Throughout history, the fear of contagious disease led societies to isolate the sick on remote outposts known as quarantine islands. These isolated spots, often called lazarettos, were the front‑line defense against epidemics, leprosy, and even unwanted immigrants.

Why Quarantine Islands Matter

Beyond their grim purpose, quarantine islands reveal how cultures balanced compassion with containment, turning barren rocks into eerie museums of human resilience.

1 Lazzaretto Vecchio

Built in A.D. 1423 on a modest six‑acre island within the Venetian Lagoon, Lazzaretto Vecchio was the world’s first purpose‑built lazaretto. It served a double duty as a leper colony and a plague quarantine station. Operating until the seventeenth century, the island saw staggering mortality rates—up to five hundred deaths per day during peak plague years. In 2004, workers uncovered a mass grave containing more than 1,500 bubonic plague victims, and historians believe thousands more remain buried beneath the soil.

2 Dubrovnik Lazaret

Constructed in 1627 just outside the fortified walls of Dubrovnik, this lazaret was not an island but a quarantine building that guarded the bustling Adriatic port. During the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, Dubrovnik was a key stop for Ottoman traders heading west. The lazaret, praised for its civilized design, remained functional until the nineteenth century and today stands restored as a heritage site within one of Europe’s best‑preserved walled cities.

3 Kamau Taurua (Quarantine Island)

Located in Otago Harbour near Dunedin, New Zealand, the 37‑acre Kamau Taurua—originally dubbed “Quarantine Island”—first received the ship Victory in 1863, which carried a smallpox outbreak. The island operated as a quarantine station until 1924, handling more than forty vessels with infectious passengers. After World War I, veterans suffering from venereal disease were housed there. Today, only one original quarantine building survives, protected by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and the island even boasts its own lyrical tribute.

4 Hospital Island

Off the coast of Maine in Passamaquoddy Bay, this three‑acre speck was renamed “Hospital Island” in 1832 and used to isolate cholera‑suspected passengers. A dedicated lazaret was erected, and fresh water had to be shipped in. The island’s busiest period coincided with the Great Irish Potato Famine, when countless immigrants perished en route to North America. In 1869, the “Great Saxby Gale” ripped away soil and exposed graves, leaving skeletal remains to surface on the shoreline—a haunting reminder of its grim past.

5 Quail Island

Situated in Lyttelton Harbour near Christchurch, New Zealand, Quail Island (Maori name Otamahua) earned its moniker after a captain spotted quail there in 1842—birds that vanished from the island within thirty years. From the 1870s onward, the island functioned as a quarantine station for immigrants, a leper colony, and later a refuge for children with diphtheria. It also housed victims of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. Notably, the island served as the quarantine hub for animals used in famed Antarctic expeditions, including huskies, mules, and ponies.

6 Swinburne and Hoffman Islands

Just off Staten Island in New York Bay, these man‑made islands were erected after a series of cholera outbreaks ravaged New York City in the nineteenth century. Immigrants arriving at the Port of New York were sent to Swinburne and Hoffman for health checks; those cleared proceeded to Ellis Island. The islands also played a role during the 1910 cholera epidemic. Following World War I, improved sanitation rendered them obsolete, and today they remain off‑limits to the public.

7 Spinalonga

Off the coast of Crete, Spinalonga was carved out of the island during the Venetian occupation, transforming a peninsula into a fortified island—now known in Greek as Kalydon. It became one of Europe’s last leper colonies, operating from 1903 until 1957. The final resident, a priest, departed in 1962 after fulfilling Orthodox traditions of commemorating the dead for five years post‑burial.

8 Angel Island

As the largest island in San Francisco Bay, Angel Island processed over a million Asian immigrants. In 1891, a quarantine station opened at what was then “Hospital Cove” (now Ayala Cove). The facility employed steam‑generated disinfectant from the USS Omaha, bathed passengers in carbolic acid, and isolated them for fourteen days in barracks. Ships, such as the China, underwent rigorous decontamination using steam, sulfur dioxide, and even cyanide.

9 Kalaupapa

Perched on a sheer peninsula of Molokai, Hawaii, Kalaupapa became a leper colony in 1866 and remained active until 1969. At its height, roughly 1,200 men, women, and children lived under mandatory isolation. Although the disease was no longer infectious by the time the colony closed, many residents chose to stay, fearing stigma if they returned to mainland society.

10 Grosse Ile

During Ireland’s Great Potato Famine (1845‑1849), the Canadian government used Grosse Ile in the Gulf of St Lawrence as a quarantine hub for Irish immigrants from 1832 to 1848. Over 5,000 Irish bodies lie buried there, making it the largest Irish famine cemetery outside Ireland. A devastating typhus outbreak in 1847 claimed thousands of lives on the island and aboard incoming ships. Survivors who reached Montreal faced “fever sheds” to further contain the disease; among the emigrants was the future grandfather of Henry Ford.

When you think of islands, you might picture sun‑kissed beaches or volcanic peaks, but the real drama often unfolds beneath the surface. These islands interestingly host some of the planet’s most unexpected animal inhabitants, from invasive lizards to thriving seal colonies.

Islands Interesting: The Animal Stories

10 Green Iguanas In Grand Cayman

The biggest of the Cayman trio has become a hot spot for green iguanas, a reptile native to Central and South America. They were first brought over as pets in the 1980s, only to escape and multiply wildly in the wild.

Although these lizards are herbivores and generally peaceful, their sheer numbers threaten Grand Cayman’s native flora. They strip bark from trees, ravage gardens and farms, and compete with indigenous species for food.

The government’s Department of Environment has been scrambling for a solution. Before 2010, killing iguanas was illegal, but an exemption was made for the invasive green variety.

From May 2016 to November 2017, licensed hunters earned $2 per captured iguana, removing at least 8,500 individuals. With estimates edging toward a million green iguanas, the bounty program alone won’t turn the tide.

9 Christmas Island Red Crabs

Sitting atop an ancient volcano in the Indian Ocean, this Australian territory is famous for its brilliant red crabs, a species found nowhere else on Earth.

Between 40 and 50 million crabs call Christmas Island home. Most of the year they hide in the rainforest, munching on fallen leaves and fruit. During the dry season they dig burrows to retain moisture.

When the wet season arrives in October or November, the crabs emerge to breed. Males arrive first, carving “mating burrows,” followed by females. The island’s roads are even closed and tunnels built so the crabs can cross safely.

After mating, males retreat to the forest, while females head back to the sea to release their eggs. Roughly four weeks later, the tiny hatchlings crawl inland, retracing their parents’ path.

8 Seal Island

Located in False Bay off Cape Town, South Africa, Seal Island is a stark granite outcrop devoid of sand or vegetation, but it teems with Cape fur seals—about 75,000 of them.

Although the island is off‑limits to tourists, remnants of early‑1900s sealers’ huts and a wartime radio mast hint at past human activity.

Since South Africa protected Cape fur seals in 1973, the population has flourished, yet they still face predators. From June through August, the surrounding waters become the “Ring of Death,” where great white sharks circle in search of a seal snack.

Visitors can still glimpse the seals from boat tours in False Bay, and the adventurous can join cage‑dives during peak shark season for a front‑row seat to the predator‑prey drama.

7 Isle Royale’s Moose And Wolves

Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, doubles as a national park and a biosphere reserve. It’s also home to the world’s longest‑running predator‑prey study, tracking moose and wolves since 1958.

Neither moose nor wolves are native. Moose likely swam over in the early 1900s, while wolves crossed the frozen lake sometime in the mid‑20th century.

Today roughly 1,600 moose roam the island, but the wolf pack has dwindled to just two individuals. With so few wolves, moose numbers have risen about 20 % annually over the past six years, raising concerns about vegetation damage.

The remaining wolves are a tightly related pair—father, daughter, and shared mother—showing severe inbreeding. A lone pup observed in 2015 displayed deformities and has not been seen since, suggesting the duo may not produce viable offspring.

Scientists are debating a wolf reintroduction to restore balance, but the proposal remains under review.

6 Wild Horses On Assateague Island

Assateague Island straddles Maryland and Virginia and hosts about 300 wild horses, split into two herds that correspond to the state line.

The Virginia “Chincoteague ponies” and Maryland “Assateague wild horses” are technically feral—descended from domesticated horses that reverted to a wild state.

The ponies are small enough to be classified as ponies, a result of a nutrient‑poor marsh grass diet. Legend says they survived a shipwreck; other stories claim they were brought ashore in the 1600s to evade fencing laws and livestock taxes.

While they’re a major tourist draw, visitors must remember they’re not pets. Approaching too closely often ends in a kick or bite.

5 Henderson Island Rats

Remote coral Henderson Island in the South Pacific is home to a surprising cast of wildlife, but it also battles a serious rat infestation.

Polynesian rats arrived with sailors about 800 years ago. Today, researchers must safeguard their food supplies because a rat can chew through a tent.

These rats devour up to 95 % of bird chicks within a week, including the endangered Henderson petrel.

In 2011, 80 tons of poisoned pellets were air‑dropped, slashing the rat count to under 100 temporarily. However, rats reproduce quickly—a female can have six pups every few months, and the offspring mature in just two to three months.

Consequently, the population has rebounded to an estimated 50,000–100,000, essentially back to pre‑poison levels.

4 Tonawanda Island Cats

Tonawanda Island, a tiny landmass in New York’s Niagara River, is sparsely populated by humans but overrun with stray cats.

Years ago the island was swamped with hundreds of sickly felines, many abandoned by owners. The cats littered the marina, fouling boats and creating a foul odor.

Local resident Danielle Coogan visited a popular island restaurant in 2014, was horrified by the feline overload, and launched “Operation Island Cats.” The fundraiser enabled volunteers to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and adopt out kittens, while returning adult cats to the island.

The program succeeded in curbing disease and preventing new litters, but a 2016 marina fire cleanup accidentally bulldozed most cat shelters and feeders. The restaurant crew insists the damage was accidental, and Coogan is now raising funds to replace the lost infrastructure.

3 Okunoshima Rabbits

Just three kilometres off Japan’s coast lies Okunoshima, better known as “Rabbit Island” thanks to its fluffy, feral rabbit population.

How the bunnies arrived is debated. One story claims they were left behind after the island’s secret World War II chemical‑weapon testing, where rabbits were used to gauge toxin potency. Another theory points to a 1971 school trip that inadvertently released a few rabbits.

With no natural predators, the rabbit numbers have swelled to roughly 1,000. Tourists love the cute encounters, but feeding the rabbits fuels a boom the island cannot sustain.

Rabbits are not built for feast‑or‑famine diets; over‑feeding on sunny days disrupts their digestion, leaving them vulnerable when tourist numbers drop.

2 Lambay Island Wallabies

Lambay Island, a private Irish landmass, is home to a small herd of Australian wallabies, a marsupial far from its native continent.

Introduced by the island’s owners in the 1950s, the wallabies have adapted to Lambay’s cooler climate by growing thicker fur coats.

The island’s steep cliffs and rocky outcrops provide the perfect hide‑and‑seek terrain for these shy creatures.

In the mid‑1980s, seven additional wallabies arrived from a Dublin zoo that could no longer house them. Today, estimates place the population between 30 and 50, though exact numbers remain unknown because the animals are untagged.

1 Año Nuevo Island Of Love

The nine‑acre Año Nuevo Island, perched just 0.8 km off northern California, is a dense animal refuge, especially for northern elephant seals.

Two centuries ago the island was connected to the mainland, later serving as a Coast Guard light station from 1872 to 1948.

Now a protected reserve, the island is off‑limits to the public, and researchers entering must dodge seagull‑laden skies and avoid provoking seal stampedes.

Elephant seals were once hunted to near extinction, with populations dropping to as few as 50–100 by 1892. The first seal was spotted on Año Nuevo in 1955, and the first pup was born there six years later.

Since then, the island has become a premier breeding ground, with up to 2,000 pups born in a single year and a current population nearing 160,000.

When the sea stretches out like a massive, blue bowl and you’re clinging to a splintered plank, the idea of 10 islands you might be forced to call home can send a shiver down your spine. You stare desperately for any speck of land, hoping the next rise out of the waves is a friendly shore and not a trap waiting to claim you.

Why 10 islands you should steer clear of

10 The Farallon Islands

Imagine you’ve been tossed off the San Francisco coast and the nearest solid ground is a cluster of craggy outcrops. Those are the Farallon Islands, sometimes called the Farrallones, perched just off the Golden Gate.

The catch? Between 1946 and 1970, over 47,800 drums of radioactive waste were dumped into the surrounding waters. Those drums are still lurking beneath the surface, potentially leaching contaminants into the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

The upside is that the islands themselves aren’t known to be contaminated, and the surrounding sea is teeming with fish—though you might wonder whether those fish have been tinged with a hint of radioactivity.

9 Isla De Las Munecas

If you somehow find yourself adrift in the canals of Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, you might stumble upon a tiny island that looks like a refuge. The sight that greets you, however, is far from comforting.

Everywhere you look, dolls—some whole, some missing limbs, some just heads perched on sticks—hang from trees like macabre ornaments. The eerie display stems from a tragic tale.

In the mid‑20th century, caretaker Don Julian Santana Barrera discovered a drowned little girl in the canal and, unable to save her, was devastated. To honor her memory, he hung a floating doll on a nearby tree. Over time, more dolls appeared, each meant to appease what he believed was the girl’s restless spirit.

Half a century later, Barrera himself was found drowned in the same spot. Legend says the dolls whisper, watch, and even drive visitors mad. Still, the island’s shoreline is probably safer than the haunted toys suggest.

8 Isola Della Gaiola

Picture being shipwrecked in the Gulf of Naples and washing ashore on a tiny pair of islets linked by a stone arch. The place looks like a postcard—just 30 meters from the mainland and boasting a deserted villa perfect for a quick nap.

But beneath the Instagram‑worthy façade lies a curse that has plagued owners for a century. Since the 1920s, a string of tragedies has befallen those who possessed the island.

Owners have met mysterious ends: Hans Braun was murdered and wrapped in a rug, his wife drowned, Otto Grunback died of a heart attack, Maurice‑Yves Sandoz committed suicide, Baron Karl Paul Langheim went bankrupt, Gianni Agnelli lost his son to suicide and his nephew to cancer, Paul Getty’s grandson was kidnapped, and Gianpasquale Grappone was jailed shortly after purchase.

So, while the view is stunning, the island’s dark legacy might make you think twice before settling in for the night.

7 Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll dazzles with white sand, swaying palms, and crystal‑clear water. If your boat capsizes nearby, you might think you’ve hit paradise—at least for a brief moment.

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States detonated 23 nuclear weapons on the atoll, including the massive Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb, which was a thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The native Bikinians were forcibly relocated to nearby Kili Island.

Today, the surrounding sea still supports fish that appear safe to eat, but any attempt to supplement your diet with coconuts, breadfruit, or other local vegetation would expose you to dangerous levels of residual radioactivity.

6 Ilha Da Queimada Grande

Imagine being stranded on a Brazilian island that’s home to up to 4,000 golden lancehead vipers—snakes that exist nowhere else on Earth and are classified as endangered.

Local lore tells of a lighthouse keeper whose family was allegedly attacked by snakes that slipped through the windows, forcing the entire household to flee into the jungle only to be bitten on the beach. The Brazilian government now requires any visitor to be accompanied by a medical professional.

If you ever find yourself washed ashore on this serpentine paradise, the wisest move is probably to paddle back out to open water before the vipers get a chance to strike.

5 Plum Island

Landing on Plum Island off Long Island’s coast might feel like stepping into a Dr. Evil lair—or, more mundanely, a research facility. The island houses the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a U.S. government lab that studies animal pathogens.

Over the years, the island has attracted conspiracy theories, from rumors about secret bioweapon experiments to the legendary “Montauk Monster,” an unidentified carcass that washed ashore in 2008 and was later identified as a raccoon.

Efforts to sell the island have been blocked by environmental groups, and the grounds remain home to foot‑and‑mouth disease research. Stranded there, you might hope for a rescue, but you could also end up sharing a campsite with a few very curious, possibly radioactive, spiders.

4 North Sentinel Island

Sailing through the Bay of Bengal, you spot a mangrove‑covered speck of land with pristine white sand. Before you can even set foot, a voice erupts from the jungle, and you realize you’ve stumbled onto North Sentinel Island.

The island is home to the Sentinelese, one of the world’s last uncontacted peoples. Any outsider who lands there is met with lethal force; the tribe has a long history of killing intruders.

The Indian government has enforced a 4.8‑kilometer (3‑mile) exclusion zone around the island to protect both the tribe and would‑be visitors. Encroaching on this protected area could introduce disease to the Sentinelese or result in a violent encounter.

3 Miyakejima

If you happen to crash near Miyakejima, a volcanic island south of Tokyo, you’ll quickly discover that a gas mask is more vital than a life‑raft.

The island’s volcano constantly belches sulfuric fumes, making the air hazardous. Residents are legally required to carry a gas mask at all times, and on days when emissions spike, the entire population may be evacuated.

Visitors are forced to bring a mask as well; without one, you’d be breathing toxic gases that could prove fatal in a matter of minutes.

2 Gruinard Island

Landing on the barren, treeless Scottish outcrop of Gruinard Island might seem like an invitation to a quiet day with the local sheep—if those sheep weren’t part of a grim anthrax experiment.

During World War II, the British military dropped “dirty bombs” loaded with the virulent Vollum 14578 anthrax strain onto flocks of sheep to test biological warfare capabilities. The island became heavily contaminated and was abandoned.

In the 1980s, activists known as Operation Dark Harvest scattered contaminated soil to pressure the government into decontaminating the island. By 1990, Gruinard was declared safe, and no anthrax cases have been recorded among its sheep since 2007.

1 Ramree Island

Picture yourself in the Bay of Bengal during World War II, your ship bombed, and you scrambling for the nearest land. Your map tells you you’ve reached Ramree Island, a sizable stretch off Burma’s coast.

While the island appears tame today, 1945 saw a horrific episode where nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers, fleeing Allied fire, became trapped in mangrove swamps. Exhausted, dehydrated, and plagued by mosquitoes, they were devoured by massive saltwater crocodiles.

Survivor accounts claim only about twenty soldiers lived to be captured, their minds scarred by the gruesome carnage. If you were to find yourself shipwrecked on Ramree during that period, the best course of action would be to hop into a time machine and head home.

When the ocean turns into a massive, blue bowl and you’re clinging to a splintered plank, spotting a speck of land can feel like a miracle. But imagine that “miracle” is actually a trap—an island that would make you wish you could swim back into the sea. Below are 10 islands you would definitely not want to be shipwrecked on.

Why 10 Islands You Should Steer Clear Of

Some stretches of water hide tiny specks that look like salvation, yet those specks often hide danger, history, or curses that turn a simple rescue into a horror story. Let’s explore each of these foreboding isles, from nuclear leftovers to snake‑infested rocks.

10 The Farallon Islands

Picture this: you’ve just been tossed off the San Francisco coast, waves pounding your battered lifeboat, and a cluster of rugged rocks appears on the horizon. Those are the Farallon Islands, a jumble of sea stacks just a short drift away.

The catch? Between 1946 and 1970, more than 47,800 drums of radioactive waste were secretly dumped in the surrounding waters. Those barrels are notoriously hard to locate and may still be leaching toxins into the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

On the upside, the islands themselves are mostly rock and scrub, and the fish that swim nearby could be a tasty, if slightly questionable, snack. Whether the seafood is contaminated is a gamble you probably don’t want to take.

9 Isla De Las Munecas

The odds of finding yourself adrift in the canals of Xochimilco, just south of Mexico City, are slim, but anything can happen—especially after a few too‑many drinks. Imagine the relief of seeing a tiny island and steering toward it for a breath of air.

Instead of sand and palm trees, you’re greeted by a macabre forest of dolls: heads on sticks, torsos dangling from trees, and eyes that seem to follow you. The eerie display stems from a tragic tale.

In the 1960s, caretaker Don Julian Santana Barrera discovered a drowned girl in the canal. Overcome with grief, he hung a floating doll on a nearby tree as a tribute. He kept adding more dolls, hoping to appease the child’s restless spirit.

Half a century later, Barrera himself vanished beneath the same waters, fueling the legend that the island is haunted. While the dolls might be unsettling, the island is otherwise harmless—unless you believe they whisper or stare.

8 Isola Della Gaiola

Imagine being hurled onto a sun‑kissed archipelago just off the Gulf of Naples. The Gaiola group consists of two small islets linked by a stone arch, only about 30 metres from the mainland—a perfect Instagram backdrop, if only you had a phone.

The islands host a crumbling villa that could serve as a makeshift shelter. Yet beneath the picturesque façade lies a string of misfortunes that have plagued every owner since the 1920s.

Hans Braun, the first modern owner, was murdered and wrapped in a rug; his wife later drowned. Subsequent proprietors—Otto Grunback, Maurice‑Yves Sandoz, Baron Karl Paul Langheim, Gianni Agnelli, Paul Getty, and Gianpasquale Grappone—met untimely deaths, bankruptcies, kidnappings, or imprisonments. The curse seems relentless.

So, if you ever find yourself stranded on Gaiola, you might want to question whether the island’s beauty outweighs its ominous legacy.

7 Bikini Atoll

Bikini Atoll looks like a postcard—pristine white sand, swaying palms, and crystal‑clear water. A shipwreck here would feel like a lucky break at first glance.

However, from 1946 to 1958 the United States conducted 23 nuclear tests on the atoll, including the massive Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb, which was roughly a thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The native Bikinians were forced to relocate to nearby Kili Island, and the atoll remains contaminated. While the surrounding sea still supports fish that appear safe to eat, consuming coconuts or breadfruit grown on the islands would expose you to dangerous levels of radiation over time.

6 Ilha Da Queimada Grande

When most people think of a shipwreck, they imagine storm‑tossed decks and hungry sharks. On Brazil’s Ilha da Queimada Grande, the real threat slithers on the ground: up to 4,000 golden lancehead vipers, a venomous species found nowhere else on Earth.

Legend tells of a lighthouse keeper whose windows were breached by the snakes, leading to the death of his entire family. The Brazilian government now tightly controls access, requiring a doctor’s presence on any visit.

If you ever wash ashore on “Snake Island,” the smartest move is to scramble back into the sea before a viper decides you’re its next meal.

5 Plum Island

Stranded on Plum Island off Long Island’s coast, you might feel like you’ve stepped onto a secret‑agent’s hideout. The island hosts the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a U.S. government facility that studies animal pathogens.

Its mysterious reputation is amplified by oddities such as the infamous Montauk Monster—a carcass that washed ashore in 2008 and was later identified as a raccoon. Conspiracy theories swirl around the research labs, suggesting hidden experiments.

Efforts to sell the island have faced legal challenges from environmental groups. Today, the island remains a fenced‑off enclave of foot‑and‑mouth disease research, with rumors of undisclosed experiments. You might leave with a feeling that something invisible is watching you.

4 North Sentinel Island

Picture rowing through the sparkling Bay of Bengal when a lone, mangrove‑covered speck appears on the horizon. As you draw nearer, a chorus of angry shouts erupts—an instant death sentence.

North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, one of the world’s last uncontacted peoples. Any outsider who lands there is met with lethal force; the tribe fiercely defends its isolation.

The Indian government enforces a 4.8‑kilometre exclusion zone around the island, both to protect the Sentinelese from disease and to keep visitors from a violent fate. Respect the boundary, or you may become a cautionary tale.

3 Miyakejima

If you happen to be shipwrecked off Japan’s Miyakejima, you’ll quickly discover that the island’s most valuable souvenir is a gas mask.

The tiny town sits directly beneath an active volcano that constantly belches sulfuric fumes. Local law mandates that residents—and any visitor—carry a mask at all times. When the air quality plummets, even the masks can’t always keep the toxic gases at bay, prompting full evacuations.

So, unless you’ve packed an extra mask or can borrow one from a fellow castaway, the island’s beautiful scenery comes with a very literal breath‑of‑fresh‑air warning.

2 Gruinard Island

Landing on Scotland’s Gruinard Island might feel like stepping onto a quiet, grassy plain—if you ignore the faint scent of danger.

During World War II, British scientists dropped “dirty bombs” filled with the virulent anthrax strain Vollum 14578 onto the island’s sheep population. The disease turned the island into a biological hazard, forcing the military to abandon it.

In the 1980s, activist group Operation Dark Harvest scattered contaminated soil across the UK to pressure authorities into decontaminating Gruinard. A massive cleanup began in 1986, and by 1990 the island was declared safe.

Since then, the resident test sheep have remained anthrax‑free, with the last recorded case in 2007. Still, the memory of a once‑lethal island lingers, making it a less‑than‑ideal place to wash ashore.

1 Ramree Island

You need to step back in time. Your ship has been bombed in the Bay of Bengal, and you have to swim for the nearest land you can see. You make it. Your waterproof map that you hastily stuffed in your pocket tells you that you are on Ramree Island

Just swim for your life. Turn around. Get picked up by the enemy—just swim.

Ramree is a large island that sits off the coast of Burma. It is relatively tame now, but back in World War II, it was allegedly the stage for the largest massacre of humans by animals in recorded history. Japanese troops who were holding the island of Ramree in 1945 became engaged in fierce conflict with Allied troops, who were determined to take the island. Nearly 1,000 of the Japanese soldiers ran through the swampland to reach more of their cohort on the other side of the island.

The mosquito‑bitten solders, hungry and thirsty, were eaten alive by giant saltwater crocodiles. As the Allied troops waited to capture surrendering Japanese soldiers, they were horrified at the sounds of the massacre. According to some reports, only 20 soldiers survived and were captured, terrified beyond belief at the carnage they had witnessed.

So if you find yourself shipwrecked on Ramree Island in the 1940s, you really need to hop back in your time machine and get out of there.

When you think of remote landmasses, the phrase “10 deserted islands” probably conjures images of pristine beaches and tropical bliss. Yet history proves that many of these isolated spots have served as stages for some of humanity’s strangest, most unsettling dramas. From forced exile to murderous madness, each of these forgotten isles carries a story that is as gripping as it is chilling.

10 Deserted Islands: Unveiling Their Dark Histories

10 The Isle of Demons

Off the icy coast of Newfoundland lies the forlorn Isle of Demons, a name bestowed by the native peoples who believed the rock was haunted by malevolent spirits. In 1542 French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque found herself cast onto this bleak shore after being caught in an illicit affair during a sea voyage. The captain—who was also a relative—ordered her exile, leaving her with only a lover and a servant for company. The trio cobbled together a rudimentary shelter from the island’s unforgiving climate and ferocious wildlife. Their ordeal grew even more harrowing when Marguerite gave birth; within sixteen months, her lover, her servant, and the newborn all perished. Defying all odds, Marguerite survived alone for two years, subsisting on whatever she could hunt, until fishermen rescued her in 1544 and escorted her back to Europe. The island’s ominous moniker, originally meant to reflect indigenous superstitions, likely took on a personal resonance for Marguerite after her grueling experience.

9 Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)

Chile’s Más a Tierra, now known as Robinson Crusoe Island, is famed for hosting Alexander Selkirk, the real-life inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s classic novel. Yet few know the bizarre circumstances that led to his abandonment. In 1704 Selkirk clashed with his ship’s captain over the vessel’s deteriorating condition and, convinced the ship was doomed, demanded to be left on the island. He believed rescue would be swift, but the island remained isolated for years. Over four solitary years, Selkirk’s sanity wavered; he kept his mind from unraveling by dancing with the island’s goats and cats, constructing huts from pimento trees, and training the cats to guard against rats that would gnaw at his feet during sleep. When an English privateer finally sighted him in 1709, the crew could barely recognize the once-civilized sailor—his speech was fractured, and his movements resembled those of a wild animal.

8 Roatan Island

Roatan, a Honduran cay, became the reluctant refuge of Philip Ashton, a Massachusetts fisherman who endured one of the most astonishing survival narratives of the 18th century. After being seized by the notorious pirate Edward Low in 1722, Ashton endured nine brutal months of captivity before escaping to the uninhabited parts of Roatan. For the subsequent sixteen months he survived on a diet dominated by wild fruit and raw turtle eggs, living in stark isolation. A brief interlude occurred when another English castaway arrived, offering a knife, a firearm, and gunpowder—essential tools that briefly eased Ashton’s plight before the stranger vanished without a trace. Ashton’s ordeal was marked by bouts of illness, venomous snake encounters, and even an attack by Spanish forces. When a British vessel finally rescued him in 1724, many dismissed his tale as fanciful, yet his detailed account persisted. To this day, legends whisper of buried pirate treasure and restless specters haunting the island’s shores.

7 Elephant Island

Antarctica’s stark Elephant Island earned its reputation as a crucible of human endurance during Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 expedition. After the Endurance was crushed by relentless pack ice, its 28‑man crew drifted on ice floes for five grueling months before finally washing ashore on this barren, glacier‑scarred rock. While Shackleton and five companions embarked on an 800‑mile open‑boat journey to seek rescue, the remaining 22 men fashioned makeshift shelters by inverting lifeboats and subsisted on seal blubber, penguin meat, and seaweed. Their daily routine even included meticulous “cleanings,” where they combed each other’s garments for lice. Despite sub‑zero temperatures regularly plunging below –20 °F and the looming threat of starvation, every member survived. Today, Elephant Island remains virtually uninhabitable, its ferocious winds and treacherous terrain deterring all but the most intrepid explorers.

6 Palmyra Atoll

Roughly a thousand miles south of Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll has cultivated a reputation as one of the world’s most cursed islands. Though technically uninhabited aside from a few researchers, the remote Pacific atoll has amassed a disturbing ledger of mysterious deaths, disappearances, and uncanny phenomena. Its darkest chapter unfolded in 1974 when the yacht Sea Wind arrived bearing two couples; only one couple ever left the island alive. Malcolm and Eleanor Graham were brutally slain, their bodies never fully recovered. The surviving pair was later convicted of the murders, yet many details remain shrouded in ambiguity. Sailors recount bizarre electromagnetic anomalies that fry equipment, compasses that spin erratically, and an overwhelming sensation of being observed. World War II servicemen stationed there experienced unusually high rates of suicide and mental breakdowns. Despite its picture‑perfect tropical veneer, the atoll has inexplicably repelled numerous multi‑million‑dollar development schemes, with investors mysteriously abandoning projects without explanation.

5 Flannan Isles

Scotland’s remote Flannan Isles are home to one of the most baffling maritime mysteries of the twentieth century. In December 1900, the three lighthouse keepers stationed on Eilean Mòr vanished without a trace, leaving half‑eaten meals, an overturned chair, and a clock stopped dead. When a relief vessel finally arrived, the island was utterly deserted; Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur were nowhere to be found. Their logbooks documented a severe storm, yet the final entry chillingly read, “storm ended, sea calm. God is over all.” The mystery deepens because reaching the sea from the lighthouse required a steep cliff descent; had the men been swept away, at least one body should have washed ashore, yet none ever did. The isles also boast a pre‑historic legacy, with ancient structures hinting at earlier habitation, and locals for generations have refused to spend a night there, citing inexplicable voices carried on the wind. The now‑automated lighthouse stands as a silent testament to the men who simply evaporated into thin air.

4 Clipperton Island

Donut‑shaped and isolated in the eastern Pacific, Clipperton Island witnessed a harrowing descent into madness and brutality during the early twentieth century. In 1914, roughly a dozen Mexican families were deposited on the atoll to mine guano when the Mexican Revolution severed their supply lines. As desperation set in, most men succumbed to scurvy and starvation, leaving women and children at the mercy of lighthouse keeper Victoriano Álvarez, who declared himself the island’s “king.” Over the ensuing months, Álvarez subjected the survivors to horrific abuse, murder, and sexual slavery. The women eventually rebelled, killing their tormentor in 1917. When an American gunboat stumbled upon the atoll, only three women and eight children remained from the original near‑hundred‑person settlement. A solitary coconut palm now stands on the island, rumored to have sprouted from the grave of one of Álvarez’s victims. Though today the island is a French overseas territory, it remains uninhabited aside from swarms of land crabs that will devour anything lingering too long.

3 Jure Sterk’s Ghost Island

In January 2009 Slovenian solo sailor Jure Sterk vanished while attempting a circumnavigation. His vessel, the Lunatic, was later found adrift near Australia, engine still running, one sail hoisted, but with no sign of its skipper. The enigma deepens because Sterk’s logbook entries abruptly stopped on January 1, offering no indication of trouble or distress. His final recorded coordinates pointed to an unnamed, uncharted island that appeared on his navigation charts yet is absent from any official maps. Search teams that attempted to locate this mysterious landmass at the noted coordinates found nothing but open ocean. Some theorists suggest Sterk may have encountered a “temporary island”—a volcanic nub that briefly breached the surface before sinking again. Others note a spooky coincidence: three other solo sailors have disappeared in the same region over the past century, spawning theories ranging from rogue wave phenomena to otherworldly forces.

2 Ilha da Queimada Grande (Snake Island)

Just off Brazil’s coast lies Ilha da Queimada Grande, ominously dubbed “Snake Island” because it hosts the world’s highest concentration of venomous snakes—estimated at one to five snakes per square meter. The island’s most notorious resident is the golden lancehead viper, whose potent venom can liquefy human flesh and claims a fatality rate of about 7 % even with prompt medical treatment. The Brazilian government has outright prohibited anyone from setting foot on the island. The last known human inhabitants were lighthouse keepers who met a grisly fate in the 1920s when snakes slithered through their windows, leaving them dead in pools of blood, riddled with bites. Earlier attempts to cultivate bananas on the island ended in tragedy, with workers reportedly dying aboard their boats before ever reaching the mainland. Local fishermen swear they sometimes hear human screams echoing from the island at night, despite its official uninhabited status, fueling rumors of clandestine activities or perhaps the anguished cries of the countless snakes themselves.

1 North Sentinel Island

North Sentinel Island, nestled in the Bay of Bengal, is arguably the world’s most fiercely defended “uninhabited” island. It is home to the Sentinelese, the last pre‑Neolithic tribe believed to have lived in complete isolation for up to 60,000 years. Their determination to remain untouched is legendary; they violently reject any outside contact, firing arrows at approaching boats, helicopters, and any intruders daring enough to draw near. In 2006 two fishermen drifted too close and were killed; in 2018 American missionary John Allen Chau met the same fate while attempting to convert the tribe. Despite decades of observation from a distance, virtually nothing is known about their language, customs, or even precise population size, with estimates ranging wildly from 15 to 500 individuals. The Indian government, acknowledging the tribe’s desire for seclusion, has established a three‑mile exclusion zone around the island and ceased all attempts at contact. The Sentinelese thus stand as perhaps the last human population on Earth with zero knowledge of the modern world beyond their shores.

Welcome to a whirlwind tour of the 10 strange mysterious islands that have baffled explorers, scientists, and storytellers for centuries. From vanished landforms on ancient charts to isolated outposts of covert experiments, these ten locations hold secrets that still echo across the seas.

10. Isla Bermeja, The Lost Island

Cartographers dating back to the 1700s consistently placed Isla Bermeja off the Yucatán Peninsula, farther out than any other Mexican claim. The island seemed perfectly positioned to bolster Mexico’s offshore oil claims and to counteract United States’ encroachments in the Gulf. Yet a 2009 investigation by the National Autonomous University of Mexico revealed that the island simply does not exist where the maps say it should.

According to the study, exhaustive sonar sweeps and aerial reconnaissance failed to locate any landmass at the indicated coordinates. The island was supposed to sit 55 nautical miles beyond Mexico’s 200‑nautical‑mile limit, effectively extending the nation’s exclusive economic zone. Though the search came up empty, Elias Cárdenas, head of Mexico’s congressional Maritime Committee, vowed to keep the hunt alive, speculating that the island might have sunk or become submerged elsewhere.

Conspiracy circles in Mexico have spun wild theories: some claim a U.S. bombing, others blame global warming or a massive earthquake. Cárdenas dismisses the bombing idea, noting that any such strike would have been unmistakably evident. The island’s disappearance was first reported in 1997 when a naval fishing expedition could not find it. Before vanishing, Isla Bermeja—estimated at 80 km² (31 mi²)—served as the reference point for Mexico’s 200‑nautical‑mile limit. Today, the Alacranes Islands define the end of the country’s maritime claims, shrinking its economic zone dramatically.

When you think of a getaway, the image of a sun‑kissed isle probably springs to mind. Yet the world’s islands are far more than postcard scenery – they are treasure chests of bizarre history, hidden rituals, and unexpected modern quirks. In this roundup of the top 10 islands, we dive into tales that range from wartime laboratories to self‑made artificial isles, from rabbit‑filled havens to a phantom location that never existed. Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of the most intriguing island stories on the planet.

Why These Top 10 Islands Captivate Us

The allure of islands lies in their isolation, which breeds unique ecosystems, cultures, and legends. Each of the ten spots below showcases a different facet of that magic – whether it’s a species that defies classification, a currency that predates Bitcoin, or a graveyard that quietly holds a million forgotten souls. Together they form a compelling mosaic that proves islands are more than vacation spots; they are living museums of humanity’s greatest curiosities.

10 Rabbit Island

During the Second World War, Okunoshima – now affectionately called Rabbit Island – served a grim purpose: the Japanese military used it as a testing ground for poisonous gases. Laboratory rabbits were exposed to the same agents that later caused the deaths of up to 80,000 Chinese civilians in the 1930s and ’40s.

Fast forward to the present, and the island presents a stark contrast. Hundreds of bunnies hop freely across the landscape, delighting visitors who feed them and snap endless selfies. The island’s administration has even banned predators such as dogs, cats, and hunters to protect this fluffy population.

Curiously, the origin of today’s rabbit herd remains a mystery. The original test animals were euthanized by U.S. forces after the war, leaving a vacuum that was later filled by an unknown group of rabbits.

Local legend claims that in 1971, a group of schoolchildren released just eight bunnies onto the island. Those eight proved more than enough; without natural predators, the rabbits multiplied rapidly, and the island now hosts a thriving, albeit human‑dependent, rabbit community.

Life on a diet of human treats has taken its toll: the average rabbit now lives only about two years. Their burgeoning numbers have also strained the local ecosystem, forcing the animals to rely heavily on visitors for sustenance.

9 Anglesey’s Monuments

Anglesey, a Welsh island steeped in myth, is most famously linked to the enigmatic Druids. While the existence of Druids is still debated, the island’s Neolithic and Bronze Age structures stand as undeniable proof of ancient ingenuity.

The crown jewel is Bryn Celli Ddu, a 5,000‑year‑old passage tomb whose entrance tunnel aligns perfectly with the midsummer sunrise, creating a dazzling solar display each year.

In 2019, archaeologists began excavating a nearby burial mound situated just 46 metres (about 150 feet) from the tomb. This newer mound appears to have been added a millennium after Bryn Celli Ddu, suggesting a long‑term ritual landscape.

Further digs uncovered a circle of pits, assorted artifacts, and additional structures surrounding the tomb. Though personal details about the builders remain elusive, the evidence points to successive generations returning to the site over thousands of years to augment its sacred architecture.

8 The Cat‑Fox

Deep within the forests of Corsica roams a creature locals dub the cat‑fox. Larger than a typical house cat, these animals sport tails marked with two to four rings, dog‑like teeth, unusually short whiskers, and broad ears.

In 2012, wildlife rangers finally got a chance to test the animal’s taxonomic status. They coated a stick with an attractive scent and left it in the wild. When the stick was retrieved, it was covered in fur from the cat‑foxes that had eagerly rubbed against it.

DNA analysis of the collected hair revealed that the animal does not match any known species. Its genetic material most closely resembles that of the African forest cat (Felis silvestris lybica), yet it remains distinct.

One plausible hypothesis suggests that early farmers introduced domestic cats to Corsica around 6,500 BC. If this theory holds, the cat‑fox could represent an ancient lineage that survived millennia in isolation, only now coming to scientific attention.

7 Neolithic Artificial Islands

The Outer Hebrides of Scotland are peppered with over 600 crannogs – man‑made islets constructed of stones and timber in lakes and lochs. While most date to the Iron Age, recent research has pushed the origins of several crannogs back into the Neolithic period (4,000‑2,500 BC).

The Neolithic era is famously murky; while monuments like Stonehenge testify to sophisticated engineering, written records are virtually nonexistent. The discovery that some crannogs predate the Iron Age by three millennia reshapes our understanding of prehistoric ingenuity.

In 2012, a diver uncovered Neolithic pottery fragments surrounding several crannogs. These artifacts allowed archaeologists to identify five crannogs that were in use during the Neolithic, suggesting a ritualistic purpose.

It appears that ancient peoples deliberately visited these artificial islands to cast their finest pottery into the water, perhaps as offerings. The exact meaning remains lost, but the practice hints at a complex ceremonial relationship with water and constructed land.

6 World’s Most Plastic‑Polluted Place

Henderson Island, a remote, uninhabited speck in the South Pacific, might appear pristine – until researchers arrived in 2017. Their surveys revealed a staggering density of plastic debris, the highest ever recorded on any landmass.

Scientists counted up to 671 pieces of plastic per square metre, amounting to an estimated total weight of over 17 tons. On a single beach, more than 3,500 new plastic fragments washed ashore each day, turning the shoreline into a glittering graveyard of waste.

The island’s plight stems from its location within the South Pacific Gyre, a massive circulating current that gathers debris from across the globe. Samples showed plastic originating from 24 different countries, underscoring the truly international nature of marine pollution.

5 Google Sheep View

Google Street View has mapped almost every corner of the planet, but the Faroe Islands of Denmark remained conspicuously absent for years. Frustrated islanders finally took matters into their own hooves.

Durita Dahl Andreassen, a tourism bureau employee, equipped local sheep with 360‑degree cameras, securing the devices with the blessing of a shepherd. The flock roamed the archipelago’s 18 islands, capturing breathtaking vistas from a uniquely bovine perspective.The resulting footage, dubbed “Sheep View 360,” was uploaded to Google’s Street View platform, finally giving the world a comprehensive visual tour of the Faroe Islands – and proving that sometimes the most unconventional camera crew yields the most memorable results.

4 The Rai Stones

On the tiny Pacific island of Yap, massive limestone discs known as rai stones serve as a form of currency. Some of these stones are larger than a person, and they have historically been used to settle marriages, settle disputes, pay ransoms, and act as inheritances.

Because moving a rai stone is practically impossible, ownership changes are recorded through an oral tradition. Everyone in the community knows who holds which stone and the history of each transaction, ensuring transparency without a physical exchange.

This ancient ledger bears a striking resemblance to today’s blockchain technology, which also provides an open, tamper‑proof record of cryptocurrency ownership. Both systems rely on communal verification to maintain trust.

Archaeologists have been astonished to discover that the functional principles of Yap’s stone money predate modern digital currencies by centuries, highlighting how human societies have long sought reliable ways to record value.

3 Hart Island’s Body Problem

New York City’s Hart Island, unofficially known as the Island of the Dead, has been the city’s burial ground for the indigent since 1868. When families cannot claim a body or afford a funeral, the city inters the remains in mass graves across the 101‑acre island.

Today, roughly one million bodies lie in pine‑coffined stacked graves, with about 1,000 new interments added each year. In 2018, erosion exposed thousands of skeletal remains along the shoreline, prompting locals to dub the area “bones beach.”

Forensic anthropologists have been dispatched to flag and document the exposed remains, but the challenge persists as storms and flooding continue to erode older burial sites.

Recognizing the severity of the problem, FEMA allocated $13 million toward shoreline stabilization projects, aiming to protect the island’s graves from further erosion and preserve the dignity of those interred.

2 Canada’s Record‑Holding Islands

Geographers love a good paradox, and the world’s most elaborate nesting of land and water is an island‑in‑a‑lake‑on‑an‑island‑in‑a‑lake‑on‑an‑island. For years, the record belonged to an island on Volcano Island in the Philippines.

In 2012, a group of Google Earth enthusiasts scoured satellite imagery for a larger configuration. Their quest led them to a tiny, unnamed speck of land nestled within a lake, which itself sits on an island off the coast of Victoria Island in Canada.

This minuscule island sits in a long lake roughly 120 km (75 mi) from Victoria Island’s shoreline. Its discovery crowned Canada with the title of hosting the world’s biggest island‑in‑a‑lake‑on‑an‑island‑in‑a‑lake‑on‑an‑island.

Canada already boasts several island‑related records, including the largest island‑in‑a‑lake and the largest lake‑on‑an‑island, cementing its reputation as a haven for geographical superlatives.

1 Null Island

Modern mapping services rely on geographic information systems (GIS) to pinpoint locations. Occasionally, glitches cause these systems to default to the coordinates 0° N, 0° E – a spot in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Geographers have whimsically christened this phantom point “Null Island.” Because many GIS errors snap to these coordinates, the imaginary island becomes one of the most “visited” places on Earth, accumulating countless address queries and points of interest.

Enthusiasts have leaned into the joke, designing a flag, a backstory, and even a Wikipedia entry for Null Island, treating it as a bona‑fide location despite its non‑existence.

The actual site at 0° N, 0° E is a NOAA‑maintained buoy that collects climate and oceanographic data. While there’s no landmass, the buoy’s presence gives the coordinates a real‑world purpose beyond cartographic mishaps.

When you start day‑dreaming about retirement or a forever‑home, a tropical island inevitably pops up in your mind. Yet most of the time it stays vague – a hazy picture of palm‑shaded beaches and turquoise water. To turn that fantasy into a concrete goal, we’ve compiled a globe‑spanning roster of the most breathtaking islands you can actually visit once lockdowns lift. Buckle up, get comfy, and let the top 10 truly spectacular islands inspire your next post‑Covid escape.

Top 10 Truly Spectacular Islands Overview

10 Seychelles

First on our list, the Seychelles archipelago sits in the Indian Ocean, just off the coasts of Kenya and Madagascar, and boasts some of the planet’s most vibrant greenery. It epitomises the tropical island ideal: blazing sun, crystal‑clear waters, and swaying palms everywhere you look. The good news for travelers is that a modest human footprint already exists – you can fly straight in and lodge at a stunning resort without having to fend for food in the wild.

The Seychelles International Airport opened relatively recently in 1971, meaning the islands still feel fresh and ripe for exploration. With a blend of untouched nature and modern amenities, this destination offers an almost flawless vacation experience that should definitely earn a spot on your shortlist.

9 Palawan

Next up, the Philippine gem of Palawan is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Its 110‑plus islands provide endless variety for the classic activity of island‑hopping, with each stop offering lush mountains, hidden lagoons, and pristine beaches. The archipelago’s diverse landscapes guarantee that there’s always something new to discover on the next island.

Beyond the scenery, each island hosts its own towns and cultural flavors, and you can join guided boat tours, kayak excursions, or simply drift in the sparkling blue water. Palawan truly lets you dip your toes into every imaginable adventure.

8 Corfu

The Greek island of Corfu offers a resort‑style vibe wrapped in millennia‑old history. Human activity dates back to 1300 BC, meaning the island has witnessed over three thousand years of battles, myths, and civilizations. Its storied past is woven into a landscape dotted with forts, castles, and ancient ruins.

Despite its developed infrastructure, Corfu still showcases abundant natural beauty – from verdant wildlife to sparkling seas – alongside its architectural heritage. It’s a perfect blend of nature and culture, relatively unknown in the western world despite its popularity across Europe.

7 Anguilla

Anguilla, a quieter corner of the Caribbean, stands apart from the region’s bustling hotspots. Because cruise ships, casinos, and high‑rise hotels are prohibited, the island retains a low‑key charm that many travelers crave. Its crystal‑clear waters and untouched shorelines provide a pristine backdrop for relaxation.

While development is minimal, a handful of upscale resorts ensure comfort, and the friendly local community keeps the vibe lively with evening parties and music festivals. Anguilla delivers a fresh, unspoiled Caribbean experience.

6 Boracay

Another Philippine marvel, Boracay, checks every box for a dream tropical getaway. Its immaculate white‑sand beaches stretch for miles, and the island offers sailing, snorkeling, island‑hopping, and hiking in abundance. Travel packages often bundle flights, accommodation, and transport, making the journey hassle‑free.

Because it’s a favorite among tourists, infrastructure is well‑established, ensuring you can enjoy a seamless vacation without sacrificing the island’s natural allure.

5 Ko Lipe

Ko Lipe in Thailand epitomises paradise, boasting immaculate waters and lush greenery. Rather than staying high above the sea, visitors can lodge in beachfront bungalows, waking to sunrise or sunset right from their doorstep.

The island also offers a vibrant nightlife scene with bars and live music, and nearby islands provide endless touring options so you’ll never run out of spectacular vistas.

4 St. Barts

St. Barts flips the script by catering to travelers with deep pockets. Luxury reigns supreme here – from ultra‑modern villas to private superyachts – delivering an indulgent escape for those seeking premium comfort.

Beyond lavish shopping, the island boasts gorgeous beaches, fine‑dining establishments, and upscale accommodations. If you can afford it, St. Barts offers an unrivalled blend of opulence and natural beauty.

3 Kauai

Kauai, one of Hawaii’s lesser‑known gems, dazzles with dramatic mountains and a wealth of activities. From guided ATV tours and zip‑lining to golf and horseback riding, the island satisfies adventure‑seekers of all stripes.

Resort towns provide top‑tier service after a day of exploration, making Kauai a seamless blend of raw natural splendor and modern luxury – perfect for both vacationers and retirees.

2 Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye, part of Belize’s Caribbean coast, strikes a perfect balance between comfort and adventure. Its expansive size supports a plethora of water‑based pursuits such as diving, sailing, fishing, and even trips to the famed Great Blue Hole, a 300‑foot‑deep sinkhole.

The island safeguards a variety of protected species, offering chances to spot rare fish, birds, and monkeys. Historical attractions, including Mayan ruins, add cultural depth to this modern tropical haven.

1 Santorini

Rounding out our list, Greece’s iconic Santorini delivers everything a traveler could wish for: sun‑kissed beaches, dramatic cliffs, historic towns, and even an active volcano. Imagine jet‑skiing to the volcano, lounging on lava‑sand beaches, then dining beside the water in a centuries‑old village – all in one unforgettable day.

With its blend of natural wonders, cultural heritage, and endless activities, Santorini truly earns the crown as the ultimate island destination.

ten tragic tales of New York City’s small islands begin with the iconic Manhattan, but beyond the bustling borough lie dozens of diminutive landforms whose histories are steeped in sorrow.

ten tragic tales Overview

10 A Pox on Thee: Roosevelt Island’s Ruins

Few illnesses have left as deep a scar on humanity as smallpox. The disease claimed the lives of France’s King Louis XV and forced England’s Queen Elizabeth I to conceal disfiguring facial wounds with heavy makeup. In the United States, an estimated ninety percent of Native Americans perished after contracting the virus from European settlers, some of whom even used infected blankets as a crude form of biological warfare.

The World Health Organization finally declared smallpox eradicated in 1979, but not before the contagion made a grim imprint on New York’s own medical history.

Roosevelt Island is a narrow, two‑mile stretch sandwiched between Manhattan and Queens, boasting its own subway stop, a famed tram that once carried Spider‑Man, a handful of residential towers, and a technical campus of Cornell University. At its southern tip sit two starkly contrasting structures: a meticulously maintained park honoring Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the crumbling remnants of a nineteenth‑century hospital where smallpox patients were isolated from the rest of the city.

From 1856 through 1875 the facility—now known as Renwick Hospital after its architect—treated roughly seven thousand patients annually. Over two decades nearly ten thousand of those sufferers succumbed to the disease within its walls.

As the island’s residential population swelled, city officials relocated the smallpox ward to the even more remote North Brothers Island, leaving the original site increasingly underused.

By the 1950s the once‑busy Renwick Hospital lay abandoned, its structures succumbing to decay and the elements as the city moved on.

9 Randall’s/Ward’s Islands: Fun Present, Dysfunctional Past

A mile north of Roosevelt Island sits Randall’s Island, a shorter yet broader piece of land where Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx converge, accessible via the Robert F. Kennedy (formerly Triborough) Bridge. Today the island is best known for bustling concert venues, a popular mini‑golf course, and a myriad of sports fields used by city schools for soccer, baseball, and football practice.

That lively reputation masks a darker heritage. For many decades the city used the island as a holding ground for its most marginalized populations—those who were poor, ill, or institutionalized. Officials treated the surrounding river as a natural moat, earning the moniker “Island of Undesirables” for the area.

In reality, the nickname originally applied to its neighbor. Randall’s itself was split off by an artificial waterway called Little Hell Gate Channel, creating the secondary parcel known as Ward’s Island. Though less than a square mile, Ward’s housed the terminally ill, criminally insane, and juvenile delinquents, alongside a notorious orphanage and a potter’s field. The island even contained a sewage‑treatment plant, earning it a less‑than‑flattering reputation.

Reconnected in the 1960s, the two islands have gradually shed much of their grim past. The former asylum site now functions as the Manhattan Psychiatric Center, a facility that, while still serious, is far less decrepit than its predecessor.

8 Made for Quarantining: Hoffman & Swinburne Islands

Even though the Statue of Liberty’s famous inscription has welcomed “tired, poor, huddled masses” since 1876, New York City historically tried very hard to keep contagious newcomers at bay. Just south of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge, which links Brooklyn to Staten Island, sit two tiny man‑made islands—Hoffman and Swinburne—created in 1873 and 1870 respectively.

Before Ellis Island opened its doors in 1892, immigrants suspected of carrying disease were processed at Castle Garden on Manhattan’s southern tip. When those suspected of infection arrived, the city sent them to Staten Island, which at the time was not part of the city proper. To better isolate them, the city filled in land to fashion two quarantine islands: the larger Hoffman for asymptomatic carriers, and the smaller Swinburne for those showing symptoms.

The islands functioned as a miniature petri dish, separating the healthy from the ill. Remarkably, only about a dozen deaths were recorded there, including that of a physician. During World War I, Swinburne’s hospital treated American soldiers afflicted with venereal disease.

Today both islands lie uninhabited, serving as bird sanctuaries within the Gateway National Recreation Area, their decaying structures silently testifying to a bygone era of disease control.

7 What’s in a Name? Rat Island

A half‑mile off the Bronx’s causeway‑connected City Island, in Long Island Sound, sits a tiny 2½‑acre rock known as Rat Island. The origin of its unflattering name remains murky, with three plausible stories competing for credibility.

The most mundane explanation points to navigation. Because the island sits between the larger City Island and Hart Island, early mariners may have used rattles—hence “Rat”—as audible warnings to alert night‑time vessels of nearby shoals. This theory is championed by the island’s current owner, Alex Schibli, who suggests “Rat” shortens “rattle.”

A more colorful tale recalls the 1800s typhoid scares, when the island hosted a modest 40‑person quarantine hospital. Back then, it fell under the jurisdiction of Pelham and earned the nickname “Pelham Pesthouse.” The influx of sick people inevitably attracted vermin, giving rise to the moniker Rat Island.

The most intriguing story links the name to the nearby prison on Hart Island. In the nineteenth century, guards referred to inmates as “rats.” Escaping prisoners would swim toward City Island, using the tiny islet as a resting point—sometimes even disguising themselves with boxes to look like floating debris—earning the spot its infamous name.

6 Smallest & Oddest: U Thant Island

On August 28, 1973, New York subway riders experienced a nightmare when a concrete slab in the Steinway Tunnel collapsed, killing one passenger and trapping over a thousand commuters in searing heat and smoke for more than an hour. The tunnel, named for the piano‑making Steinway family of Astoria, Queens, had already endured a fatal explosion in the 1880s that bankrupted its contractor.When the tunnel finally survived, the debris that fell into the East River formed a 200‑by‑100‑foot mound of earth, originally called Belmont Island after the project’s chief financier.

Unbeknownst to most, the tiny island later fell within the sightline of the United Nations headquarters, completed in 1948. In 1972, activists declared it “Soviet Jewry Freedom Island” and occupied it for two‑and‑a‑half hours to protest Soviet emigration restrictions.

Five years later, followers of spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, who served as the UN’s interfaith chaplain, leased the land and renamed it after Burmese former UN Secretary‑General U Thant, a close friend of Chinmoy. The island now hosts a modest “oneness arch” displaying personal items belonging to Thant.

5 Fake Island, Real Damage: The Black Tom Explosion

In 1916, while the United States had not yet entered World War I, the nation’s industrial might supplied vast quantities of munitions to Allied forces. Most of these shipments left from a man‑made island in New Jersey’s Hudson River known as Black Tom, allegedly named after a local fisherman of darker complexion.

Black Tom featured a bustling railroad hub perched on a treacherous rock that made navigation hazardous. On July 30, 1916, German saboteurs detonated a massive charge among the two million tons of war material awaiting shipment.

The blast registered between 5.0 and 5.5 on the Richter scale, shattering windows up to twenty‑five miles away, cracking the outer wall of Jersey City’s City Hall, and sending shrapnel that tore a hole in the Statue of Liberty’s skirt. Nearby Ellis Island was evacuated, seven people lost their lives, and the explosion caused roughly $20 million in damage.

This act of sabotage, combined with German submarine warfare and attempts to enlist Mexico against the United States, helped push America into the war the following year. Today Black Tom is part of Liberty State Park, which later served as a massive triage center after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

4 Just Offal: NYC’s Smelliest Island

Before the city became known for subways and taxis, it was a horse‑powered metropolis. By 1900, an estimated two hundred‑thousand horses roamed the streets, a fact that explains why many historic brownstones feature stairs leading to the front door—no one wanted to step out onto a floor slick with horse manure.

When these horses died, their bodies were rendered into glue and fertilizer. Between 1850 and 1930, the majority of this processing occurred on a narrow strip off Brooklyn’s southeast shoreline called Barren Island. The resulting runoff of decaying animal matter gave birth to the infamous “Dead Horse Bay,” a name that endures to this day.

Around 1900, the same tract was repurposed as a municipal trash dump. By 1930 the landfill reached capacity, was capped, and left to rot. In 1950 the cap failed, allowing slower‑degrading debris—especially glass bottles—to surface, creating a bizarre juxtaposition known as “Glass Bottle Beach.”

For years, treasure hunters scoured the shoreline, hoping to uncover vintage artifacts among the refuse. However, last year authorities shut off public access after detecting elevated levels of radioactivity in the area.

3 Among America’s Worst: Riker’s Island

The island synonymous with incarceration in New York City was not always the notorious prison complex it is today. Originally owned by Dutch settler Abraham Rycken, who bought the land in 1664, the island remained in the Rycken family until the city purchased it for $180,000 in 1884.

During the Civil War, the island served as a training ground for New York troops. Its fortunes turned in 1925 when city officials, seeking to replace the overcrowded and dilapidated prison on what was then called Welfare Island (now Roosevelt Island), selected Riker’s as the new site for a modern correctional facility.

At the time of the prison’s opening in 1932, the island was already a dumping ground. By 1930, roughly 1.5 million cubic yards of refuse—more than the debris displaced to build the original World Trade Center—had been piled there, much of it coal ash that sparked spontaneous phosphorescent fires.

Today Riker’s houses ten separate city jails, ranging from minimum‑security to maximum‑security facilities. Until recently, many detainees were low‑level offenders unable to afford bail, languishing in the city’s notoriously backlogged courts.

2 A Mile Long, a Million Dead: Hart Island

Just a half‑mile east of the more populated City Island lies Hart Island, a mile‑long, one‑third‑mile‑wide parcel that arguably bears the most macabre history of any New York City landmass.

The island first entered public use in 1864 as training grounds for Black Union troops during the Civil War. That same year, a prison camp for Confederate POWs was added after Union leaders refused to exchange Black prisoners, prompting a halt to prisoner swaps.

Over the ensuing decades Hart Island hosted a tuberculosis sanitarium, a jail, a homeless shelter, and a boys’ reformatory. Its most infamous role, however, was as a potter’s field, where the remains of over a million individuals—unclaimed, indigent, or disease‑ridden—were interred in shallow mass graves.

Burials continue today, albeit at a reduced rate of roughly 1,500 per year. Inmates from nearby Riker’s Island perform the gravedigging, meaning prisoners literally dig the final resting places for the city’s dead.

Recently, a concerted effort has begun to identify as many of those buried on Hart Island as possible, featuring an interactive map that tracks progress and honors the countless forgotten souls.

1 Hart‑breaking: Hart Island, COVID & AIDS

In the previous entry we noted that Hart Island’s burial rate had slowed—until March 2020, when the COVID‑19 pandemic flooded New York City with unprecedented numbers of deaths. The city’s morgues quickly overflowed, forcing officials to store bodies in massive freezer trucks and other improvised facilities.

By March 2021, officials projected that one in ten COVID victims in the city would be laid to rest on Hart Island. Media outlets displayed haunting images of workers in protective gear digging shallow graves, as 2,300 adults were interred there in 2020—2.5 times the 2019 figure and a full 1,000 more than the peak year of the AIDS crisis in 1988.

The year 1988 marked the height of AIDS‑related deaths in New York. Starting in 1985, the city began shipping its AIDS victims to Hart Island, burying them in a secluded section of the potter’s field and using deeper graves—several feet of earth—rather than the customary three‑foot depth.

Hart Island holds only one marked grave: a modest concrete slab commemorating the city’s first pediatric AIDS victim, inscribed simply with “SC (special child) B1 (Baby 1) 1985.”

These intertwined tragedies—COVID‑19 and AIDS—underscore Hart Island’s enduring role as the final resting place for New York’s most vulnerable, cementing its reputation as a somber testament to the city’s hidden histories.

An island is an idyllic destination for millions of travelers worldwide. Especially when the said island is sun-drenched with white sand beaches and surrounded by nothing but turquoise ocean. However, those with an adventurous side seek out the more obscure islands that harbor a secret or two, which makes for a fascinating visit every time.

Sometimes these secrets are awesome; sometimes, they’re creepy. On this list is a mix of both these types of islands found around the globe.

10 Suwarrow

Suwarrow forms part of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean and often suffers storm surges because it is an extremely low-lying atoll. The island was declared a National Heritage Park in 1978 and falls under Cook Islands law. Two island caretakers share the space with over a million sea birds, which include eleven different species.

Suwarrow was once described as the most romantic island in the world, but it is the lure of being a treasure island that put it on the obscure map. A ship’s crew from Tahiti was doing salvage work on the island during the mid-19th century when the captain dug up an iron chest filled with gold and silver coins. In 1876, Henry Mair discovered a rusted box inside a turtle’s nest containing more treasure in the form of gold and silver necklaces, coins, and brooches. He had no way of taking the loot with him, so he decided to rebury it. Mair then drew up a treasure map of sorts to remember the location.

Mair was killed in the New Hebrides in 1891, and his treasure map was never found.^[1]

9 Flatey Island

Flatey Island was named top of the list of The Best 50 Islands in the World 2019, yet most people have never heard of it. The island is just under two kilometers (1.25 miles) in length and boasts a whopping six permanent residents.

Flatey lies off the west coast of Iceland and is the only one out of 3,000 in Breiðafjörður Bay that is inhabited. Furthermore, it is also the location of Iceland’s very first library and Flatey Church. It is only accessible by ferry, and cars are not allowed on the island. The beautiful landscape has served as inspiration for filmmakers, with the most notable movie set on Flatey being The Honour of the House (1999).^[2]

8 Mou Waho

There are five islands on the stunning Lake Wanaka in New Zealand, the most obscure and remote of which is Mou Waho. Long ago, it was inhabited by both Europeans as well as Maori, and sheep farming boomed. Today, bird life flourishes here, especially buff weka.

Mou Waho or “Outer Island” is referred to as an “island, within a lake, on an island, in a lake, on an island in the ocean.” Near the top of the island is Arethusa Pool, which has its own islet set into it. Climbing to the highest point above it, you will see island, water, island, water, and island. And this stunning sight is accessible within a mere 3-kilometer (1.86-mile)walk.^[3]

7 Okinawa

If Okinawa sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen The Karate Kid or binged the movie’s spin-off, Cobra Kai. It is on Okinawa, in Tomi Village, that Mr. Miyagi once lived before leaving for America. In Cobra Kai, Daniel LaRusso returns to the island, only to find that it has become unrecognizable.

In real life, Okinawa is part of Japan but, technically speaking, not Japanese. Those who live on the island are known as Nippon-jin, and the island is a haven for the elderly. It is also the birthplace of karate, with the fighting method developed by Okinawans as an answer to the attacks of Japanese samurai.

Okinawa is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the world. The Kadena Air Base, an American airbase, once held “Building 2283.” This building was the home of an Air Force officer in the 1970s. The officer murdered his family inside the home before killing himself. When the next family moved in, the father of the family attacked his wife and children with a knife. After these terrible incidents, the building became a storage shed before reportedly being demolished in 2009.

It is said that it took a long time before anyone was able to successfully tear the place down because workers kept getting severe headaches and suffered from hallucinations whenever they set up their equipment.

And perhaps creepiest of all, there was a daycare center next door to Building 2283, and the young children that attended the school kept throwing their toys over the fence that separated them from the building. When asked why they were doing this, the children said that the kids on the other side asked them to…^[4]

6 Saba

Saba island may be the smallest of its kind in the Dutch Caribbean. However, she boasts the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom, namely Mount Scenery, which towers 887 meters (2,910 feet) into the air. Mount Scenery is a potentially active volcano, with its last eruption having taken place in 1640.

Not only is Saba the smallest island in its surroundings, but it also holds the world’s smallest runway. Located along the edge of a beach, the runway is a mere 400 meters (1,312 feet) long, which means that if a pilot overshoots, he will plunge himself and his passengers right into the Atlantic.

A wonderful fact about this magnificent little place is that it is one of the safest places in the world for solo female travelers. There is next to no crime, and the locals are extremely friendly toward tourists. On the island, there are many sights to take in other than the stunning vista of the surrounding ocean, including several old burial sites on private properties.

The 1933 movie King Kong used the silhouette of Saba for “Skull Island.” Looking at the island, even just in a photograph, it’s easy to picture giant animals roaming around or surprising you by peeking over the top of the volcano.^[5]

5 Andros

When it comes to the Bahamas, visitors tend to seek out New Providence, Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama Island. However, if you’re planning a visit to the Bahamas, a trip to the hidden gem of Andros Island should definitely form part of your itinerary.

Andros is the biggest island in the Bahamas by far, stretching over 5,960 square kilometers (2,300 square miles). It is also the fifth-largest island in the entire Caribbean. It is often referred to as the Secret Garden of the Bahamas, as it is home to over 60 species of wild orchids. Furthermore, Andros is also home to the third-largest barrier reef in the world. The region separating Andros and New Providence is called TOTO (Tongue of the Ocean). It holds very deep water surrounded by islands, reefs, and shoals.

It is rumored that the mythical creature, Chickcharney, still roams the island, with some believing that the legend comes from sightings of a prehistoric barn owl. However, remains of the owl, Tyto pollens, have yet to be discovered on Andros.^[6]

4 Fadiouth Shell Island

In Mbour, Senegal, you can find Fadiouth Shell Island. As the name suggests, the island is made up of millions of clam shells that have accumulated over hundreds of years. The streets here are paved with shells and lead to a wooden bridge which, in turn, leads to a second shell island.

The second island is also completely made from shells but is known more for its cemetery than its fabrication. It is estimated that around 90% of Senegal residents adhere to Islam. However, the entire cemetery on the second island is marked by white Christian crosses. It is seen as a monument to the very-much-in-the-minority Christian religion of the country. It is definitely a strange sight to behold. The cemetery is also seen as a testament to the religious tolerance in the area.^[7]

3 Danger Islands

Until 2018, biologists believed that the number of Adelie penguins had been steadily declining. Then scientists discovered a supercolony of more than 1.5 million Adelie penguins on the Danger Islands off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The penguin colony has gone undetected for many decades, mainly because of the danger of the waters surrounding the islands and the remoteness of the islands themselves.

The Danger Islands were first discovered by James Clark Ross in 1842, who saw the hazard that the ice in the area presented. The expedition didn’t even notice the islands until their ship was almost upon them because the ice concealed them so well.^[8]

2 Corregidor

At the entrance of Manila Bay in the Philippines lies Corregidor Island. Historically, the island was fortified with coastal artillery batteries meant to defend the entrance as well as Manila itself from attacks by warships. During the Second World War, Corregidor was instrumental during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines but was also heavily damaged during the later stages of the battle.

Today, the ruins on the island serve as a memorial for the soldiers who lost their lives. The Pacific War Memorial stands on the highest part of Topside on the island. There is a Japanese Garden of Peace, built in honor of the Japanese soldiers who died on Corregidor during the war. Those who visit the island can also take in the sight of the lighthouse, which is one of its oldest landmarks.

Naturally, because of its bloody history, Corregidor is considered to be haunted by those who lived and fought here many years ago. The Old Corregidor Island Hospital, which dates back to 1912, is said to be the creepiest place on the island today. Some have heard screaming and crying emanating from its ruins. Others claim to have heard the sounds of a normally-functioning hospital from its empty corridors.^[9]

1 Santa Catalina

If you’re in the mood to party on a glass-bottom boat while taking in the views of the Pacific Ocean, a trip to Santa Catalina Island will be right up your alley. Catalina lies just over 32 kilometers (20 miles) off the coast of Southern California and is a favorite with those who want to escape the busy city life.

During WWII, Catalina was inaccessible to visitors as it became a military training base. The Catalina Island Museum provides a glimpse of the island’s history for those who want an educational break from the beach.

But while you’re wandering around Catalina, you should keep an eye out for the spectral ballplayer who is often seen at the Catalina Country Club. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions walking through solid walls in the local theater, wearing 1920s attire. Some have even had a close encounter with an old woman dressed in a white robe floating around in the restroom.^[10]