Humanity has colonized much of the world. It’s hard to find locations completely untouched by man. Although, there are some locations where, despite humans possibly having been there before, the area is completely uninhabited by people. And it’s probably all the better for it. Here are a few abandoned, yet beautiful, islands around the world.
Aldabra
Aldabra is one of the outer islands of the Sychelles. It’s 700 miles from Mahé and is the largest of the islands in the Seychelles, closer to the coast of Africa. After Kiritimati, it is the second largest atoll in the world. It’s been virtually untouched by humans and retains a population of 152,000 giant tortoises. This is the largest population of this reptile anywhere on earth. Not only does it house the world’s largest tortoise, but the world’s largest land arthropod in the coconut crab.
Rock Islands
The Rock Islands are the remainder of coral reefs that surfaced hundreds of years ago. They form 250 to 300 island in Palau’s Southern Lagoon. They’re most uninhabited, known for their beaches, blue lagoons, and peculiar shapes. They also house Jellyfish Lake, a lake filled with jellyfish with weak stings. They allow people to safely snorkel and observe the jellyfish up close.
Spinalonga
Also known as the “Island of Tears”, Spinalonga is located in the Gulf of Elounda in Crete. It was once the home to a colony of lepers during the 20th Century. Tourists now visit the island headed through the same location the lepers once entered, “Dante’s Gate”.
Mamanuca Islands
The Mamnuca Islands are an archipelago of 20 islands located in Fiji. They’re one of the most popular vacation destinations in Fiji, with beautiful islands resorts and white sand beaches. However, several of these islands are also uninhabited, generally because there is no natural source of fresh water.The most famous of these island is Monuriki, which was the location of the the 2000 film Castaway.
Suakin Island Ruins
Suakin was a popular trade destination in the 10th Century BCE. It had a heavy population thanks to the spread of Islam. However, in the 1800s, the island became a hub for the slave trade. And when slavery became less popular, its population declined. It’s been abandoned since the 1920s.
Tetepare Island
Part of the Solomon Islands, Tetepare is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific. It’s covered in an untouched lowland rainforest and has coral reefs on its fringe. Its original inhabitants lived in scattered villages throughout the island and spoke a distinct language. But for as of yet unknown reasons, the island was deserted 200 years ago. That settlements’ descendants now live in other parts of the Solomon Islands.