Traveling can bring us incredible experiences and open up new facets of the world to us. However, there are places on the planet Earth that hide incredible dangers and pose a threat to life. In our top we will look at the most dangerous and extreme places that will make you tremble with fear and admiration at the same time.
10. Madidi National Park – paradise in the jungle
Madidi National Park, located along the Amazon River in Bolivia, is known as one of the most unsafe places on the planet, due to its dense jungle vegetation and the presence of predatory animals. The park is home to venomous snakes, predatory cats and many other dangerous animals, while it attracts many tourists with its unique beauty and charm.
Madidi National Park has an area of about 19,000 square kilometers and is a dense forest filled with diverse flora and fauna. However, since the forest is full of predators and dangerous plants, tourists are not recommended to inspect it on their own. Despite all the dangers, Madidi is a special place that occupies a place in the list of the most dangerous places to visit on Earth, as it is one of the largest protected areas in the world where you can see some of the most dangerous animals and plants.
9. North Sentinel Island
The North Sentinel Island, located in the Indian Ocean, is famous for its isolationist policy and aggressive attitude towards visitors. The locals, known as Sentinels, carefully guard their territory and do not allow anyone to approach the island. At the same time, the use of violence to protect one’s space is no exception, which makes visiting the North Sentinel Island extremely dangerous. It is located on the Andaman Islands and is considered one of the riskiest places on the planet for tourists. The locals live according to their traditions and do not want to develop any new connections with the outside world.
Therefore, if tourists try to enter the Sentinel land, the latter consider them a threat and are forced to resort to violence. This unique island attracts the attention of many travelers in its mysterious way, but it is strongly recommended to avoid it in order not to endanger the well-being of the tribal population. Sentinelians have absolutely no immunity, and therefore tourists can inadvertently spread pathogenic microbes throughout the population, which in the end will have disastrous consequences.
8. Darvaza
The combustible gas crater in Turkmenistan, known as Darvaza or the ‘Gate to Hell’, originated in 1971 as a result of unsuccessful drilling and still continues to burn, creating a very dangerous atmosphere. This is a natural gas deposit in an underground cave, which geologists set on fire to avoid the spread of methane. The crater is located in the Karakum Desert about 260 kilometers north of the capital of Turkmenistan and it is one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Its hot spots extend over an area 60 meters long and about 20 meters deep, and its legendary name reflects a powerful flash, boiling mud and orange flames in a large crater with a diameter of 70 meters. In addition, Darvaza has some of the most extensive natural gas reserves in the world.
7. Danakil Desert
One of the most extreme places on Earth is the Danakil Desert, located in Ethiopia. Volcanoes, geysers, lava lakes and many other amazing natural phenomena are concentrated here. However, this area is not a place for tourists. High temperatures, geological activity, as well as the lack of fresh water make this place extremely dangerous.
The Danakil Desert is one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures that regularly exceed 50 °C. It is also volcanically active and contains a high concentration of toxic sulfur vapors. A visit to this desert can negatively affect your health even in a short period of time. But the Danakil Desert is one of the most amazing and strange places in the world.
6. Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast in Namibia is known by its name due to the fact that the remains of many ships are scattered on its coast. Due to strong winds, thick fogs and dangerous tides, this place becomes extremely risky for navigation and rescue operations. Travelers wishing to visit the Skeleton Coast should be extremely careful and prepared for possible dangers.
This territory is located on the west coast of Africa, from the south of Angola to the north of Namibia, and covers the area from the Kunene River in the south to the Swakop River. The Skeleton Coast is included in the list of “the deadliest places on Earth” because of the harsh climate and almost zero chances of rescue in case of an emergency. There are insurmountable weather conditions, hot winds, lack of food and water, which makes travel difficult for those who decided to explore this quiet place.
In addition, the area is a treasure trove of bones of various animals, including whales, elephants, turtles and seals, which gives it an acidic appearance. At the same time, along with these natural hazards, the inhabitants may face human threats, such as banditry and robbery, which makes the Skeleton Coast far from the most suitable place for tourists. In general, this is one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
5. Death Valley is the most extreme place on Earth
Death Valley, located in the United States of America, is one of the hottest and driest places on the planet. The relentless weather and lack of water make this place extremely dangerous to live in. Nevertheless, due to its unique nature and spectacular landscapes, Death Valley attracts a lot of tourists, despite all the risks.
Located on the border of the states of California and Nevada, this desert valley is famous for its high temperature. Occasionally, only deserts in Africa and the Middle East are comparable to Death Valley in terms of dry summers, which gives it even more value. In July 2018, the hottest month on Earth was marked here. The average temperature, including overnight lows, reached 42.3 °C. For four consecutive days, the maximum daytime temperature managed to reach an impressive 52.8 °C – this is a record in history.
Settlers who got lost in Death Valley in the winter between 1849 and 185 gave this place a kind of forbidden name. Even though they had lost only one person, they all believed that this valley would become their grave. Two young men – William Lewis Manley and John Rogers – survived by learning to survive in harsh conditions. Crossing the Panamint Mountains, they turned around and, while looking at the valley, said goodbye to it, calling it the Valley of Death. Today, this place deservedly occupies one of the first places in the list of the most dangerous places on the planet.
4. Oymyakon
Oymyakon is a small settlement in Yakutia, which is known for its extremely low temperatures. Even in the warmest months it is difficult to find a living soul here, as the harsh climatic conditions make this place dangerous to live in. Temperatures drop to -50 degrees Celsius and below, which makes Oymyakon one of the coldest settlements on Earth.
Despite its unique location, this area does not attract tourists, as very little can be grown in these conditions. Due to the lack of resources, and especially food, life in Oymyakon is unbearable for most people. It is hard to imagine how 500 people manage to survive here for many years, overcoming the intolerable cold and other difficulties.
3. Lake Natron
Lake Natron in Tanzania is famous as one of the most alkaline reservoirs on Earth. The concentration of salts and minerals makes its water poisonous to most living organisms. Therefore, visiting the lake requires special care and protection of organs so as not to be exposed to danger. However, despite the formidable name, many species cannot survive in such an aggressive environment.
But for cyanobacteria living in the lake, high sodium levels are a natural home. Their presence gives the pond a characteristic red-pink hue, making it unique. Even a large number of small flamingos are found in Lake Natron due to its unique properties, considering it a breeding ground. Despite the beauty and uniqueness of this lake, it is still one of the most dangerous places in the world, requiring special protection and attention.
2. Snake Island
One of the most dangerous islands on earth – Snake Island in Brazil, is distinguished by a huge number of venomous snakes, which makes it a place of deadly risk for any visitor. Access to the island is prohibited to the public, and it is better not to go to the island without a special permit if you want to save your life.
Located about 40 kilometers off the coast of Brazil, Queimada Grande is a secret island that locals avoid. The last fisherman who sailed too close to the island was found dead in his boat, drifting at sea. This island is so dangerous that the Brazilian government has demanded to ban access to it. Golden spear-headed snakes are the main threat on the island and are considered one of the most venomous snakes in the world.
1. The Road of Death is an extremely dangerous road
North Yungas Road, located in Bolivia, is known worldwide by the nickname ‘The Road of Death’. This is a place that becomes a real test for daredevils and extreme travelers. The narrow passage, steep cliffs and adverse weather conditions make traveling on this road extremely risky. Each turn can be the last, because landslides, falling rocks and waterfalls from a height of more than 600 meters constantly occur on the road.
It’s hard to believe, but until 1994, about 300 drivers died on this road every year. North Yungas Road was built to connect the Amazon rainforest with the capital of Bolivia. This site was the main way of transporting and selling timber and crops, which led to overcrowding of trucks and buses on the road.
In this regard, most vehicles did not fit on narrow turns, which periodically caused trucks to fall along with people and their livelihoods into the abyss. Today, North Yungas Road remains one of the most dangerous places on the planet and is not intended for tourist trips.