1. North Sentinel Island, India – The Forbidden Island
The world is dotted with islands of breathtaking beauty, but some come with risks that make them deadly for visitors. From toxic gases and aggressive wildlife to violent weather and dark histories, these islands remind us that paradise often has a perilous side. Hidden in the Bay of Bengal, North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, one of the last uncontacted tribes on Earth. Fiercely protective of their isolation, they respond to outsiders with hostility, often shooting arrows at boats or aircraft. Here, danger lies not in the land itself but in the people who remain untamed.
2. Snake Island, Brazil – The Island of Snakes
Just off the coast of Brazil lies Snake Island, an isolated patch of land crawling with thousands of golden lancehead vipers. These snakes are among the most venomous in the world, and a single bite can kill a person in hours. With reports of one snake per square meter, it has earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous islands on Earth. The Brazilian Navy forbids public access, allowing only researchers to enter with strict precautions. Despite its tropical beauty, the risks outweigh any reward. Snake Island is a chilling reminder that some places are not meant for exploration.
3. Miyake-jima, Japan – The Island of Poisonous Gas
Miyake-jima, part of Japan’s Izu Islands, looks like a peaceful getaway, but it sits under constant threat from Mount Oyama, an active volcano. For decades, the volcano has released sulfur dioxide gas, forcing locals to evacuate at times and to carry gas masks even today. The air can quickly turn toxic, making everyday life an exercise in caution. Still, the island draws tourists curious about its strange reality, where people live alongside invisible danger. Miyake-jima shows that paradise can come with conditions, and survival often depends on respecting the unpredictable power of nature that shapes the land.
4. Ramree Island, Myanmar – Swamp of the Man-Eaters
Ramree Island is remembered for one of the deadliest crocodile attacks in history. During World War II, Japanese soldiers retreated into its mangrove swamps, only to meet giant saltwater crocodiles waiting in the murky waters. The gruesome encounter has become legend, painting the island as a place of horror. Even today, the swamps are filled with crocodiles, disease-carrying insects, and treacherous marshland that makes travel risky. It is a place where nature reigns supreme and humans are far from safe. Ramree Island remains a stark reminder that wild places often carry dangers beyond our imagination or control.
5. Réunion Island, France – The Shark Attack Capital
Nestled in the Indian Ocean, Réunion Island is famous for its stunning beaches and volcanic peaks. Yet beneath the waves lurks a danger that has earned it a grim title. Over the last decade, the island has experienced an alarming rise in shark attacks, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for swimmers and surfers. Authorities have imposed restrictions on water sports, but tragedies still occur. For locals and visitors, the ocean is as feared as it is admired. Réunion shows how even paradise can turn perilous when nature takes a darker turn.
6. Gruinard Island, Scotland – The Island of Anthrax
Gruinard Island, a small patch of land off Scotland’s coast, carries a chilling legacy. During World War II, it was used to test biological weapons, and anthrax spores were released into its soil. The contamination was so severe that the island remained quarantined for decades. It was not until the late twentieth century that scientists declared it safe again, but its reputation endures. Few dare to live there, and the name itself stirs unease. Gruinard Island stands as a reminder of how human actions can scar nature and turn peaceful ground into a place of silent danger.
7. Saba, Caribbean Netherlands – Hurricane Island
Saba may be small, but it is strikingly beautiful with steep cliffs and charming villages. Yet its location in the Caribbean places it directly in the path of some of the world’s fiercest hurricanes. Over the years, devastating storms have battered the island, reshaping its land and testing the resilience of its people. Saba is also home to one of the shortest runways on Earth, making arrivals and departures particularly risky. While adventurers are drawn to its rugged beauty, the island lives under constant threat from nature. Here, beauty and danger live side by side, shaping daily life.
8. Farallon Islands, USA – The Shark-Infested Waters
Just 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco, the Farallon Islands rise from the ocean as a haven for wildlife. Seals and sea lions gather here in large numbers, attracting one of nature’s most feared predators. Great white sharks patrol the waters in high concentrations, especially during feeding seasons, making the seas some of the most dangerous in the world. Divers and researchers must exercise extreme caution, knowing they are in the hunting ground of powerful predators. The islands themselves are protected, but the surrounding waters remind us of the raw strength of the ocean.
9. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands – The Nuclear Test Site
Bikini Atoll, once a serene Pacific paradise, became infamous after serving as a nuclear testing site during the Cold War. From 1946 to 1958, dozens of atomic bombs were detonated there, leaving radiation that lingers to this day. Entire communities were forced to leave, and the environment was forever altered. While some adventurous divers now explore shipwrecks in the surrounding waters, the soil and lagoon remain contaminated. Bikini Atoll stands as a haunting reminder of human destruction and the lasting consequences of nuclear experiments, where natural beauty is overshadowed by a history written in fallout and loss.
10. Heard Island, Australia – The Island of Fire and Ice
Remote and rarely visited, Heard Island sits in the Southern Ocean, surrounded by ice and battered by some of the harshest weather on Earth. Yet amid its glaciers lies Big Ben, a massive volcano that remains active, spewing lava into the frozen landscape. The journey to reach Heard Island is grueling, requiring days at sea through unforgiving waters. For scientists, it offers a rare natural laboratory, but for travelers, it is one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Heard Island shows how beauty and danger often exist side by side in the wildest corners of Earth.
This story The 10 Most Dangerous Islands in the World was first published on Daily FETCH
