Mexico’s Island of Dolls (Isla De Las Muñecas) seems like a set from a scary movie. The island is filled with doll parts and everyone that gets there feels the mystical charm that surrounds the area. Beyond the weird ambiance of the island, the island represents a masterpiece of the Mexican culture and one of the most interesting legends in America.

The Island of Dolls is located near Mexico City, on the Teshuilo Lake. The legends says that once, three girls were playing in the area and one drowned. People say the spirit of the girl is haunting the area since then. There was one man, though, a loner who decided to move in that certain place. Julian Santana decided to celebrate the spirit of the little girl, by bringing dolls to the island and tying them to trees. Moreover, he even constructed an altar for the girl. At the same time, Santana had a garden with some amazing produce. Therefore, people started to trade dolls for Santana’s fresh vegetables and fruits. In time, Santana gathered a real collection of dolls and nowadays there are thousands of dolls hanging all over the forest. The weirdest part of the legend is the end – the man that offered dolls for all his life to the little girl’s spirit was found dead, floating in the waters of the same canal in which the girl drowned.

The locals are still decorating the island and not just for the hundreds of visitors who dare to visit the forest. People of the place celebrate and respect the little girl’s spirit, as well as Julian Santana’s work and dedication. It offers also a different perspective for death and what happens after that, especially in the so-called haunted places. It is probably the only place on Earth where people learned not just to live with the spirits, but also to respect them.

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