|
Life is strange. Islands are stranger. Or at least
they have the potential to be thanks to isolation. From shipwrecked
horses to Cat Island, these are some weird islands that will leave you
scratching your head.
|
|
La Isla de las Muñecas
Known as the “Island of the Dolls”, it is located in a canal near Mexico
City. A man by the name of Don Julian apparently went crazy, left his
family, and ran to this island where he hung up a bunch of dolls to ward
off evil spirits. He drowned not long afterwards. |
|
|
|
Sable Island
Just off the coast of Nova Scotia, this island is in a region known as
the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. The only things you’ll find here are
horses and shipwrecks. You can probably guess where the horses came
from!
|
|
|
|
Tashirojima Island
Known as “Cat Island”, this small Japanese island has barely 100 human
residents….but a ton of cats. The cats were apparently introduced in the
1850s to keep the mouse population of the island under control. After
many of the residents moved away, the cat population shot up and today
the remaining residents see them as good luck charms. You can even stay
in a cat-like cabin if you visit the island. |
|
|
|
Ōkunoshima Island
There’s “Cat Island” and then there’s “Rabbit Island”. Between 1929 and
1945 the Japanese army used this island as a chemical weapons testing
facility and apparently brought a bunch of rabbits as the subjects. The
rabbits inhabiting the island today are said to be the descendants of
their unfortunate ancestors. |
|
|
|
The Isola La Gaiola
Sitting off the coast of Naples, Italy, nearly every single owner of
this island has been found either murdered, drowned, or they ended in
economic ruin. Not surprisingly it has been abandoned for some time now
and is considered cursed by the locals.
|
|
|
|
Ilha de Queimada Grande
Let’s review, there were horses, rabbits, cats, and now…snakes! Located
about 90 miles from Sao Paulo, Brazil this island is infested with
venomous snakes. And these aren’t just any venomous snakes…they’re
extremely venomous snakes! In fact the Brazilian Navy has forbidden
anyone from even landing on the island due to the danger.
|
|
|
|
Christmas Island
This Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean is home to one of
largest and most spectacular animal migrations on Earth. Every year
about 120 million crabs make a month long journey out of the island’s
forests to the beach in order to mate. It is a site to behold!
|
|
|
|
Easter Island
Belonging to Chile, this Pacific island is littered with hundreds of
huge statues known as moia. No one knows why the ancient Polynesians
built these statues but one thing is certain – it wasn’t easy!
|
|
|
|
Great Blue Hole
Found off the coast of Belize, this isn’t really an island. It’s
actually the opposite of an island! It’s a huge sinkhole in the ocean
floor that is surrounded by an atoll. Teeming with aquatic life, the
Great Blue Hole is considered one of the world’s greatest dive spots.
|
|
|
Ramree Island
Infested with saltwater crocodiles, during WWII nearly 500 Japanese
troops were eaten alive here. In fact, the incident is listed in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the “greatest disaster suffered from
animals” |
|
|