Buzz
Isn't there something inherently captivating about an undiscovered world or a restricted zone? The urge to uncover what lies beyond locked doors, sealed gates, or barbed-wire fences seems to be part of human nature. Those with a sense of adventure often feel compelled to find out.
Urban explorers and island adventurers are probably more familiar than most with the places that no one else dares to visit. But even they might face serious obstacles when attempting to reach these sites, as these locations are strictly off-limits to outsiders. Tourists who take the risk of traveling to these areas may face arrest or, in some cases, much worse.
10. Poveglia Island, Venice
The grim history of Poveglia Island in Venice is enough to deter anyone, yet ghost hunters still venture here at their own peril. Between 1793 and 1814, the island served as a quarantine station for those struck by the plague. With plague pits scattered across the land, it's no surprise that there are tales of hauntings, as an estimated 160,000 people perished here over the years.
In 1922, Poveglia Island became the site of a mental hospital. According to legend, one of the doctors there committed horrific acts on many of the patients. The hospital closed in 1968, and now only the remnants of the abandoned building remain. It’s believed that the soil itself is partly composed of human remains. The island is off-limits and highly restricted, with anyone caught exploring it illegally facing arrest.
9. North Sentinel Island, Andaman Islands
The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island are the last isolated pre-Neolithic tribe in the world, and they go to extreme lengths to keep it that way. Anyone who dares to approach the island is greeted with a barrage of sharp arrows, making it impossible to approach the shore and even difficult to fly a helicopter above. It's believed that as many as 200 people live on the island, subsisting by fishing in the shallow waters.
In 2006, two men were illegally fishing just off the coast of the island, but after falling asleep, they were attacked and killed. The Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology confirmed, “As day broke, fellow fishermen reported trying to warn the men of the danger. However, they didn’t respond—likely because they were intoxicated—and the boat drifted into shallow waters where they were attacked and killed.” Following this incident, a law was enacted requiring fishermen to stay at least 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the shore.
8. Bohemian Grove, California
There is a private retreat in Northern California where anyone who somehow manages to sneak in will be arrested. Every July, the wealthy and influential members of the Bohemian Club convene for three weeks of reportedly strange events. In 2008, Vanity Fair writer Alex Shoumatoff was arrested after attempting to write an article about their plans to harvest trees in the area, only to uncover an entirely different story.
Shoumatoff wrote:
[A] priest or two appeared at the base of the main owl shrine, a 40-foot-tall, moss-covered statue made of stone and steel at the southern end of the lake, and sang songs about Care. They spoke of how a man's heart is torn between 'reality' and 'fantasy,' and how one must escape to another world of camaraderie among men. The lead priest wore a pink-and-green satin outfit, while a hamadryad appeared before a redwood in a gold-encrusted bodysuit covered in rhinestones.
Shoumatoff was caught in the woods by a security guard and handed over to the authorities.
7. Niihau, Hawaii
Niihau is dubbed the 'Forbidden Island,' as the family who has owned it since 1864 decided to prohibit all outsiders. The Hawaiian island, situated 29 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Kauai, spans 186 square kilometers (72 square miles) of untouched beauty and is home to several endangered species. Only the Robinson family and about 130 Native Niihuans residing in the village of Puuwai live here. The owners are constantly overwhelmed with requests from people who claim that visiting the island and seeing the 370-meter (1,200-foot) cliffs is their ultimate dying wish.
In the 1950s, a polio epidemic swept through the Hawaiian Islands. Bruce Robinson, the owner, recalled, 'My uncle wanted to protect the residents here from the epidemic, so it was forbidden to come here unless you had a doctor’s certificate, and there was a two-week quarantine. And it worked. We never got polio out here.' He also mentioned, 'Over the years, many people have tried to visit, but we have never allowed the merely curious to come over.' Even Mick Jagger himself was denied access to the island.
6. Ilha Da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Ilha da Queimada Grande, a chilling island located 33 kilometers (21 miles) off the coast of Sao Paulo, is home to around 4,000 golden lancehead pit vipers. A golden lancehead is among the most lethal venomous snakes globally—its bite can kill a person in under an hour. Some locals suggest that pirates introduced the snakes to the island to guard their hidden treasures, while scientists believe that rising sea levels have trapped these deadly creatures on the island.
The Brazilian Navy has imposed a strict ban on anyone entering the island, except researchers and navy personnel, who are permitted only with explicit authorization. If you're wondering why anyone would risk visiting this perilous island, it’s because 'biopirates' can earn up to $30,000 if they successfully smuggle a golden lancehead to a buyer—without dying in the process.
5. Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
Diego Garcia, located in the British Indian Ocean Territory, is surrounded by secrecy and conspiracy. Between 1968 and 1973, the British and US governments forcibly relocated the local population to establish a US military base. Most of the island's inhabitants were sent to Mauritius and Seychelles. It is believed that Diego Garcia, a fully restricted area, was used for rendition programs. The CIA, with assistance from Britain and other allies, allegedly kidnapped individuals and subjected them to torture in secret prisons. Evidence suggests that the US had plans to use the island for such purposes.
In 2005, British foreign secretary Jack Straw denied the claims, stating, 'There simply is no truth in the claims that the United Kingdom has been involved in rendition full stop.' However, three years later, the government admitted that two CIA torture flights had landed on Diego Garcia. Unfortunately, much of the evidence was lost due to 'water damage' that destroyed the documents. The island itself remains completely off-limits, and so does any insider information related to it.
4. Lascaux Cave, France
The renowned Lascaux Cave, situated near the village of Montignac in Southwestern France, is home to cave paintings believed to be over 17,300 years old. In 1940, a young French boy accidentally discovered the Paleolithic cave and uncovered wall art depicting aurochs, horses, deer, rhinos, and other animals. After the discovery, more than 1,200 people visited the site daily, but the influx of visitors caused carbon dioxide to build up, promoting the growth of mold and fungus, which damaged the artwork. In 1963, the cave was closed to the public, and now access is prohibited—even experts and scientists can be turned away.
In 1983, a replica of the cave called Lascaux II was opened, but it has faced criticism from art critics. Jonathan Jones, an expert, wrote in The Guardian, '[The replica is] patronising nonsense. [ … ] No art lover wants to see a replica Rembrandt, a fake Freud or a simulacra of Seurat. Why then is it considered perfectly reasonable to offer fake Ice Age art as a cultural attraction?' For now, it remains the only option for those wishing to see what the original might have looked like.
3. Area 51, Nevada
It wouldn't be a true list of forbidden places without Area 51. For decades, conspiracy theorists have been intrigued by this mysterious United States Air Force facility in Lincoln County, Nevada, as the purpose of the base remains a secret. Speculations about the site range from reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology to testing unconventional weapons and advanced tech. Area 51 is veiled in secrecy, and the US government didn’t officially confirm its existence until 2013.
Although the exact activities at this enigmatic location remain unclear, there have been hints suggesting that Area 51 is still operational. In early 2018, Janet Airlines (short for ‘Just Another Non-Existent Terminal’) advertised job openings for airline crew members with 'top secret government security clearance' to work on flights transporting US government employees from Las Vegas to Area 51. The site is so tightly secured that UFO hunters and curious visitors are only permitted to approach a specific distance before military personnel step in to prevent further access.
2. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
Located in Norway, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a fortified storage facility 100 meters (330 ft) inside a mountain, often referred to as 'the Noah's Ark of plant diversity.' In the event of a global catastrophe that devastates food resources, this bunker could hold the key to saving humanity with its collection of over a million seeds from around the world. Built to withstand a nuclear strike or asteroid impact, the facility endured a flood caused by melting permafrost in 2017, but the seeds were untouched. Norway recently invested 100 million kroner in enhancing the facility, which has the potential to store up to 2.5 billion seeds.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is situated on Spitsbergen, a remote island in the Svalbard archipelago, positioned 1,300 kilometers (800 mi) from the North Pole. Temperatures can plummet to –46.3 degrees Celsius (–51.3 °F), and the island experiences 153 days of darkness each year. This location was chosen to discourage tourists, yet guided tours still bring people close to the bunker, though entering the vault is strictly forbidden. Visitors can only gaze at the sole entrance to the building, and if lucky, they may even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in the sky above.
1. Surtsey, Iceland
Surtsey, a volcanic island off Iceland's southern coast, emerged between 1963 and 1967 during a -year-long volcanic eruption that began in November 1963. Left untouched by humans, the island has developed a rich ecosystem from seeds carried by ocean currents. It is now home to molds, bacteria, fungi, plants, 89 species of birds, and 335 species of invertebrates. Located 32 kilometers (20 mi) from the mainland, it is accessible only to a select few scientists who use it as a natural laboratory.
The small group of researchers allowed on Surtsey stay in a basic hut, equipped with a few bunk beds and a solar-powered emergency radio. They undergo stringent checks to ensure no seeds are accidentally introduced to the island, and their shelter is dismantled when they leave. On one occasion, human waste was improperly disposed of, resulting in the growth of a tomato plant, which had to be destroyed. Any attempt to visit the island will lead to arrest.
