44 Places That Are Made Up But Most People Know About

The entire legend of the lost city of Atlantis comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who used it as a cautionary tale in his dialogues. He described Atlantis as a formidable naval power located beyond the Pillars of Hercules that became corrupted by its wealth and power. As a divine punishment for its hubris after a failed attempt to invade Athens, the entire island was swallowed by the sea in a single, catastrophic day and night.

More than just a fantasy setting, J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth was his lifelong project to build a lost mythology for England. He conceived of it not as another planet, but as our own Earth in a distant, forgotten past, meticulously crafting thousands of years of its history, complete with unique languages, cultures, and detailed maps. This ancient continent is famously home to a diverse population, including the graceful, immortal Elves, the stout, treasure-hoarding Dwarves, and of course, the comfort-loving, unassuming Hobbits of the Shire.

In Arthurian legend, the enchanting island of Avalon serves as the ultimate mystical retreat, where a mortally wounded King Arthur was taken to be healed after his final, brutal battle. This otherworldly paradise is also said to be the legendary place where the sword Excalibur was forged. It is governed by a sisterhood of powerful enchantresses, with Arthur's own half-sister, Morgan le Fay, often named as their leader.

The legendary lost city of gold, El Dorado, was never actually a city at all, but a man. The original story comes from the Muisca people of modern-day Colombia, whose coronation ritual involved covering their new chief in gold dust. This "Gilded One" (El Dorado) would then sail onto Lake Guatavita on a raft and wash the gold from his body as an offering to the gods, while his followers threw gold and emeralds into the water. When Spanish conquistadors heard this tale, they misinterpreted the man as a mythical golden city, sparking centuries of obsessive and deadly expeditions into the South American jungles for a place that never existed.

Tucked away in a hidden valley at the edge of the Misty Mountains, Rivendell is essentially the most important rest stop in Middle-earth's history. Presided over by the wise Elrond, this Elven sanctuary served as both a library for ancient lore and a hospital for wounded heroes like Frodo Baggins. It was also the official starting point for the most famous quest of the Third Age, as this is where the Council of Elrond met and the Fellowship of the Ring was officially formed.

As the quintessential American hometown, Springfield's most defining feature is its complete lack of a specific location. The town is a geographical impossibility, famously surrounded by mountains, deserts, farmland, a massive gorge, and even a coastline, with its state being the show's longest-running mystery. This flexible setting serves as the perfect backdrop for its dysfunctional institutions, from the corrupt local government run by Mayor Quimby to the dangerously inefficient Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.

Camelot stands as the legendary seat of King Arthur's power, a shining symbol of justice and chivalry in a dark and chaotic world. It was in this magnificent castle that the famous Knights of the Round Table would gather, with the circular table itself being a gift from Arthur's father-in-law, designed so that no single knight could claim a position of greater honor. From this idealized court, Arthur and his knights would embark on their epic quests, making Camelot the very heart of the Arthurian golden age.

Born from a viral internet meme in 2022, Listenbourg is the fictional country that social media users collectively willed into existence. The joke began when a French user posted a photoshopped map showing a new nation attached to the Iberian Peninsula, claiming that Americans were too bad at geography to know it was fake. The concept exploded in popularity, leading to a massive collaborative world-building effort that gave Listenbourg its own flag, a capital city named Lurenberg, a national anthem, and even fake government ministry accounts that joined in on the fun.

In the world of Narnia, time flows in a completely unpredictable way, meaning you could spend an entire lifetime there and return to our world without having missed a single minute. This magical realm, sung into existence by the great lion Aslan, is populated by talking animals and mythical creatures like fauns and centaurs. The strangest fact of all is that its greatest kings and queens are often just ordinary children who stumble in from England through an old wardrobe or a magic ring.

Also known as Paradise Island, Themiscyra is the magically concealed homeland of the Amazons, the all-female warrior race of Greek myth and DC Comics fame. Gifted to them by the Olympian gods, the island serves as a utopian sanctuary where its inhabitants live in perfect, isolated harmony, honing their combat skills and enjoying immortality. The strict "no men allowed" rule is central to their existence, which is why the crash-landing of pilot Steve Trevor is a world-shattering event that directly leads to Princess Diana leaving her home to become Wonder Woman.

Rooted in Cornish folklore, the mythical kingdom of Lyonesse is essentially an English Atlantis, said to have been swallowed by the sea in a single tragic night. Reputedly located in the space between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, it was the fabled homeland of Sir Tristan, one of King Arthur's most famous knights. According to enduring local legend, fishermen on a quiet day can still hear the ghostly ringing of the drowned kingdom's church bells from deep beneath the waves.

In the 4th century BC, the Greek explorer Pytheas described an astonishing voyage to the far north, where he claimed to have found the island of Thule, a land six days' sail from Britain near a frozen sea. His account was so fantastical for its time that it was widely disbelieved by his contemporaries, who dismissed his stories of a "congealed sea" and a sun that never set in summer. Modern historians, however, now believe Pytheas was giving a surprisingly accurate, if second-hand, description of either coastal Norway or Iceland, making Thule a genuine ancient discovery that was mistaken for a myth.

The sprawling, sun-soaked metropolis of Los Santos is the primary setting of Grand Theft Auto V and a sharp-witted parody of modern-day Los Angeles. The city is a caricature of Southern California culture, featuring the celebrity-obsessed Vinewood (Hollywood), the opulent mansions of Rockford Hills (Beverly Hills), and the eccentric beachfront of Vespucci (Venice Beach). It's a landscape of vast social extremes, where aspiring actors, yoga gurus, and tech billionaires coexist with violent street gangs and corrupt government agents, creating a massive, open-world sandbox for players to explore.

Gotham City is a perpetually dark and rain-soaked metropolis that serves as a living, breathing character in the Batman mythos. Architecturally, it's a grim fusion of looming Gothic spires and decaying Art Deco designs, reflecting the city's corrupt soul and its long history of urban decay. Essentially the polar opposite of Superman's bright and optimistic Metropolis, Gotham is a city where crime is not just a problem but a deeply ingrained cultural institution, run by a theatrical rogues' gallery of super-criminals who can only be kept in check by a creature of the night.

In Norse mythology, Alfheim is the celestial home of the Ljósálfar, or Light Elves, radiant beings described as being "fairer than the sun to look at." This beautiful realm wasn't won in a great battle, but was given to the god Freyr as a "tooth-gift"—basically a divine baby present to celebrate when he got his first tooth. As a world of pure light and beauty, it served as the complete opposite of Svartalfheim, the dark, subterranean domain of the Dwarves.

The fictional European principality of Genovia is a charming, tiny kingdom famously situated between France and Spain. While ruled by the royal House of Renaldi, the country's biggest claim to fame might just be its pears, which are a central part of its culture and economy. The nation's modern history was completely upended by the discovery that its sole heir was not a European noble but an unsuspecting American high school student named Mia Thermopolis.

The famous Himalayan paradise of Shangri-La is not an ancient myth but a 20th-century literary creation from James Hilton's 1933 novel, Lost Horizon. In the book, this hidden lamasery, nestled deep within the Kunlun Mountains, is a tranquil utopia where inhabitants live for centuries, completely shielded from the wars and worries of the outside world. The concept proved so captivating that the name "Shangri-La" quickly entered the popular lexicon as the go-to term for any idyllic, secluded paradise.

The magical Land of Oz, as created by L. Frank Baum, is a fantasy kingdom completely isolated from the rest of the world by the impassable Deadly Desert. At its very center lies the magnificent Emerald City, the capital from which the entire realm is ruled, and it's surrounded by four distinct countries, each defined by a specific color. These are the blue-themed Munchkin Country in the east, the yellow Winkie Country in the west, the purple Gillikin Country to the north, and the red Quadling Country to the south, each originally presided over by a powerful witch.

Appearing on maps for over 400 years, Bermeja Island was a small landmass supposedly located in the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatán Peninsula. The phantom island became the subject of intense modern interest because its existence would have significantly expanded Mexico's exclusive economic zone, granting the country rights to potentially massive oil reserves. When official survey ships were sent to verify its location in the late 1990s, however, they found nothing but open water, sparking theories that range from a simple, centuries-old mapping error to the more elaborate conspiracy that the island was secretly destroyed to thwart Mexico's claim.

The ancient Egyptian paradise of Aaru was an exclusive destination with a strict entry requirement. A deceased person's heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth, and only a heart free of sin was light enough to pass the test. Those who succeeded entered the Field of Reeds, a perfect, eternal version of the Nile Delta. Life there was blissful, though it still included farming, which is why Egyptians were often buried with Shabti figurines to serve as magical laborers in their place.

Before it became a byword for a mythical paradise, Arcadia was an actual, rugged region in ancient Greece, prized for its rustic simplicity and isolation. This real-world setting was transformed in poetry and art into the ultimate pastoral utopia, a peaceful wilderness governed by the goat-footed god Pan. In this idealized version of Arcadia, shepherds and nymphs lived in perfect, untroubled harmony with nature, creating a powerful image of a lost golden age that would be endlessly revisited by Renaissance artists.

While Mount Olympus is a real mountain in Greece, its mythological counterpart served as the exclusive, high-security divine residence for the twelve Olympian gods. This was no ordinary mountain retreat; its entrance was a gate of clouds, meticulously guarded by the Seasons to keep out any unwanted mortals. Behind this gate, the gods resided in magnificent palaces built by Hephaestus, where they would feast on nectar and ambrosia while plotting their frequent and dramatic interventions in the lives of the humans down below.

The spectacular Bespin gas giant is home to one of the most elegant locations in the Star Wars galaxy: the magnificent Cloud City. This floating metropolis is not just a luxury resort and Tibanna gas mining operation, but a high-stakes gamble run by the debonair Baron Administrator, Lando Calrissian. Despite its reputation for high-class casinos and breathtaking views, the city operates in a precarious state of neutrality, constantly trying to fly under the radar of both the Galactic Empire and the powerful mining guilds.

During the Crusades, Europeans were captivated by the legend of Prester John, a powerful Christian king said to rule a lost kingdom of wonders somewhere in the East. Fueled by a fantastical letter that described a realm with a river of jewels and no poverty, the myth offered the tantalizing hope of a mighty ally who could help in the fight against their enemies. This powerful idea acted as a major catalyst for the Age of Exploration, as European explorers sailed into unknown territories with the secondary mission of finding this fabled king, eventually shifting their search from Asia to the ancient Christian kingdom of Ethiopia.

In Norse mythology, Asgard wasn't just a home for the gods; it was the ultimate celestial fortress. Surrounded by a massive, impenetrable wall that was famously built by a giant, the entire realm was designed to keep their enemies, the Jötnar, at bay. The only way into this divine gated community was across the Bifröst, a shimmering rainbow bridge that was perpetually guarded by the hyper-vigilant god Heimdallr.

Originally known as the wholesome, all-American hometown of Archie Andrews, Riverdale was the quintessential setting for teenage antics centered around Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe and Riverdale High. The modern television series, however, completely subverts this idyllic image, reimagining the town as a dark, neo-noir landscape. This version of Riverdale is constantly besieged by everything from violent criminals and rival gangs to organ-harvesting cults and alternate universes, turning the once-peaceful suburb into a hotbed for creepy mysteries.

The kingdom of Hyrule is a location where the video game The Legend Of Zelda takes place. It's less a peaceful nation and more a perpetual battleground for a destined conflict. Forged by the Golden Goddesses, its very fate is tied to the Triforce, a sacred relic that inevitably draws the ambitions of the demonic King Ganon. This constant threat ensures that Hyrule's history is a repeating drama, always requiring a courageous hero named Link and a wise princess named Zelda to rise up and save the kingdom from being plunged into darkness.

The Isle of Demons was a phantom island that appeared on 16th-century maps, usually placed off the coast of Newfoundland, and was born from the fears of early sailors. Legends claimed this treacherous land was haunted by a cacophony of terrifying noises, believed to be the screams of demons and wild beasts waiting to devour shipwrecked mariners. The island gained its most famous story from a French noblewoman, Marguerite de La Rocque, who was marooned there for several years with her lover as a punishment for their affair.

The Lost City of Z was the all-consuming obsession of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who was convinced a highly advanced, ancient civilization once thrived deep within the Brazilian jungle. In 1925, Fawcett, his son, and a companion vanished without a trace during their final expedition to find this mythical city, creating one of the 20th century's greatest exploration mysteries. While Z itself was never located, modern archaeological findings of large, complex urban settlements in the Amazon have ironically proven that Fawcett's core theory was not as far-fetched as it once seemed.

For the most heroic souls in Greek mythology, the ultimate afterlife destination was the Fortunate Isles, a blissful paradise located somewhere in the far western ocean. This was the exclusive reward for mortals who had earned the special favor of the gods, allowing them to skip the gloomy underworld entirely. In this land of eternal springtime, these chosen few were granted a perfect, carefree physical existence, spending eternity in a utopia with no work, no sorrow, and no harsh winters.

Existing as the ultimate childhood fantasy, the island of Neverland is a magical realm where no one ever grows old, ruled over by its most famous resident, Peter Pan. This whimsical world is a chaotic mix of inhabitants, including Peter's gang of Lost Boys, mischievous fairies like Tinker Bell, beautiful but aloof mermaids, and of course, a menacing crew of pirates. The island runs on a constant cycle of adventure, with the ongoing feud between Peter and the fearsome Captain Hook at its center. According to Peter, this fantastical hideaway can only be reached by flight, following the very specific directions: "second to the right, and straight on till morning."

In Greek mythology, Elysium was the ultimate afterlife upgrade, a special paradise reserved for the most heroic and virtuous souls who had caught the favor of the gods. While the average person was destined for a dreary, shadowy existence in the Asphodel Meadows, the chosen few got to retire to this blissful land of eternal springtime. Ruled by the Titan Cronus, it was a place with no hardship or work, where heroes like Achilles and Menelaus could spend eternity in perfect happiness.

As the rugged and chaotic homeland of the Jötnar, or giants, Jötunheimr stood as the wild frontier of the Norse cosmos. This was a realm of crushing ice, dark forests, and towering mountains, containing the massive fortress of Utgard, the primary stronghold of the giants. It was a constant source of conflict and the go-to destination for the gods, particularly Thor, who regularly journeyed there to test his strength against his greatest enemies.

Crocker Land was the phantom Arctic continent first claimed by famed explorer Robert Peary in 1906, who described seeing distant, undiscovered peaks. This single sighting was enough to launch the ill-fated Crocker Land Expedition in 1913, led by Donald MacMillan, who spent four harrowing years searching for the non-existent landmass. In the end, it was concluded that what Peary had actually seen was a Fata Morgana, a complex polar mirage, making the entire disastrous and costly expedition an epic chase after an atmospheric illusion.

Agartha is a legendary kingdom said to be located at the very center of the Earth, a central component of Hollow Earth theory. This subterranean paradise is believed to be home to a highly advanced civilization, composed of the surviving inhabitants of a continent that was lost to a cataclysmic event on the surface. Entrances to this hidden world are rumored to exist at the North and South Poles, as well as in secret tunnels beneath the Himalayan mountains.

Existing entirely in a separate dimension, Tomorrowland was built as the ultimate creative sanctuary for the world's dreamers. This secret utopia brings together the most brilliant scientists and artists, allowing them to innovate freely without the constraints of politics or greed. Its stunning cityscape is a vision of optimism, with sleek, organic towers topped by green roofs and interconnected by levitating transportation systems. The entire metropolis appears to float on water, designed as a vibrant, inspirational environment where human potential can be fully realized.

Frisland was a ghost island that haunted North Atlantic maps for over a century, all thanks to a popular and highly influential map published by the Zeno brothers in the 1550s. The map depicted Frisland as a large, detailed landmass just south of Iceland, and this fabrication was so convincing that even renowned cartographers like Gerardus Mercator dutifully copied it onto their own charts. This persistent error was likely the result of a simple cartographic mistake, possibly a wild misrepresentation of the real Faroe Islands.

For over a century, Sandy Island was a documented landmass in the Coral Sea, dutifully appearing on nautical charts and even on digital platforms like Google Earth. The island stubbornly remained on maps until 2012, when an Australian research vessel sailed to its exact coordinates to investigate. Instead of land, they found only 1,400 meters of open ocean, leading to the theory that the original 1876 sighting may have been a massive, floating pumice raft mistaken for a permanent island.

Paititi is the legendary lost city of the Inca, a supposed final refuge where they fled with an immense treasure of gold after the Spanish conquest. Unlike El Dorado, which originated from a ritual, Paititi is described in historical documents as a real, physical city hidden somewhere in the remote rainforests of southeastern Peru or Bolivia. This has made it the holy grail for modern explorers, with countless expeditions, fueled by satellite imagery and ancient maps, still actively searching for its ruins.

Poyais was the entirely fabricated Central American nation at the heart of one of the most audacious scams of the 1820s. A Scottish adventurer named Gregor MacGregor managed to convince hundreds of British investors and settlers that he was the ruling "Cazique" of this bountiful, developed country, which he described in lavish detail with a fake guidebook and elaborate maps. He successfully sold land grants and Poyaisian government bonds, raising a fortune before the first ship of deceived colonists arrived in the uninhabited Honduran jungle to discover that their new home, and its capital city, did not exist.

Unlike a single mythical place, the Axis Mundi is a powerful concept found in cultures all over the globe, representing the absolute center of the universe. It serves as the cosmic pillar that connects the heavens, the earth, and the underworld, acting as the ultimate point of communication between the divine and the mortal. This vital connection can take many forms, appearing as a sacred mountain like Olympus, a world tree like the Norse Yggdrasil, or even a man-made structure like a temple spire. Essentially, wherever a culture believed their Axis Mundi to be, that was the fixed and sacred point around which their entire world revolved.

For centuries, the African nation of Wakanda successfully pulled off the world's greatest deception, deliberately hiding its true nature behind the illusion of an impoverished, third-world country. In reality, it is the most technologically advanced civilization on Earth, a status built entirely on its exclusive access to Vibranium, a near-indestructible alien metal that crashed there on a meteorite. This unique resource allowed Wakanda to develop technology far beyond the rest of the planet, creating a futuristic utopia that blends ancient traditions with groundbreaking innovation, all ruled and protected by its warrior-king, the Black Panther.

Known as the "Oasis of Little Birds," Zerzura is the Sahara Desert's most enduring legend of a lost paradise. Ancient tales describe a gleaming white city hidden deep in the Libyan Desert, rich with treasure and palm trees, and guarded by sleeping kings and queens. This alluring myth proved so irresistible that it fueled the creation of the real-life "Zerzura Club" in the 1920s, a group of pioneering European desert explorers who used early aircraft and cars in their obsessive, and ultimately unsuccessful, hunt for this fabled oasis.

Deep within the vast and remote wilderness of Patagonia lies the legend of the City of the Caesars, a mythical city of immense wealth said to have been founded by either shipwrecked Spanish colonists or a lost group of Incas. According to the tales that fueled centuries of exploration, its inhabitants were either giants or impossibly long-lived Europeans who presided over a utopia with streets paved with gold and mountains filled with diamonds. This Patagonian version of El Dorado spurred countless fruitless expeditions into the unexplored southern tip of South America.