When you think of an island, you probably envision beautiful beaches, wooden lounge chairs by the sea, and fruity cocktails. However, not all islands present such idyllic scenes. From natural disasters to tragic histories involving poisoning and experiments, some islands offer more danger than relaxation.
If you are captivated by the thrill of danger, continue reading to discover islands marked by dark histories and grim environments. Uncover the fascinating, yet risky, allure of these unique destinations.
K’gari, Australia
K’gari, previously known as Fraser Island, is famous as a World-Heritage-listed sand island. It is located in Queensland, Australia. This can be a tempting destination to visit, considering the large stretches of sandy beaches, where you can rest and enjoy your time.
This overwhelming utopian beauty comes with its own set of risks. Remember that it is pretty risky to swim in unsupervised waters. There are no lifeguards, and this area experiences quite a considerable number of riptides.
During summer, there are reports of venomous jellyfish like the Blue Bottle and Irukandji jellyfish. This island being home to dingoes is one other risk. In February 2024, a 2-year-old was bitten by a female dingo before his father rescued him.
Miyake-jima Island, Japan
Miyake-jima Island in Japan might appear as a perfect utopia with its rich volcanic soil, pleasant weather, and natural hot springs. However, this picturesque setting is deceiving as it houses the active volcano, Mount Oyama, which is still erupting to this day.
The volcano’s last significant eruption in 2000 forced 4,000 residents to evacuate. Despite the time that has passed, ongoing eruptions continue to increase sulfur dioxide levels in the air, necessitating the use of gas masks for safety. Nonetheless, the island remains a popular destination for scuba divers and swimmers, drawn by its exceptional underwater environment.
Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard is a winter paradise located in Norway. You would want to visit this island to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights. However, this island is not where you would expect tropical climates and fruity cocktails. It is quite the opposite.
This frozen landscape has temperatures as low as -4.0 F. You would need protective gear to keep you warm in this climate. Moreover, this island is home to 3,000 polar bears. In 2020, a polar bear had mauled a man to death. So, while you are busy enjoying the weather, do keep an eye out.
Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands is infamous for its daunting history despite its quirky connection to the setting of the show “SpongeBob SquarePants,” known as Bikini Bottom.
Far from the lighthearted world of the animated series, Bikini Atoll served as a nuclear testing site for the United States, with 67 nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1958. Today, although radiation levels have decreased, the area still poses risks.
Tourists can visit safely as long as they avoid consuming local produce, as the flora, fauna, and surrounding waters continue to exhibit radiation levels above safe limits.
Sable Island, Canada
Sable Island is located 186 miles off of Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. It is rich in flora and fauna, with its beautiful dunes, wild horses, and possibly one of the largest gray seal colonies in the world. However, the waters around this island are infamous for their hazardous nature.
Dubbed aptly as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” this island has seen more than 350 shipwrecks since 1583. On 12th July 2024, a couple was found dead on the shores of Sable Island, perhaps victim to these hazardous waters that have claimed so many lives.
Whakaari, New Zealand
Whakaari, or White Island, is one of those islands that have been in recent news for their travel tragedy. On December 9, 2019, 47 tourists visited Whakaari. There was a substantial, unprecedented volcanic eruption that ended up claiming the lives of twenty-two people and injuring many others. It goes down as one of the most tragic travel disasters in modern history.
Despite the risks, Whakaari is celebrated for its unique opportunity to witness active volcanic activity. The sight of rugged cliffs set against plumes of smoke is visually striking. However, visitors are advised to exercise caution and observe this natural spectacle from a safe distance.
Mafia Island, Tanzania
This suspicious-sounding island is home to secluded beaches, sandbars, and turtles, making it a vacation favorite for scuba divers. While the risks here do not include organized crime, there are several other factors at play. The mosquito infestation on this island is a matter of concern. Moreover, these pests carry diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. You should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites on this island.
Bouvet Island, South Atlantic Ocean
If you love to stay in remote places away from human civilization, then this island is apt for you. The nearest landmass to Bouvet Island is the continent of Antarctica at 1000 miles, and the nearest human-inhabited land is 1400 miles away. While this island is home to harsh weather conditions and low temperatures, tourists are not recommended to visit there. This is because if anything goes wrong, it will be several days before you reach a human settlement.
Gruinard Island, Scotland
Gruinard Island, infamously dubbed as “Anthrax Island,” was a site for the United Kingdom to test bioweapons like anthrax. Animals were taken to this island and infected with anthrax for experimental purposes. With time, all of the flora and fauna slowly died away. Even though this island was declared free of anthrax in 1990, experts speculate that the results can still be seen. In 2022, a massive fire was witnessed on this very island, which killed off a major part of the wildlife, making this already uninhabited land a ghost town. As of now, this island has been declared as possessing a high risk of wildfires.
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Komodo Island is famous for its Komodo dragon colonies. These belong to the lizard family and are one of the apex predators. They are fast, strong, and possess venomous saliva. They are known to feast on monkeys, birds, and smaller animals. If you visit this island, stick close to the guide and maintain a reasonable distance from the lizards.
There have been several incidents where Komodo dragons have attacked humans, and in barely any of the scenarios have the humans made it out alive. So keep the guidelines in mind and strictly stick to them.
Skellig Michael, Ireland
This island looks like a cliff that’s standing alone in the middle of the ocean. This renowned place has been featured in Star Wars films. The main reason why this island is featured on UNESCO World Heritage is because of the monastery at the top of it. However, the climb to the monastery is a risky 600-step climb. It is not recommended for those who are not fit enough. Although there haven’t been any recent incidents, in 2010, people lost their lives falling from the steps before.
Reunion Island, Indian Ocean
This island, located in the Indian Ocean, is under the French government. It is popular because of its avid wildlife. However, don’t be fooled by the clear blue waters. One of the major risks here is the presence of sharks. The waters are infested by sharks such as tiger sharks, bull sharks, and blue sharks. Several people have lost their lives on this island due to shark attacks. So activities like swimming and surfing are prohibited here.