10 distant unspoiled islands that even seasoned tourists hesitate to go to

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Today, many tourists choose the islands when it comes to summer or even winter vacations. After all, it is not just beautiful there, but also untouched nature, a minimum of other people and, of course, a lot of interesting opportunities for leisure. But did you know that there are ten of the most dangerous islands in the world, from which even the most experienced and seasoned tourists do not return safe and sound? Today we will tell you about the places where it is better not to meddle under any circumstances. After all, some of them have become so not only because of natural reasons, but also through the fault of man.

1. Revival Island (Uzbekistan)

The territory of this island is divided among themselves by countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The island itself is located in the Aral Sea and until some time was completely unknown to a wide range of people. It is believed that in 1948 a super-secret laboratory of the USSR was built here, which conducted experiments with various bacteria and viruses, including smallpox, plague, anthrax and others in an attempt to create their own biological weapons. In 1971, due to the negligence of one of the scientists, the smallpox virus broke out and infected ten people, three of whom died shortly. In the 1990s, the secrecy of this object was violated, and therefore the inhabitants of the island were hastily evacuated, while abandoning the base itself. Today it is a gloomy ghost town, in which, according to environmentalists, to this day containers with viruses and bacteria are incorrectly stored, which can cause a serious leak at any time. And although the authorities said that in 2002 they destroyed all dangerous substances, few people really believe in this, and therefore the island remains empty to this day.

2. North Sentinel (India)

This islet is located not far from India, namely, in the Andaman Sea. It is inhabited by a small tribe of Sentinelese who live in the northern part of the island and categorically refuse to have any contact with the outside world. All those people who tried to visit the island were greeted with an extremely "friendly" greeting in the form of sharp spears and arrows, and those daredevils who made their way into the jungle have not been found to this day. In 2006, members of the tribe killed two fishermen because their boat was drifting too close to the island. And two years earlier, the Sentinelese refused help after the earthquake, throwing spears at helicopters. The Indian authorities declared the island itself and its surrounding territories a zone of exclusion and forbade anyone to approach them.

3. Gruinard Island (Scotland)

In 1881, this small island was inhabited by only six people who lived there on a permanent basis. However, by 1920, the island was completely uninhabited. This is probably why the British government decided to conduct secret biological experiments there, which until recently were kept in strict secrecy. Scientists conducted dangerous experiments there with the anthrax virus, during which all life on the island, including animals and plants, died. After the experiments were completed, and the soil was found to be contaminated, the British authorities concluded that a decontamination procedure was necessary. Officially, in 2007, it was decided that the anthrax virus was no longer on the island, which is confirmed by the live sheep that were previously settled there. However, to this day, the island remains completely uninhabited.

4. Reunion Island (Indian Ocean)

Life has been boiling on this island since the 17th century. And it is not surprising, because he is stunningly beautiful and has no equal among other island representatives. Today this island is densely populated and is also open to tourists. What is dangerous about it? For example, an incredible number of hungry sharks that strive to attack swimmers. From 2011 to 2015, about 17 attacks by these predators were recorded, and seven of them were fatal. In 2013, an official ban on swimming was introduced on, you just think, almost half of the entire island. Reunion authorities say they are planning to clear the waters of four dozen bull sharks and their tiger relatives in the near future. Therefore, it is worth swimming here with extreme caution.

5. Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands)

Like another island that is part of the Marshall Islands, Enewetok became part of the US nuclear test. During the Cold War, over 30 megatons of TNT were exploded here. In 1980, a special dome was built on the island, which has the name "Runit", where the remains of radioactive particles, contaminated garbage and other waste are stored to this day. However, according to the assurances of modern ecologists, the dome made of concrete has a rather flimsy structure, and therefore at any time can be destroyed by a powerful typhoon or even a tsunami. In addition, it is believed that the radioactive deposits present in the lagoon itself are much more dangerous than the contents hidden by the concrete slab.

6. Ramri Island (Burma)

This island does not have any pleasant and positive history behind it at all. During the Second World War, the Japanese, who had lost the battle with the British, decided to escape through this swampy and so unremarkable islet. But they didn’t know that in the shade of thick water an incredible danger awaited them, namely tens and hundreds of crocodiles. According to historical records, all four hundred soldiers who tried to cross the island were captured by predators, and their remains are hidden to this day by muddy water and algae. This piece of land is also mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the site in which the largest attack of wild animals on humans was carried out.

7. Ilya da Keimada Grande (Brazil)

On the coast of Brazil, there is a small, but world-famous Snake Island. Dozens of species of dangerous and poisonous snakes live on it, one of which is the golden viper, which is on the verge of extinction. At one time, they were trapped due to rising sea levels, after which that part of the island that connected it to the mainland disappeared under water. This is what led to the fact that snakes began to adapt to the new environment, successfully breeding up to a thousand copies. Today, visiting this island is strictly prohibited, and the Brazilian government only allows specialized scientists in protective suits. After all, snake venom can cause not only discomfort, but also cerebral hemorrhage, which leads to a very quick and painful death.

8. Miyakejima Island (Japan)

Miyakejima is part of the Izu group of islands that belong to modern Japan. It is famous for the small but very active Mount Oyama, which wakes up every few decades and throws a lot of harmful gas and lava into the air. Its last activity was observed in the period from 2000 to 2004. After itself, the volcano left a lot of sulfur and other fumes harmful to the human body. To this day, a special warning system is located on the island, which notifies residents of the increased content of harmful substances in the air. That is why this island is also known for the fact that its inhabitants are forced to wear gas masks more often than others. The same story is true with other islands of the Izu group, where residents are forced to wear a gas mask almost on a daily basis, which has long been part of their fashion.

9. Bikini Atoll (Marshall Islands)

A small island in the Pacific Ocean at first glance seems absolutely harmless, but only until you know its history. Around 1946, the entire population of the island was evacuated to others adjacent to it, as the United States decided to test its new atoll and hydrogen bombs on the atoll. According to historians, over twenty explosions were made on the island until 1958. Therefore, it is not surprising that even after the incident of such an amount of time, the island still remains contaminated with radioactive particles. It is also impossible to grow food here, and drinking water is not recommended at all. Therefore, make sure that Bikini Atoll is not on your tourist itinerary.

10. Poveglia Island (Italy)

This small and rather unremarkable islet is located between Venice and Lido in northern Italy. Rumor has it that this island has its own black spots on history. Historians believe that at one time it was there that the so-called "black pits" were created, where the dead were buried during the European plague epidemic. According to the surviving data, about one hundred thousand unfortunates are buried there, who could not overcome the disease and ended up in the quarantine zone. But the scary stories about Poveglia Island did not end there. In 1922, he became the abode of one well-known doctor at that time, who conducted experiments on mentally retarded people, which often led to their death. It is also reported that the doctor later threw himself from the tower, claiming that he could no longer bear the signs of society. In modern times, the island is completely abandoned, it is forbidden to visit tourists, and it has also become part of several programs that investigate the paranormal. Indeed, many Italians claim that sometimes screams and other eerie sounds are heard from the shadows of the island.

Continuing the theme - where even the experienced one becomes uncomfortable.