Due to inaccessibility, harsh living conditions, lack of flora and fauna, many islands remain deserted. Quite a few go through the cycles of inhabitation and desertion from time to time. Since childhood, we all have grown on stories of deserted islands, shipwrecks and survivors, which is why uninhabited islands are such great tourist attractions all over the world.
10 Top Uninhabited Islands
To have a peaceful vacation, it is thus good to find uninhabited islands which offer accommodation as tourist resorts. Read on to know more about ten uninhabited islands that you should definitely visit:
- Exotic Clipperton Island
- Magnificent Barra Isles
- Beautiful Okunoshima Island
- Surreal Ball’s Pyramid
- Enchanting Jaco Island
- Mesmerizing Chacachacare Island
- Serene Maldives Desert Islands
- Enigmatic Antipodes Islands
- Pristine Devon Island
- Scenic Aldabra Atoll
1. Clipperton Island
One of the famous and biggest uninhabited islands in the Pacific, Clipperton is spread over a six sq. km. area south-west of Central America. The island is considered a French territory and its ownership has been transferred amongst French, Americans, Mexicans a lot in the last two centuries. The island has scarce vegetation, and you might come across a few coconut or palm trees. It is largely deserted and visited time and again by researchers.
Location: Pacific Ocean
Must Read: Island Hopping In Maldives: A Tryst With The Turquoise Waters
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2. Barra Isles
These uninhabited Scottish islands are famous as Bishop’s Isles as well. Made up of nine small islands, this archipelago has only one inhabited island – Vatersay – and eight deserted ones. It is interesting to note that out of the eight, four have seen a human population at one point or the other. Due to their location and proximity to Scandinavian countries, these islands often feature in folklores there as well. In case, you end up visiting these deserted islands, do drop by the stack named Biruaslum.
Location: Outer Hebrides, Scotland
3. Okunoshima Island
One of the most popular and scary uninhabited islands in the world, this deserted place was a weapon hotspot during first half of the twentieth century. During the Second World War, this is the place where plants and factories were set up to produce chemical warfare for Japan. However, today there are no human beings here. Interestingly, this place is full of rabbits, who do not belong traditionally to this place.
Location: Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
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4. Ball’s Pyramid
Named thus after its unusual structure (and the man who discovered it, Mr. Henry Ball), this beautiful place is around six million years old. It is, in fact, remnant of a volcano and serves as a part of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park in Australia. At 1844 feet, this beautiful, natural wonder is the tallest volcanic column of its kind in the whole world. Its summit was completed successfully only in 1979 by a group of Australians, however, a short while after in 1982, it was banned to climb here.
Location: Near Lord Howe Island, Australia
5. Jaco Island
Another stunning entry on this list of uninhabited islands with freshwater, Jaco is deserted because the locals believe it to be sacred land as two different seas namely the Banda and Timor seas meet here. It is fascinating to see as the locals stay away from this place, however tourists are more than welcome. You can not officially visit the place, but local fishermen offer rides in boats to the place. You can take day long trips here or enjoy camping. Jaco or Jako is also a part of Nino Konis Santana National Park.
Location: East Timor, Indian Ocean
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6. Chacachacare Island
One of the most beautiful, uninhabited Caribbean islands, Chacachacare is a part of Trinidad and Tobago. The island was named by Columbus as Caracol (snail in Spanish) after its peculiar shape. It is a part of the Bocas Islands spread between Trinidad and Venezuela. The island today has a lighthouse along with a functional radar station. However, back in the day this place was populated as a cotton plantation. It was populated by nuns nursing lepers as it became a leper colony later.
Location: Caribbean Sea, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
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7. Maldives Desert Islands
Beautiful coral islands spread over a large area – these uninhabited Islands in Maldives are around 1200 in number. However, mere 200 have people living over, while the rest are deserted, which puts the number of inhabited ones at an extremely low number. It is interesting to note that around ninety of these deserted islands have now been converted into resorts for travellers, though the rest of them still remain human-less.
Location: Indian Ocean
8. Antipodes Islands
Located close to Antarctica, this Kiwi island is in fact a group of ancient volcanic islands. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, this place is a natural reserve and entry is extremely limited. For years, this group of islands has seen shipwreck survivors and castaways come to the island and try to find way back home. The highest point on the island is called Mount Galloway at about 1200 feet. The island is home to streams and different peaks varying in height.
Location: New Zealand
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9. Devon Island
One of the largest uninhabited islands in the world, Devon is one of the most wonderful places to see in the world. It is so barren that its beauty is almost stunning. Spread over fifty five thousand sq. km. area, the island covers ranges like Treuter and Cunningham Mountains. Interesting thing to note about this desert island is the fact that its unique landscape has attracted interest of NASA scientists. Its similarity with Mars in terms of surface has led them to experiment here to simulate the travel and living at red planet.
Location: Baffin Bay, Canada
10. Aldabra Atoll
Located in Seychelles, Aldabra is the largest island in the area. Due to its location and lack of accessibility, this island has remain untouched by humans. This place has wonderfully rich flora and fauna. In fact, you will find around one and a half lakh tortoises living here, which is in itself a unique thing. These cute animals have such long lifespans, that this island seems like a witness to history. Which is why the island is visited regularly by scientists who study these tortoises.
Location: Seychelles, Indian Ocean
Further Read: 10 Indisputable Reasons To Visit Maldives, The King Of Tropics
These beautiful uninhabited islands are the true wonders of the world. Providing an insight into the history and geography of our planet and telling us about the human evolution, they are surely worth a visit once in a lifetime. Book a trip now to visit different parts of earth and explore the uninhabited islands there at the best prices ever!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many uninhabited islands are there in the world?
There may be as many as a couple million uninhabited islands in the world. Sweden, for instance, counts 221,831 islands within its borders, and only 1,145 have people living on them.
Are there any large uninhabited islands left?
There is a large number of islands which are still uninhabited because of reasons like financial, political, environmental and religious.
What is the largest uninhabited island?
Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island which is located in Canada.
What is the smallest inhabited island in the world?
The smallest inhabited island in the world is the Bishop Rock located close to the Isles of Scilly.
Which is the remotest uninhabited island in the world?
Tristan da Cunha is the remotest uninhabited island in the world.
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