9 Real Cities Built in Mind-Blowing Locations

When you envision the ideal location for a town, your first thoughts probably won’t be places like “inside a volcano” or “on stilts in the middle of a lake.” But, the truth is, some of the world’s most jaw-dropping cities were built in the weirdest spots like cliff edges, desert lagoons, and narrow riverbanks. What’s really impressive is that, somehow, they’re still standing. Not only that, they’re thriving (well, some of them are)!

Here are nine of the most unbelievably unique locations where people actually live.

1. Huacachina, Peru

Tucked in the middle of Peru’s desert, Huacachina looks like someone plopped a vacation resort into a dune. With fewer than 100 full-time residents, this town wraps around a shimmering oasis surrounded by palm trees and towering dunes. Back in the 1940s, it was a retreat for the rich. Today, it’s a paradise for tourists and backpackers, where you can paddleboat across the lagoon by day and party all night. Bonus points if you sandboard down the dunes or jump in a dune buggy for a wild ride.