Most of us tend to assume that the sand on most beaches comes in bright shades of light or dark yellow. However, not all beaches share the same properties and these red beaches will have you rubbing your eyes and looking twice because of their unusual color scheme.

But why red? The truth is that the red sand is thought to have originated from high iron content that may be found close-by. This occurred when volcanic activity from long ago brought minerals in the form of lava to the Earth’s surface, thus depositing the iron and the red rock. These strikingly red beaches are a must for your next vacation!

Kaihalulu Beach in Hawaii

Hawaii is an area that is known for its high concentration of volcanoes and volcanic activity is still common – and dangerous, to this day. However, making the journey to the remote beach of Maui’s Kaihalulu Beach is definitely worth it as the rich, red sand is contrasted beautifully with the azure skies and turquoise seas.

Porto Covo Beach in Portugal

When we think of Portugal, we think of Lisbon and late night parties. However, for those more inclined for adventures on their holiday, visiting the beach of Porto Covo will reveal one of the most majestic sites ever. The sand here has a distinctly reddish color and in good weather, it’s definitely a great place to unwind.

Rabida Island in Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands are a well-known destination for travelers looking for an exotic island vacation. However, if you’re able to stop at Rabida Island, you’ll be lucky enough to glimpse some of some of the exotic red sand left by the volcanic activity on the island from hundreds if not thousands of years ago. It literally looks like the sea is bleeding here!

Porto Ferro in Italy

This beach is one of the few that was actually named after it’s high iron content. ‘Ferro’ in Italian, means “iron” and the port was aptly given this name due to the large formations of high-iron containing rocks and limestone sand found on the beaches in the area.

Food preparation and consumption is a form of art. It takes a level of imagination and creativity to invent amazing food recipes. However, there are some inventions that are horrifying and gross. What’s more? Some of these horrifying dishes are available in many American restaurants. Here’s a comprehensive list describing some of these dishes.

Lobsters make for an exotic dish that’s enjoyed by many. It’s quite hard to imagine that lobsters would be prepared in a way that makes it gross or horrifying.

In many restaurants in Michigan, though, they don’t prepare the lobsters themselves but rather their inner organs. Yes, that’s right — the liver, pancreas, and a lobster’s other inner organs are consumed in this part of America.

Various types and mixtures of salad have been made by man, some less appetizing than others. But in terms of yucky, this one definitely tops the list — a salad made of canned pears and mayonnaise.

Some even go the extra (gross) mile of adding shredded cheddar cheese to this combination. One thing is for sure — this meal isn’t for the faint of heart. But, if you’re interested, then you can usually find this dish in restaurants around Georgia.

Cactus is a plant popular for its ability to survive in the harshest of conditions. Apparently, it’s also something that can be deep-fried and consumed in America.

There are very few things on Earth that can be done to remove the hard and dry texture of cactus. Deep frying is not one of those few things and so, one has to enjoy the cactus with all its features. In all honesty, we wouldn’t mind trying this at least once. Guess it’s time for a visit to Arizona!

This particular burger holds the record for the highest-calorie burger in the world. It has a whopping 20,000 calories! It’s so dangerously fattening that you actually have to sign a waiver before consuming it.

Known as the Quadruple Bypass Burger, it has caused many health issues for a lot of people — hence the waiver. If anyone wishes to eat this burger, you’ll have to travel down to Las Vegas.

When meat is the topic of discussion, there are many options that come to mind. Cattle, birds, and many others are examples of common meat-filled meals in the US. However, there’s another type of meat that’s also available, if one knows where to look. Can you imagine having a plate full of lion’s meat?

It’s hard to fathom that such a fearsome predator would be reduced to something edible. Though most of the meat is reared domestically, there are still protests and complaints by animal rights groups.

Cooking is one way of expressing a different level of creativity. For some, that creative power means trying out all sorts of unique flavors and dishes. An instance is this popular food in Alaska.

When one hears moose and jelly in the same sentence, it’s hard to think that those two go together. But, this typical example of gross restaurant foods is just that. The food is a combination of vinegar, jelly, and a moose’s nose. Yes — a moose’s nose. We wonder what that tastes like…

Eggs are popular diet in many cultures and many countries. They are soft and mainly consist of egg white and yolk. It’s a meal that’s as simple as it gets. But, it turns out that this dish isn’t all that simple when it comes to certain US restaurants.

Through science and wild imagination, a gross version of eggs has been invented. Here comes Balut! Balut is a meal of eggs that have been incubated and have well-developed chicks inside. The eggs are boiled and eaten with the whole chicks inside. What?!

Here’s another example of gross restaurants food one can order in the US. There are many parts of animals that get to stay on the chopping block during the process.

Some other parts have to go to the trash bin. In many places, an animal’s brain falls in the latter category. However, in parts of Indiana, an animal’s brain that’s battered and deep-fried is something of a delicacy. It started with cow brains, but to prevent mad cow disease, attention has shifted towards pig’s brain. Hope they gain more wisdom.

Part of the art that’s involved in eating delicious food includes preparation, cooking, presentation, and many other aspects. Some dishes don’t need to be cooked before they’re served. However, some New York restaurants are now giving people a new option.

How about eating the meal while it’s still alive? Impossible? Not with Ikizukuri, a dish of fish or lobster that’s consumed while it’s alive. Sounds appetizing?

If you ever decide to visit one of the southern or midwestern cities in America and you check out a restaurant while there, you might be in for a rude awakening. On the menu, you may be able to find a dish that’s not so common anywhere else.

One might even be tempted to ask if there was a mistake — but no, it’s not a mistake. Bull testicles are a real food item that people order either baked or deep-fried! The testicles of goats, lambs, and others are also available.

There are many Korean restaurants in the US and they all have special delicacies that bring the taste of a unique culture to one’s plate. One of those special delicacies is on the list of weird foods in the US.

Here’s a gross fact about octopus. When an octopus is sliced up, the tentacles still move and wiggle around and even try to grab things. Now, imagine that on a plate — moving and squirming. When eating it, it clings onto the throat as it moves down. Koreans call it Sannakji.

Ice cream is great for both young and old. A little bit of it once in a while just makes life better; cream, sugar, chocolate, or some other flavors coming together to present something truly wonderful. Well, in Washington DC restaurants, there’s one extra ingredient. What could that be? Nothing major — just pig blood.

This is yet another shocking example of gross foods that can be ordered in a US restaurant. Lovers of this delicacy claim that the blood is for thickening purposes only and adds nothing to the flavor.

There are many weird foods in US, but this one is among the weirdest. Everything about this meal is different. It’s called Bird’s Nest Soup, however, it doesn’t make use of a bird’s nest in preparation.

The process involves the collection of a bird’s saliva that is then stored periodically to solidify it. After, it’s converted to soup using flavoring and additives. According to some who have eaten the soup, the soup is delicious and greatly helps the immune system.

This is a meal that’s new to many communities in the United States. However, it’s quickly gaining popularity. The common expression is “a sea of fishes” but in this case, it’s “a see of fishes.” Why? Because the major ingredient in this meal is a fish’s eye.

The meal has a fatty and spongy texture. One major reason why this meal is gaining much popularity is because of its diet-friendly high-protein content. Imagine staring into a fish’s eyes while they stare back before they are diced and eaten.

To prepare many various delicacies, one has to journey down to the local market or make orders in order to get the needed recipe. However, the next item on the list isn’t necessarily gross but it is quite different.

The major ingredient is always at home depending on one’s gender. A chef in the US once produced the most unique cheese of all using this ingredient. He made breast milk cheese. After questions and protests, he mentioned that he had used his wife’s at home as the supply. New ways to enjoy breast milk.

This meal is one that’s particularly hard to find but it can be found at a few restaurants around the US. It’s known to many as Escamoles. What are they? Well, they’re just edible larvae and pupae of ants.

When consumed, the eggs sometimes pop in your mouth. While that may feel like somewhat of a weird sensation, the eggs are said to have a peppery flavor when they pop. This meal is more common in Mexico, so it’s not surprising that you probably haven’t heard of it.

This is particularly gross, not because of the food that’s served but because of the way in which it’s served. Imagine having your ice cream served in a mini toilet, or a curry dish presented in a urinal.

Foods are served to look like excrement and many other gross bodily functions. This type of restaurant exists all over the world. They are slowly gaining presence and space in the US. Whoever initially thought of this idea must have been a weird genius.

This meal was said to have been invented by a surgeon. Though the origin is contested, it’s pretty evident as to why one would think that.

This meal, which is known as the Turducken, is essentially an entire chicken that has been stuffed into a duck — and the chicken-stuffed duck is then stuffed into a turkey. We can only imagine the level of stress that would go into this whole process.

This one definitely has a weird ring to it. It’s a meal common in many restaurants in Pennsylvania. It’s actually called scrapple — a fitting name for a meal so dry and crunchy.

According to the recipe, it’s a loaf made of pork scraps, cornmeal, buckwheat, and spices. However, the final result is so dense that you’d assume it was made of brick. It’s like leaving a cake out in the sun for two decades before eating it.

Here we have a meal that’s more common in the southern parts of the country. Whoever invented pickled pig feet must’ve been having a rough day.

Although you may find it more predominantly in restaurants, the delicacy is also available in various grocery stores.

Some dishes are just fun to look at, especially when they have the ability to make your mouth water! The Koolickle might sound cool, but it’s not one of those foods that’ll have you wanting more.

One can guess the major parts of the meal from the name. Yes, the Koolickle is a pickle brined in Kool-Aid. This must have been invented by someone with a lot of time on their hands and very little food in the house.

It’s no secret that rattlesnakes are venomous — so much so that a bite can be deadly if it’s left untreated. The sight of a rattlesnake could make anyone’s adrenaline pump with fear.

However, in some restaurants across the United States, especially in Oklahoma, spotting a rattlesnake is actually a delight. In this case, the only thing that’s rising is your appetite. Introducing… a plate of rattlesnakes?

There are many types of sea creatures that many people have tried dicing with a fork. A whale is sadly not exempted from the list. That’s not the most bizarre thing about this dish, but rather the way it’s prepared.

Popular in restaurants across Alaska, Muktuk is a dish of frozen whale skin. Some prefer to cook the skin while others just consume it raw. It’s difficult to imagine what it would taste like. Rubbery, perhaps? In any case, it’s not a dish that should be popularized.

Here we have something that sounds like it wouldn’t be able to work but surprisingly does — the donut burger. This salty-sweet dish can be found in California!

It may not pique everyone’s interest considering that it earned a place on this list, but we do understand why there’s a market for it in sunny California.

Apparently, there are many ways in America to ruin a burger. Who knew? Here we have the steamed burger. It’s pretty straightforward — it’s made by simply steaming the meat patty.

Hard to imagine or determine what kind of inspiration led to that. But it’s another one of those horrifying restaurant foods that one can order, specifically in Connecticut.

Like cow’s brain, this is yet another dish that might make your skin crawl — unless you’re the adventurous type. Here we have steamed cow tongue.

While it is quite tasty, we’re not entirely sure how someone came up with this idea, to begin with. This meal is popular in East Asia and has gained much popularity in many restaurants across America, especially in Hawaii.

Butter is a major part of many great dishes out there in America and so, it’s safe to say that it’s loved by all. However, when the love for butter gets to be too much, it can lead to a horrifying menu item — such as this one. Yes, the meal is prepared just as the name implies.

Butter is put on a stick, dipped in cinnamon honey, and then deep-fried. It’s then consumed as is. Aside from the fact that it’s totally disgusting, the health effects are enough to make us run the other way.

One would expect a dish with such a nickname to be comforting. However, it’s not. Humans are nothing if not unpredictable.

Well, this dish — popular in restaurants across Kansas — is a combination of cinnamon rolls and chili. It’s hard to tell what kind of comfort this meal provides exactly.

What could be more horrifying than a plate of boiled rat? Known as nutria by the people of Louisiana. This type of giant rat is found in this part of the city.

If you’re brave enough, you can order this dish from a local restaurant around Louisiana. Before doing that, it’s important to note that the rat is boiled in a crockpot for four hours. This boiling does little to the taste and texture of the meat.

When the name pickle dog comes to mind, one would easily assume that it’s a hot dog topped with pickles. However, this is not the case in Minnesota.

Pickle corn-dogs are exactly how they sound — the dog is wrapped in a pickle and then covered in corn batter to get deep-fried. It actually doesn’t sound half bad, eh?

A local student walks into a restaurant and asks for a plate with “all the garbage in it.” What could that possibly mean? A mix of leftover meat, chicken tenders, and French fries all stuffed between two burger buns.

The issue is, the whole combination is yesterday’s leftovers, which isn’t necessarily a problem if this meal was made at home but why would someone pay a restaurant to make them a burger made of yesterday’s leftovers? Hopefully, customers get a discount!

Different parts of pig are consumed depending on where you are in America. However, the people of North Carolina are more interested in the pig’s inner organs. They have a dish known as Livermush.

This dish is made up of mashed liver, as well as other parts of a pig’s inner organs. The mixture is seasoned and served as shown in the picture. It has a soft texture but a very unique flavor that’s difficult to describe.

Okra is a nutritious option for many. It’s great for people with high cholesterol — unless it’s deep-fried, that is.

Still, the good people of Oklahoma wanted to put a twist on the plant and came up with this wonderfully crisp dish. It looks pretty delicious, honestly!