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Certain parts of the globe are so unwelcoming that even a brief stay can lead to severe consequences for your health. Moreover, there exist regions where local residents face constant peril from both natural and manmade dangers.
From the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean, we present a collection of the most dangerous locations in the world. To learn more about these deadly places, check out the gallery.
Centralia, Pennsylvania, has become a deserted town following a significant disaster in 1962. A landfill fire breached the coal mines below the town. Despite unsuccessful efforts to extinguish the fire, it persisted unnoticed until the 1980s.
Multiple sink holes in the town have emerged, emitting harmful carbon dioxide gases, resulting in the mandatory relocation of nearly all residents. It is believed that there is ample coal to sustain the fire for approximately 250 more years.
The haunting Aral Sea stretches between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Since the 1960s, the Aral Sea, previously a large lake, has been experiencing a rapid decline due to Soviet irrigation projects that redirected the water. This led to a significant ecological catastrophe.
Additionally, the lake was contaminated by pesticides and other agricultural chemicals from the surrounding land. As a result, when the lake evaporated, the polluted dust particles posed a health risk to the nearby residents.
Vanuatu appears paradisiacal, but hides some secrets within its borders.
The small island country is known to be one of the most vulnerable regions to natural disasters in the world.
The islands often experience earthquakes, storms, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, affecting their population. The islands' small size increases the impact of these natural calamities, resulting in more widespread consequences.
In 1986, a tragic natural disaster occurred at this unremarkable lake in Cameroon, leading to the unfortunate loss of more than 1,700 lives.
A fatal cloud of carbon dioxide, possibly triggered by a landslide or earthquake, is believed to have rapidly engulfed the local region and asphyxiated the residents. Steps have been taken to ensure that this kind of disaster is avoided in the future.
This lake's lethal nature is attributed to the concealed volcanic activity below. Magma beneath the lake emits carbon dioxide, which gradually rises through the water.
Fukushima in Japan is widely known due to the nuclear reactor being affected by a devastating earthquake in March 2011.
The subsequent tsunami caused a massive wave measuring over 12 meters (40 feet) in height to hit the power station, leading to a core meltdown. As a precautionary measure against radiation, approximately 120,000 individuals from the nearby area were evacuated.
Currently, a restricted area remains in place around the location of the calamity. In July 2018, it was ascertained that the radiation levels within the facility were still hazardous, thus preventing human access.
Vozrozhdeniya Island, situated within the Aral Sea, was used by the Soviet Union to conduct biological weapon experiments, making it an exceptionally hazardous site.
Numerous mishaps occurred during the base's active period. On one occasion, several individuals died due to an unintentional release of weaponized smallpox.
According to reports, several bioweapons, such as anthrax spores and the bubonic plague, were stored on the island. As the island was emptied, the containers started to decay.
You could easily mistake this East African lake for a landscape on Mars. The water is rich in minerals, resulting in an exceptionally alkaline composition. Natural hot springs fuel its supply, causing the water temperature to rise as high as 60°C (140ºF).
Due to the harsh conditions, the water can cause burns on the skin of both humans and non-adapted animals. Additionally, the water's natural chemicals can mummify deceased creatures in the lake, resulting in peculiar fossilized remains.
Norilsk, located in Russia, is not only the world's northernmost city but also deemed by some as the most polluted.
Nickel ore smelting is responsible for the severe pollution in this hazardous city. It expels huge amounts of noxious gases, resulting in acid rain and smog.
Norilsk is a city of 177,000 residents, with an average life expectancy that's 10 years less than the rest of Russia.
California's Death Valley is renowned for its unforgiving conditions and morbidly fitting name.
The world's highest recorded temperature was recorded in the desert valley.
During the summer, temperatures often exceed 50°C (122ºF), with Furnace Creek earning its fitting name by reaching a record-breaking 56.7°C (134ºF) in 1913.
The Skeleton Coast refers to a significant portion of Namibia's northern coastline. It was previously deemed "the gates to hell" by Portuguese sailors, adding to its haunting reputation.
The Namibian coast poses grave dangers due to its harsh elements: strong waves, sea mist, and gusty winds. This treacherous blend allows for beach landings, but launching back into the ocean becomes nearly impossible.
Shipwrecked sailors in this barren coastal area would be confronted with a harsh, dry expanse of seemingly endless sand dunes. Survival would have been challenging.
The Danakil Desert in Ethiopia extends into Eritrea and Djibouti. It looks like an eery extraterrestrial landscape.
The location is renowned for its extreme heat and unwelcoming conditions, featuring volcanoes, magma-filled lakes, perilous thermal springs, and geysers that expel scorching water from beneath the earth's surface.
Even though it may appear as an inhospitable location, people do live there, extracting salt from the extraordinary terrain.
The Chernobyl disaster is widely regarded as the worst nuclear accident in history.
Following a nuclear reactor meltdown in Chernobyl in 1986, the nearby town of Pripyat had to undergo swift evacuation measures.
To this day, the town remains uninhabitable due to elevated radiation levels, and visits are limited to short durations.
Dzerzhinsk, located 400 km (248 miles) from Moscow, is often recognized as one of the most polluted cities in the world.
Chemical and biological activities from the Soviet period caused extensive contamination in Dzerzhinsk. Sources indicate that the people in the area have an average lifespan of only 47 years.
A lake in close proximity has gained the name "black hole" due to its significant pollution levels, making it one of the most contaminated bodies of water in the world. Extensive dumping of chemical waste has occurred, and just being near it could harm your health.
A guide to the world's most hazardous locations
These places are not for tourists...
TRAVEL Danger
Certain parts of the globe are so unwelcoming that even a brief stay can lead to severe consequences for your health. Moreover, there exist regions where local residents face constant peril from both natural and manmade dangers.
From the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean, we present a collection of the most dangerous locations in the world. To learn more about these deadly places, check out the gallery.