I've traveled all over the world, but one of the most "odd" places I've ever been is right here in my home state. The norther parts of Minnesota up near the border are down-right prehistoric looking. Some friends and I go camping up near a town called Ely every year, and the lakes all look like this... (sorry for linking to pics directly on other peoples sites, but i'm at work and can't access image uploading services) Some others from the boundary waters and areas that look like it up north... There's no sand, or dirt, or a lot of mud. It's just rock with water filling up any low areas, and it's all old pine forests. It just looks really prehistoric and odd up there, but its absolutely beautiful. Best Northern lights you'll ever see in the states if you go the right time of year. It honestly feels a bit like another planet, and it's empty up there population wise except for other people camping who you rarely see or come across. More likely to see a moose or a bear than another human being. Also, no motorized boats on most of the lakes up there, and non in the obviously named Boundary Waters Canoe Area. So the only way in and out is by foot, canoe, and bringing everything you need with you. It adds to the sense of wonderment in a big way. Highly recommend it. Bring a gun, or camp on an island... or both. Bears aren't scared of people up there because they don't see them too often. :)
Ah ... I did some Boundary Waters canoeing once. Moose muck, waterfalls, portaging, beavers, interlocking thousands of lakes. Good call -- the lack of people once you get far enough to avoid motors is surreal. Add in some rain and a little wind on the water and I would never want to leave.