If a paranormal forest doesn't send shivers down your spine, maybe this place will.
04:49Yep, there's a whole settlement at the bottom of Lake Lanier, Georgia's biggest lake,
04:55and it's filled with a secret American horror story.
04:59Terror, ghosts, and other paranormal stuff.
05:02The whole shebang.
05:04There are many spooky tales about Lake Lanier.
05:07Fishermen have reported seeing ghostly kayaks,
05:10and stories circulate about women with no hands haunting the Jerry D. Jackson Bridge.
05:16Plus, the lake has a dark side,
05:19with over 500 demises since it was created and more than 200 since 1994.
05:26People talk about good swimmers getting snatched under the water,
05:30mysterious boating accidents,
05:31and vehicles crashing into the lake for no reason.
05:35Locals will straight up tell you,
05:37don't go to Lake Lanier.
05:39And with the lake's stats, it's hard to argue.
05:42Some say the lake is cursed,
05:44but it's up to you to decide.
05:46The Poison Garden is a misleading, beautiful place
05:50where danger lurks behind every leaf.
05:54It's tucked away behind spooky black gates at the Alnwick Garden.
05:58There, you'll discover a collection of over 100 plants that are not just toxic,
06:04but downright lethal.
06:06If you don't have to worry about accidentally poisoning yourself,
06:09just keep your hands to yourself.
06:11No sniffing or nibbling allowed.
06:14Venture through ivy-covered tunnels and fiery-shaped beds
06:18as you dive into the history of poison
06:20and hear some thrilling tales of infamous cases.
06:23Prepare to meet some dangerous flora,
06:26like Laburnum atropa belladonna,
06:29and even the infamous Jimpy Jimpy plant
06:31that's rumored to be able to hurt you as nothing else.
06:34By the way, there are many wild stories about this dreaded plant.
06:40Some are a bit exaggerated,
06:41like the one about using the leaves as toilet paper.
06:44Ouch!
06:45But others are no joke,
06:47like horses getting stung and going bonkers.
06:50There's even a tragic tale of a person passing away
06:53from its sting in New Guinea back in 1922.
06:57So come on, take the plunge in the Poison Garden if you dare.
07:01Just remember to steer clear of any plans
07:04that could lead to a seriously bad day.
07:08You're having your vacation in Finland,
07:10the happiest country in the world.
07:12You rent a car and drive to see the lakes.
07:15What could go wrong?
07:17Suddenly, you come face-to-face
07:19with over a thousand eerily still figures.
07:22These guys are dressed to impress in colorful outfits,
07:24but there's something off about them.
07:27Their heads are featureless,
07:29their bodies wooden.
07:31And they all seem to be staring in the same direction.
07:34It's like they were playing a giant game of freeze tag,
07:38but nobody remembered to yell,
07:40tag, you're it.
07:42These silent sentinels are known as the silent people,
07:45and they've been scaring people since 1988.
07:49They're the brainchild of dancer and choreographer Rayo Kila.
07:54Originally hanging out in La Silla near Helsinki,
07:57they've traveled around a bit before settling in their current spot on the side of the road.
08:01Why did they move?
08:03Maybe they were tired of big city traffic
08:06and wanted a quieter place to chill.
08:08No one really knows what these peat-headed, straw-haired guys are all about.
08:13Some folks find them creepy,
08:15like they're watching your every move.
08:17Others think they're kind of sad,
08:19like a group of friends waiting for a bus that never comes.
08:22But hey, that's art for you.
08:24Open to interpretation and open to jokes
08:27about scarecrows having better fashion sense than most humans.
08:31Bonus here,
08:32there's a cafe with traditional Finnish crepes,
08:34so you may get scared there,
08:36but not hungry.
08:38In Australia's far north,
08:40there's a spooky granite mountain known as the Bermuda Triangle.
08:43Black Mountain,
08:45also known as Kalka Jaka by the indigenous owners,
08:48has been the backdrop for some seriously strange disappearances dating back to 1800s.
08:55It's pretty close to Cooktown,
08:58so it has some legendary tales attached to it.
09:00They say Black Mountain was once a fierce battlefield for opposing ancestral clans.
09:06The whole place is littered with massive granite boulders
09:09stacked in a chaotic manner,
09:11where explorers, horses, and cattle seemingly vanished into thin air.
09:16For many years,
09:17people were scared by the bad reputation of this place
09:20until recent research shed some light on the dark mystery of Black Mountain,
09:24leaving no room for further speculation.
09:27Turns out,
09:28the reason for the disappearances may not be as supernatural as we thought.
09:32Lack of swimming skills,
09:34crocodiles,
09:34or just some good old-fashioned tomfoolery could have been the real culprits.
09:40From tiny islands to giant cities fanning out for dozens of miles,
09:45you're gonna learn about the most densely populated places on Earth.
09:50It'll make you question the limits of the impossible.
09:53To what lengths are people ready to go in their search of a better life,
09:57or simply trying to survive?
09:59The list of such places includes both Hong Kong and the Maldives,
10:04the Egyptian city of Tanta,
10:06and a tiny island in Lake Victoria in Africa.
10:10Let's find out more about how people manage to live there.
10:14Hong Kong has an official population of 7.5 million people,
10:19and this number is expected to reach 8.5 million by 2041.
10:24The density of the city's population is more than 18,000 people per square mile.
10:30Despite a rather low birth rate,
10:32the population of Hong Kong is on the rise.
10:35This paradox has an explanation.
10:38A lot of people immigrate to Hong Kong all the time
10:41because of all the opportunities this city offers,
10:44like various jobs.
10:46The city has an incredibly high price of land.
10:49It's one of the main reasons for its high-density development.
10:53People with low and even middle incomes
10:56can only afford to live in high-rise buildings,
10:58and Hong Kong has more than 9,000 of those.
11:02Plus, there are more than 300 buildings
11:05that are over 490 feet in height.
11:08It's more than New York, Shanghai, and Dubai can boast.
11:13Hong Kong's incredible growth as one of the tallest cities in the world
11:17has a lot to do with its incredible urban planning.
11:21At the same time,
11:22housing is unbelievably expensive in this region.
11:26Median home costs are 18 times the median annual income.
11:31That's the reason why less fortunate residents
11:33live in the so-called coffin houses,
11:36where apartments are tinier than a standard parking space in the USA.
11:41Take Quarry Bay, for example,
11:43a densely packed neighborhood in eastern Hong Kong,
11:46and its monster building.
11:48It's actually not one building,
11:50but a group of five connected constructions.
11:53There are more than 2,200 units in these five blocks,
11:58and rumor has it that it houses around 10,000 people.
12:02Despite such cramped living conditions
12:05most Hong Kong's inhabitants have to deal with,
12:07the city is home to several dozen billionaires.
12:11Look, this is half a football field.
12:14And that's what one-third of Bill Gates' home looks like.
12:17Another example for you,
12:19two-fifths of the White House.
12:21These are not random numbers.
12:23That's the territory of Magingo Island,
12:26located in Lake Victoria between Kenya and Uganda.
12:30Over 100 people live on this tiny piece of land.
12:33Don't you think that those metal-tiled roofs
12:36make the island look like a huge turtle floating on the water?
12:40Unfortunately, because of the island's small size,
12:43there's barely any vegetation there.
12:45Most of the surface of the island is covered with rocks,
12:48except for this tiny area.
12:50It's covered with grass and hosts not more than five shrubs.
12:54The island is all about fish and fishing.
12:57The landing point turns into a fish market every day at noon.
13:01The trade doesn't last long.
13:03It usually finishes at 2 p.m. when the boat leaves.
13:06The only thing the inhabitants of the island have is fish.
13:10So, every morning,
13:11they get essential supplies for small businesses from Kenya.
13:15That's why you can buy everything you need in local stores,
13:18from food to fishing equipment.
13:20The inhabitants of the island not only catch fish,
13:24but also gut them on the rocks,
13:26and then fry and eat them in cafes.
13:28Yep, there are around 13 cafes and bars on the islands
13:32where people eat, play dice, and cook ugali.
13:35A typical dish made from maize flour.
13:38Back to giant cities and busy streets.
13:40Welcome to Shenzhen,
13:42the most densely populated city in China.
13:44This city hosts around 17.5 million people.
13:49With so many inhabitants,
13:51the city faces loads of challenges.
13:53For example, overcrowded schools and beaches.
13:57Speaking of the latter,
13:58some areas even implement a booking system
14:01to manage beach crowds.
14:03The most astonishing thing about this megapolis
14:06is that it's grown to its current size
14:08within a mere 40 years or so.
14:10It used to be a fishing village,
14:12but then, thanks to the support of the authorities
14:15and the city's close proximity to Hong Kong,
14:17it turned into a bustling financial and economic center.
14:21These days, it has the status
14:23of one of the busiest container ports in the world,
14:26along with Shanghai and Singapore.
14:29Shenzhen also has had the fastest growth
14:32in millionaires over the last 10 years,
14:35140%.
14:36Such an increase is far greater
14:39than in the first-tier cities in China,
14:41including Beijing and Shanghai.
14:44Aylette Abrui is a Caribbean island
14:46that forms part of Haiti,
14:48and it's one of the most densely populated islands
14:50in the world.
14:52Around 500 people living there
14:54share an area of a mere 0.4 hectares.
14:57You might think this is just another fishing village,
15:01but Aylette Abrui is more like a factory.
15:04Once you set foot on this island,
15:06you'll instantly see a maze of alleyways.
15:09Follow them, walking past crooked thatch
15:12and tarp-covered huts,
15:13and you'll eventually find yourself
15:15in the center of town.
15:16The main landmarks are two concrete buildings,
15:19and one of them is a store.
15:21In the middle, you'll see a modest town square
15:24equipped with two solar streetlights.
15:26One is old and is no longer in use,
15:29and the other is shiny and new.
15:31On the island, men outnumber women and kids.
15:34Many people are out of town fishing during the day.
15:37The horizon surrounding the island
15:39is dotted with sails and pirogues.
15:42The rest remain on the island doing other jobs,
15:45like repairing boats,
15:47mending nets and traps,
15:48and preparing tons of fish
15:50for shipment to Haiti and other places.
15:52As for kids,
15:54they spend their days swimming.
15:56Our last destination
15:58is the Egyptian city of Tanta,
16:00which is also one of the most
16:02densely populated places in the world.
16:04It has about 70,000 people per square mile.
16:08Just for comparison,
16:10there are slightly under 30,000 people
16:12per square mile in New York.
16:14The city is located between Cairo and Alexandria.
16:18It has huge cotton plantations,
16:20and in 1856,
16:22it became a stop on the railway network,
16:25mostly for exporting the cotton
16:27growing in the area to Europe.
16:29And even though the area around Tanta
16:31was mostly fields,
16:33the settlement turned into a large,
16:35crowded city.
16:37In late October,
16:39the city becomes the center of celebration
16:41of the cotton harvest.
16:43Three million people come from around the delta
16:46and other parts of the Arab world
16:48for the colorful eight-day celebration.
16:50Tanta is famous for its sweet candy.
16:53It's made of gelatin, coconut,
16:55sesame, peanuts and chickpeas.
16:57Loads of these sweets are sold during festivals
17:00when many Egyptians visit the city.
17:03No wonder they've been considered
17:04a delicacy since the 1800s.
17:08Tanta also has a lot of cotton processing factories,
17:11as well as textile industries.
17:14Plus, it's a university town.
17:16Tanta University was established in 1972.
17:21Malay, the capital of the Maldives,
17:23has a population of more than 200,000 people.
17:26It means 49,000 people per square mile.
17:3080% of the land sits around 4 feet above sea level,
17:34which means that if part of the islands go underwater,
17:37people will have to relocate.
17:39An artificial island that was created to manage waste
17:43is getting overburdened.
17:45In 1997,
17:47Hula Malay, another artificial island,
17:49was built to alleviate dramatic population pressure.
17:52These days,
17:54it's already as developed as Malay.
17:56The Maldives consists of more than 1,000 islands
17:59stretching along a 500-mile axis.
18:03All of them are coral islands.
18:05They grew around the rims of prehistoric undersea volcanoes.
18:10Only 188 islands are inhabited,
18:13but most of them have fewer than 1,000 residents.
18:17More and more Maldivians are giving up on island life
18:20and moving to the capital city.
18:22But Malay is already pressed hard
18:25against the limits of human habitation.
18:27If even more people move there,
18:30its physical structure would need to be completely reworked.
18:33The authorities are already surrounding Malay
18:36with sea bridges and artificial islands
18:38packed with houses.
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