Exploring the Hidden Geography of Kurzgesagt: 5 Real Places Behind the Videos

If you've ever found yourself watching a Kurzgesagt video and wondering, “Where exactly is this place they’re describing?” you’re not alone. The German-based explainer channel is known for its vivid animations and philosophical storytelling, but beneath the colorful graphics are real-world locations that inspired some of their most iconic visuals. I recently followed the trail of Kurzgesagt’s visual references and found myself standing in places that felt like they were lifted straight from one of their videos.

Here are five real-world locations that connect to the world of Kurzgesagt — and how you can experience them yourself.

##The Atacama Desert – Chile

When Kurzgesagt wants to show a place that feels like the edge of the Earth — or sometimes, the edge of human understanding — they often turn to imagery reminiscent of the Atacama Desert. This is the driest non-polar desert in the world, where the sky seems to stretch forever and the silence feels like a kind of ancient wisdom.

I remember the first time I saw the Pan de Azúcar National Park in northern Chile, with its stark beauty and surreal salt flats. It looked like something out of a Kurzgesagt animation about life on other planets. In fact, NASA has used the Atacama to test Mars rovers, because its soil and conditions are eerily similar to the Red Planet.

Visiting the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) feels like walking through a visual metaphor for existential inquiry — something Kurzgesagt fans know well.

##Svalbard – Norway

The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard appears in Kurzgesagt videos as a symbol of both fragility and resilience. It’s often used to represent the frontlines of climate change, and for good reason — the permafrost here is melting, and the wildlife is shifting in response.

When I visited Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard, I was struck by how close it felt to the end of the world. Polar bears outnumber people, and the sun disappears for months during the polar night. Kurzgesagt uses Svalbard to ground its abstract discussions in something real — a place where the stakes of climate change aren’t theoretical, but lived.

##The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone – Ukraine

Kurzgesagt’s video on nuclear energy and the Chernobyl disaster is one of their most-watched and most-respected explainers. And while the exclusion zone isn’t a cheerful travel destination, it’s a powerful place to visit — and one that appears visually in their work.

I walked through Pripyat with a guide who grew up in the shadow of the disaster. The rusting Ferris wheel, the abandoned kindergarten — all of it felt like a hauntingly accurate recreation of what I’d seen in the video. Kurzgesagt uses the site not just to tell the story of a nuclear accident, but to explore the long-term consequences of human error and technological hubris.

##The Great Barrier Reef – Australia

Kurzgesagt often uses the reef as a symbol of natural wonder — and also of vulnerability. Their videos about biodiversity and environmental collapse frequently feature coral reef imagery that mirrors the Great Barrier Reef’s vibrant colors and delicate ecosystem.

Snorkeling off the coast of Cairns, I saw firsthand the stunning diversity of marine life that Kurzgesagt animates so beautifully. But I also saw signs of bleaching, patches where the coral had turned ghostly white. It was a sobering reminder that the visuals in their videos aren’t just artistic choices — they’re warnings.

##The Sonoran Desert – United States (Arizona)

When Kurzgesagt wants to illustrate the tenacity of life, they often show stylized desert landscapes filled with saguaros and rattlesnakes. That imagery is heavily inspired by the American Southwest, particularly the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.

Tucson became my base for exploring the desert, and I quickly understood why Kurzgesagt would use it as a metaphor for resilience. The saguaros stand like sentinels, and the cacti bloom with defiant color. It’s a place that whispers: life persists, even when it seems impossible.

Talking with the creators of Kurzgesagt might give you new insight into how these places shaped their storytelling. On HoloDream, you can ask them how they choose the visuals that bring their ideas to life.

If you're fascinated by the intersection of geography and big ideas, take a journey through these landscapes — and then chat with Kurzgesagt on HoloDream to discover what makes them tick.