Every country in the world has its own unique charms that draw tourists from other countries, resulting in a plethora of vacation locations that have been visited by people from all over the world. However, there are some areas that are not only unknown by travellers, but are also off-limits to tourists for a variety of reasons, enveloped in a strong aura of mystery. Take a peek at these 9 spots where tourists are not permitted to visit!
#1 Lascaux Caves, France
The Lascaux Caves are an archaeologist’s dream, with prehistoric murals stretching back 17,300 years. These Palaeolithic paintings represent animals such as cows, horses, wolves, deer, and bears, and were painted with charcoal for the black colour and ground-up earth and stones for the other colours. Although the caves were originally available to the public, they have been closed to tourists since 1963 in order to preserve these historic works of art.
#2 Heard Island, Australia
Heard Island, located between Antarctica and Madagascar as part of Australian territory, is one of the least explored places on the planet. The island, which has two active volcanoes, is deserted and is made up of volcanic debris and limestone structures. The Australian government restricts public access to the island in order to maintain the island’s pristine ecology.
#3 North Brother Island, USA
North Brother Island, located in New York City, is one of America’s most famous abandoned locales. It began as a quarantine hospital and housed “Typhoid Mary,” the first healthy carrier of typhoid illness in the United States. It later operated as a drug rehabilitation centre and is now a bird sanctuary that is permanently closed to the public.
#4 North Sentinel Island, India
The Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal’s North Sentinel Island is recognised for its remote and sheltered population. The Sentinelese tribe has resided on the island for over 50,000 years, and their hatred towards strangers and violent efforts to defend their territory have made it one of the world’s most dangerous and absolutely off-limits locales. Outsiders have no idea what language the Sentinelese speak.
#5 Pravcicka Brana, Czech Republic
Pravcicka Brana, also known as the Pravická gate, is a stunning landmark in the Czech Republic and Europe’s largest sandstone arch. It drew a lot of attention till 1982. However, due to erosion concerns, tourists’ access to the arch has been restricted. Geologists anticipate that Pravcicka Brana will collapse, cementing its reputation as a banned area.
#6 Snake Island, Brazil:
Snake Island, also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is a Brazilian island famed for its population of thousands of poisonous snakes. It is thought to be home to roughly 4,000 golden lancehead vipers, whose venom is several times more deadly than that of other venomous snakes and can cause flesh to rot. As a result, the island is fully closed to visitors, with access deemed unlawful by the Brazilian government.
#7 Dulce Base, USA
Dulce is a small town near the border of New Mexico and Colorado in the United States. It is said to have an underground facility where incredible experiments are carried out. Dulce Base is thought to be a vast underground compound with advanced technology and suspected human-animal hybrids. It is considered one of the most banned sites in the United States, if not the globe. It is highly secure and off-limits to the public.
#8 Surtsey Island, Iceland
Surtsey Island, located on the southern coast of Iceland, is a small island formed by a volcanic eruption that lasted four years. It is hailed as one of the newest islands on Earth. Currently, access to the island is restricted to only a few scientists and geologists due to concerns about disrupting the ecological succession occurring on the island.
#9 Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
Situated in the Svalbard archipelago near the Arctic, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is considered a secure storage facility for various plant seeds. It serves as a backup to protect seeds during apocalyptic events or global crises, with seeds being transported there from around the world for long-term storage. Currently, the seed vault is only open to specific individuals on specific dates.
