The world's most dangerous islands

Some islands just shouldn't be visited. Islands certainly make for an exotic holiday destination. From sitting under the rustling palms, sunbathing, and gazing at the clear blue sea to engaging in activities like snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving, islands provide a perfect escape from the busy world into the serene, peaceful beauty of nature. But, not all islands are suitable for exploration; there are some which pose great threats to their visitors. Here are some islands where you definitely don't want to be washed ashore.

Ilha de Queimada Grande, Snake Island

Locally known as Ilha de Queimada Grande, Brazil’s Snake Island is one of the deadly wonders of Mother Nature. This small island is located about 20 miles off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil.

What’s interesting about it is that all the Brazilians know about the island, but there are only a few who had the courage to step on it. Even if some people have traveled there, only a few have survived. The question that would come in anyone’s mind is, “What makes this island so horrifying?” The answer: the deadliest snakes that ever existed on Earth.

 Miyake-Jima, Japan

Found in the Izu islands of Japan, Miyake-Jima's most prominent feature is the active volcano, Mount Oyama, which has erupted several times in recent history. Since the most recent explosion, in 2005, the volcano has constantly leaked poisonous gas, requiring residents to carry a gas mask at all times. Sirens go off across the island when the levels of sulfur rise sharply.

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

This Unesco World Heritage Site is dangerous for two reasons: nuclear radiation and sharks. It was the site of more than 20 nuclear weapons tests between 1946 and 1958, and – although the islands were declared 'safe' in 1997 – their original inhabitants have refused to return. Eating locally grown produce is not advised. So no chomping on fallen coconuts. Furthermore, the lack of fishing in the area during the past 65 years means that sea life – including sharks – have flourished which, along with the numerous shipwrecks in the region, attracts hundreds of divers each year.

Ramree Island, Myanmar

This island, off the coast of Myanmar (Burma), is famous for a gruesome incident that occurred during the Second World War. In 1945, following fighting between British and Japanese troops, an estimated 400 Japanese soldiers were forced to flee into the marshes that surround the island, where they were apparently set upon by the island's sizeable population of saltwater crocodiles. The incident is, according to the Guinness Book of Records, The Greatest Disaster Suffered [by humans] from Animals.

Saba, Netherlands 

According to the website of the Caribbean Hurricane Network, the tiny island of Saba has been hit by more severe hurricanes in the last 150 years than any other in the region, including by 15 category three storms and seven category fives. Head there during the winter.

Poveglia Island (Italy)

A small island located in the Venetian Lagoon, Northern Italy, Poveglia is considered to be one of the creepiest places on Earth. This island is famous for its paranormal activities. During the Roman Empire, the victims of the plague were housed on this island. In order to separate the sick ones from the healthy residents, the afflicted people were forced to live here and die in isolation.

North Sentinel Island 



North Sentinel Island is part of the Andaman Islands, a bunch of islands owned and administered by India. Overall, the islands are rather pleasant to visit and popular with tourists. They feature a stunningly diverse ecology and are very ethnically diverse. On North Sentinel Island, the ‘locals’ are one of a handful of remaining uncontacted peoples on earth. To say that they’re hostile to outside contact would be quite the understatement.

Trilokinath Pandit, an Indian anthropologist, made several visits to the island to study the people and left gifts for the tribe, including a live pig. The tribespeople slaughtered the animal, refusing Pandit’s peace offering and rejecting his presence on their land. In 2006, two fishermen were killed by the Sentinelese and placed in open graves after boating a little to close to shore. When a helicopter attempted to retrieve the bodies of the slain, they could not land due to the firing of arrows.

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