Buzz
This compilation highlights some of the most unforgiving corners of the Earth where humans have somehow managed to survive against the relentless forces of nature. From frigid wastelands to dense, untouched jungles to volcanic hotspots—these places seem impossible, yet people make their homes there.
10. Cook, Australia
Cook, established in 1917, served as a refueling station for trains traveling along the world's longest stretch of uninterrupted railway—spanning 297 miles (478 km) through the vast desert outback, located around 513 miles (826 km) from Port Augusta, the closest town.
There is one active shop in Cook, which only opens when a train is scheduled to stop for refueling. However, as train companies have been privatized, the need for the town’s services has decreased, and now Cook primarily offers emergency accommodations for train drivers and stores medical supplies for potential accidents.
Cook is a scorching, dry environment, where past efforts to grow trees and crops have failed. As a result, all food must be transported by train. Water, once sourced from underground when the town was more active, is now delivered by train as well, with only four residents living there. Without the constant delivery of food, water, and basic resources, survival in the region would be nearly impossible.
9. La Rinconada, Peru
La Rinconada is widely regarded as the highest city on Earth, perched in the breathtaking Andes Mountains of South America. This mining town is situated atop a glacier, at an altitude of 16,700 feet (5,100 m) above sea level. Travelers heading to La Rinconada must brave treacherous, narrow roads, bone-chilling temperatures, and the inevitability of altitude sickness.
It is said that most people do not remain in La Rinconada for long due to its extreme isolation, but the allure of gold continues to draw the impoverished from across South America, keeping the small town active and operational.
8. Motuo, China
Motuo is a 11,700 square mile (30,550 square kilometer) jungle located on the southern side of the Himalayas. As the only Chinese County without any road or highway access, travelers must embark on a journey on foot from nearby villages, crossing a suspended footbridge to reach the enigmatic county, a trek that can take up to four days.
Thirty years ago, there were attempts to build a highway into Motuo. However, the highway only lasted two days before landslides and the unforgiving wilderness claimed the construction.
Although the county is rich in fresh fruit during favorable seasons and teeming with wildlife, there is no access to preserved food during crop failures, and no medical care is available in the region, making it a difficult place to live. Fortunately, labor carriers transport food and medical supplies into the area, navigating rain, mudslides, dense forests, leeches, and venomous insects on motorbikes, making survival possible for the roughly 10,000 residents from the Menba and Luoba ethnic groups.
7. Antarctica
Antarctica is undoubtedly one of the harshest environments on Earth, a place where only the most resilient creatures, like penguins, can survive. With ninety-eight percent of the land covered by ice and engulfed in total darkness for half the year, there is no natural food source for humans, nor building materials such as trees or stones. Additionally, the sub-zero temperatures pose life-threatening risks. It’s no surprise that no native human populations reside in Antarctica.
Since the 1800s, however, numerous scientists and researchers have spent extended periods on the frozen continent to conduct studies. They have built research stations using imported materials and receive supply shipments by cargo ships. Today, over sixty-five research stations are spread across Antarctica, many of which are staffed year-round by various personnel. The population fluctuates between 4,000 in summer and 1,000 in winter, with an additional 40,000 tourists visiting during the warmer months.
6. Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii is one of the most renowned archaeological sites on Earth, possibly the most well-known. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, the city of Pompeii and its neighboring town, Herculaneum, were entirely covered in lava, resulting in the death of everyone in the area. The eruption left behind preserved bodies and buildings, providing historians and archaeologists with an unparalleled glimpse into daily Roman life. The disaster also revealed that the area had experienced multiple earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the past.
The fertile soil surrounding Pompeii was a key reason people continued to inhabit the area, and approximately 25,671 people still live there today. Pompeii is undeniably a location not suited for human settlement—especially considering that after the catastrophic eruption, two more deadly volcanic eruptions occurred: one in 1906, claiming 100 lives, and another in 1944, which obliterated three small towns. Experts predict more disasters are likely in the future.
5. Múli
Múli is a minuscule settlement located on the Faroe Islands, positioned halfway between Iceland and Norway, with a population of just four. The Faroe Islands are infamous for their unpredictable climate, featuring torrential rain, fog, snow, and violent windstorms that can occur throughout the year. The surrounding landscape of Múli is bleak, with minimal vegetation and few natural resources, making survival a challenge. Supplies were once delivered by helicopter or boat from larger towns until 1989, when a road connecting Múli to Norðdepil was completed.
During the summer, Múli experiences twenty-four hours of daylight, while the winter months are marked by almost complete darkness. Located 430 miles (691 km) from Iceland’s mainland, life in Múli was extremely tough for its residents, especially since they only got electricity in 1970. By then, most people had already left, leaving the remaining four inhabitants in a desolate ghost town.
4. Verkhoyansk, Russia
Verkhoyansk is regarded as the coldest city in the world by its approximately 1,500 residents. With winter temperatures commonly hovering between -40°F to -50°F (-4°C to -10°C), it’s easy to understand why they claim this title.
The fact that Verkhoyansk was historically used by both tsars and later Soviets as a place of exile provides a clear indication of the harsh living conditions there. The region’s primary water source, the Yana River, remains frozen for much of the year, and between September and March, the area receives only about five hours of daylight per day. Local industries are sparse, with reindeer farming being the main activity, while the city relies on its airport and river port to bring in the supplies necessary to endure such extreme conditions.
3. Minqin County, China
Minqin County is an unfortunate place to reside. In 1999, the population stood at around 281,800, but it is now believed to exceed two million. This rapid growth has placed immense pressure on the city’s primary water source, the Shiyang River, which is nearly completely depleted due to upstream irrigation activities.
The combination of the county's location between the Tengger and Badain Jaran deserts, which encroach on the land by 33 feet (10 meters) annually, has forced the government to relocate farmers whose land is being overtaken. With only sixty square miles of fertile land remaining, the relentless advance of the desert, water scarcity, and the displacement of residents suggest that Minqin is on a path to total destruction.
2. Java
Java, an island home to more than 120 million people, sits atop twenty-two active volcanoes. Mount Merapi is one of these volcanoes, and it has erupted 60 times in the past century, most recently in 2006. In 1994, sixty people were killed by hot gas emissions, and in 1930, an eruption killed an estimated 1,000 people within an eight-mile radius. Despite the danger, around 200,000 residents live within four miles of Mount Merapi.
Another eruption would be catastrophic, but the fertile soil surrounding the mountain draws farmers to live in close proximity to this volatile and deadly natural hazard.
1. The Maldives
The Maldives is an archipelago of tropical islands, located about 250 miles (400 km) southwest of India. With a population of approximately 328,500 and attracting 500,000 tourists annually, the Maldives is famous for its luxurious beaches, secluded resorts, fishing industry, popular scuba diving spots, and year-round tropical weather. The islands are best known as a honeymoon destination, though they are not typically considered a particularly challenging place to live.
Unfortunately, scientists believe that the Maldives may not remain above sea level for much longer. A 2005 study showed that coral reef mining has caused severe erosion of the surrounding seas, which may be beyond repair after recent floods. As a result, the impact of tsunamis, frequent in the area, will worsen with each occurrence. In 2004, a tsunami during low tide rendered 10% of the island uninhabitable, and a third of the population was significantly affected.
In 2008, President Nasheed of the Maldives launched an emergency evacuation fund, which would allow the entire population to be relocated to neighboring India or Sri Lanka in the event of catastrophic flooding, further emphasizing the island's vulnerability and the genuine concern for its future.
