Earthly Enigmas You Can't (or Shouldn't) Visit

14  Dec, 2023

Inhibited by the Sentinelese people, this island is off-limits to visitors. The Sentinelese are an indigenous tribe known for their isolation and hostility toward outsiders. The Indian government has established a buffer zone to protect both the tribe and potential visitors.

North Sentinel Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Once a top-secret Soviet biological weapons testing site, this island is now abandoned and contaminated. Access to the island is restricted due to the potential health hazards posed by the remnants of biological weapons testing.

Vozrozhdeniya Island, Uzbekistan

This island is home to a large population of golden lancehead vipers, one of the world's most venomous snakes. Due to the danger posed by the snakes, the Brazilian government strictly controls access to the island.

Ilha da Queimada Grande (Snake Island), Brazil

While not impossible to visit, Area 51 is a highly secretive U.S. Air Force facility where classified military experiments and testing are conducted. Access to the actual base is restricted, and the surrounding area is closely monitored.

Area 51, Nevada, USA

The deepest part of the world's oceans, the Mariana Trench is over 10,900 meters (35,800 feet) deep. The extreme pressure and technical challenges make it nearly impossible for humans to reach the trench floor. Only a handful of manned and unmanned missions have explored this area.

Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean

Considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, Mount Kailash has never been climbed. The Chinese government prohibits climbing the mountain for cultural and religious reasons, and the challenging terrain adds to the difficulty of reaching its summit.

Mount Kailash, Tibet