15 Uncharted Islands That Look Incredible
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hey everyone, these 15 uncharted islands have incredible beauty and remain largely untouched
00:06by mainstream tourism.
00:08These hidden gems scattered across the world's oceans offer amazing landscapes and stunning
00:13beaches.
00:14So join me, I'm exploring 15 uncharted islands that look incredible.
00:17Starting with number 15, Snow Hill Island.
00:20Lying off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, it's almost a completely snow-capped
00:25landmass.
00:26It stretches about 21 miles in length and 7.5 miles wide.
00:30The island was discovered in 1843 and would quickly become the home base of explorers
00:35as they would venture to neighboring islands along the Antarctic Peninsula.
00:39From then on out, it became a hotbed of research despite being so cold.
00:43Snow Hill Island is entirely uninhabited by humans but has a remarkable natural wonder,
00:49a thriving colony of emperor penguins.
00:52The island's southwestern extremity is recognized as an important bird area by BirdLife International
00:57due to its significant emperor penguin population.
01:00About 4,000 pairs of emperor penguins breed on Snow Hill making it one of only two colonies
01:05of its kind on land.
01:07The other colony, located on Dion Island, sadly no longer exists.
01:11The incubating males on Snow Hill Island experience different environmental conditions as the
01:16ice on which the colony stands is affected by the sun much later in the year.
01:20This delay influences the development of emperor chicks, giving them more time to shed
01:24their fluffy down before heading to sea.
01:27Consequently, Snow Hill chicks are better prepared for swimming compared to chicks from
01:30other colonies, which often reach the sea covered in down and unable to swim.
01:35However, it's the delayed development of the chicks here that provides the unique opportunity
01:39for tourists to visit the colony while the chicks are still under the care of their parents.
01:4414.
01:45Herald Island Herald Island is a small, isolated Russian
01:49island located in the Chukchi Sea, 30 nautical miles east of Waring Point.
01:54The island has sheer cliffs, making it quite inaccessible by ship or plane.
01:59The only accessible shoreline is at its northwestern point, where the cliffs have crumbled into
02:03piles of loose rocks and gravel.
02:05Covering an area of about 4 square miles and reaching a maximum height of about 1,200 feet
02:09above sea level, Herald Island is unglaciated and uninhabited.
02:14It is the northeasternmost point of land in Russia.
02:17On paper, Herald Island belongs to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation.
02:22Along with Wrangell Island, it's been part of the Island Wildlife Preserve, a Russian
02:26national park, since 1976.
02:29Cape Dermitrieva on Herald Island marks the easternmost limits of this nature reserve,
02:34and in 2004, both islands and their surrounding waters were added to UNESCO's World Heritage
02:38List.
02:39The island's inclusion in the Wildlife Preserve helps protect the vulnerable species and their
02:44habitats.
02:45Polar bears are often seen roaming the island, taking advantage of this remote and undisturbed
02:50environment.
02:51The rare arctic plants adapted to the island's severe conditions adds to the ecological significance
02:56of this isolated outpost in the Chukchi Sea.
03:00Number 13.
03:01Tetepare Island Tetepare Island is the largest uninhabited
03:06island in the South Pacific, covering approximately 46 square miles.
03:10Its uninhabited nature has allowed it to remain a pristine haven for both terrestrial and
03:15marine biodiversity.
03:17Researchers have recorded 230 bird species, 24 reptile species, 4 frogs, and 13 mammal
03:23species.
03:24And the island's coral reefs are second only to Raja Ampat in Indonesia in terms of
03:29fish and coral diversity.
03:31Tetepare's volcanic black sand beaches are nesting grounds for three species of marine
03:35turtles, the critically endangered leatherback and hawksbill turtles, and the endangered
03:40green turtle.
03:41It's also home to Solomon Island's skink, the largest living skink, as well as the mangrove
03:46monitor and the Pacific ground boa.
03:49Local communities, particularly from neighboring Rendova Island, have a long history of managing
03:53the natural resources here sustainably.
03:56They help regulate the wild pig population through regular hunting trips, which are crucial
04:00for traditional feasts.
04:03Number 12.
04:04Palmyra Atoll Palmyra Atoll, also known as Palmyra Island,
04:08is a pristine and uninhabited atoll located in the Northern Line Islands, southeast of
04:13Kingman Reef and north of Kiribati.
04:16It lies almost due south of the Hawaiian Islands, roughly one-third of the way between Hawaii
04:20and American Samoa.
04:22It's positioned at the approximate center of the Pacific Ocean.
04:25This atoll is about 3,300 miles from both North America to the northeast and New Zealand
04:30to the southwest.
04:32This isolated atoll has no permanent population and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
04:37Service of the U.S. Department of Interior.
04:39It also serves as a wildlife refuge and research station, hosting a variable, transient population
04:45of about 4 to 20 staff and scientists.
04:48These individuals are employed by various U.S. government departments, the Nature Conservancy,
04:52and the Atoll Research Consortium.
04:54Submerged portions are managed by the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs.
05:00Visitors to Palmyra Atoll must take precautions to prevent introducing new invasive species.
05:05All belongings are required to be frozen and disinfected before arrival.
05:09This careful management ensures the preservation of the atoll's unique and fragile ecosystem.
05:15Number 11.
05:16Kerguelen Islands The Kerguelen Islands, also aptly named the
05:20Desolation Islands, are an incredibly remote and uninhabited group of islands in the sub-Antarctic.
05:26They form one of the two exposed parts of the Kerguelen Plateau, a large province largely
05:31submerged in the southern Indian Ocean.
05:33These islands are among the most isolated places on Earth, situated over 1,800 nautical
05:38miles from Madagascar, and are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
05:43The main island, Grand Terre, spans 2,500 square miles.
05:48Surrounding it are approximately 300 smaller islands and islets, forming an archipelago.
05:53Despite the vast area, these islands remain uninhabited, devoid of any indigenous population
05:57whatsoever.
05:58France maintains a permanent presence on the islands, with about 45 to 100 soldiers, scientists,
06:04engineers, and researchers who rotate to conduct various missions and research projects.
06:08The seas surrounding this archipelago are notoriously rough, yet remain ice-free throughout
06:13the year.
06:15Even in the warmest month, the average temperature remains below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
06:19The winds here also are quite literally never-stopping.
06:23On average, the wind blows about 19 knots, but can be as high as 100 knots.
06:28But despite the harsh conditions and the cold air, these islands are home to indigenous
06:32animals like large populations of ocean-going seabirds, seals, and penguins.
06:37The only native terrestrial animals you'll find here are insects, and oddly enough, though,
06:42feral cats descended from ship's cats prey on the seabirds and feral rabbits here, which
06:47were also introduced by humans long ago.
06:5010.
06:52North and South Brother Islands North and South Brother Islands are two small,
06:57abandoned islands located in New York City's East River, located between mainland Bronx
07:02and Rikers Island.
07:03North Brother Island, the more famous sibling, was once a bustling site for the Riverside
07:07Hospital for Quarantinable Ailments, but now it stands as an uninhabited relic of the past.
07:14This island was historically significant for housing patients with contagious diseases
07:19such as typhoid mary, and it's since been reclaimed by nature, transforming into a sanctuary
07:24for water birds.
07:26North Brother Island's intriguing history dates back to the mid-19th century.
07:30Initially, it served no formal purpose until a lighthouse was constructed on its southern
07:34end by 1869.
07:36By the 1880s, the island became more prominent due to public health concerns in the growing
07:41city, and this isolated location made it an ideal site for a quarantine hospital.
07:45The islands were privately owned for nearly 200 years until 2007 when they were purchased
07:51by the federal government with support from the Trust for Public Land.
07:54Today, North Brother Island is an example of the resilience of nature.
07:58The overgrowth of trees and vegetation has enveloped the remnants of its past structures,
08:03creating an eerie yet captivating landscape.
08:06The island's status as a bird sanctuary has helped protect nesting grounds for the black-crowned
08:11night heron, a threatened species, and this protection has inadvertently preserved the
08:15island's historical fragments, offering a unique glimpse into New York City's wild
08:20and crazy past.
08:229.
08:23Macquarie Island Situated roughly midway between Antarctica
08:28and Tasmania, Macquarie Island is a remote and uninhabited landmass of immense significance.
08:34While never permanently settled by humans, the island has a rich history as an outpost
08:38for researchers who exploited its abundant marine life.
08:42Beyond its biological importance, it holds a unique geological title.
08:46It's one of the few places on Earth where rocks from the mantle are exposed above sea
08:51level.
08:52The island's formation is tied to the same tectonic process that created the Himalayas.
08:57Around 50 million years ago, the collision between the Indian Plate and the Asian supercontinent
09:01gave rise to the Himalayas.
09:04Although the resulting elevation here is modest, reaching only about 1,300 feet at its highest,
09:09the island's exposure of oceanic crust and mantle rocks is of great scientific value.
09:14Its biodiversity here on the island suffered greatly over the following decades due to
09:18human activity.
09:19However, as recent conservation efforts led by the Australian government have focused
09:23on eradicating evasive species and restoring the island's native habitats, these campaigns
09:28have seen some success, resulting in a more balanced and thriving ecosystem.
09:338.
09:35Balls Pyramid
09:36Balls Pyramid, the remnants of a massive volcano, juts about 1,800 feet out of the Pacific Ocean.
09:43It's one of the surviving above-ground remnants of the once-lost and recently-found sunken
09:48continent of Zealandia.
09:50Balls Pyramid lies about 14 miles east of Lord Howe Island and measures about a half
09:55mile in length and about 980 feet across, making it the tallest volcanic stack.
10:00It was discovered in 1788 by Royal Navy Lieutenant Henry Lidgebird Ball.
10:05The rocky spire was long thought to be devoid of animal life due to its harsh nature.
10:09However, in 2001, a group of scientists made a surprising discovery that changed this perception.
10:15The Lord Howe Island stick insect, which had not been seen alive in over 70 years, was
10:19found on Balls Pyramid.
10:22Known as land lobsters or walking sausages, these 6-inch-long insects were once common
10:27on the neighboring Lord Howe Island.
10:29They were presumed extinct after black rats introduced to the island when a supply ship
10:33ran aground in 1918 decimated their population.
10:37In 2001, scientists found a small colony of these huge stick insects living under a single
10:42bush 100 feet up on Balls Pyramid.
10:45Just 27 of the insects have been found on Balls Pyramid, and they're currently being
10:49bred in captivity to ensure their survival.
10:53Moving on to number 7, the Kermadec Islands.
10:56The Kermadec Islands are a remote subtropical island arc in the South Pacific, well over
11:01500 miles northeast of New Zealand and Tonga.
11:04The islands are uninhabited, except for a permanently staffed Raoul Island Station,
11:09the northernmost outpost of New Zealand.
11:11These islands form an arc that converge at a boundary where the Pacific Plate subducts
11:15under the Indo-Australian Plate.
11:18This subduction created the Kermadec Trench, a five-mile deep submarine trench.
11:23A few other volcanoes in the chain don't reach sea level, but instead have formed as
11:27seamounts.
11:28As you would expect with a chain of volcanic islands nearly untouched by man, the island's
11:32environment is particularly harsh and remote.
11:36But like so many others on this list, the Kermadec Islands are listed as an Important
11:39Bird Area by BirdLife International.
11:42The area also hosts rich habitats for cetaceans, with the humpback whale using the islands
11:46as migratory corridors.
11:49The islands are pretty harsh, but some beautiful creatures have been found a way to call them
11:53home, even killer whales.
11:55In 2015, three new tropical reef fishes were documented from the Kermadec Islands, after
11:59researchers combed through hundreds of hours of unused documentary footage.
12:03In 2016, a red velvet whalefish and an anglerfish were discovered in the waters around the islands.
12:10So naturally, visits to the Kermadec Islands are highly restricted by the Department of
12:13Conservation.
12:166.
12:19Dasen Island Dasen Island is an uninhabited island off the
12:23coast of South Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, located about 34 miles north of the capital
12:28of Cape Town.
12:29Historically, Dasen Island has been called various names, including Ilha Branca or White
12:35Island by the early Portuguese mariners.
12:37The name Dasen Island derives from the Dutch word das meaning badger or the African word
12:43desi, which refers to the rock rabbits encountered by the island's early discoverers.
12:48The island is geologically underpinned by fine-grained tourmaline granite with zones
12:53of biotite granite, and these ancient intrusive rocks are partially covered by sand and rounded
12:58boulders, which means landing here by ship can be pretty tough.
13:02Surrounded by reefs on all sides except the east, the island has been the site of numerous
13:06shipwrecks over the years.
13:07It's traversed by rocky paths, worn smooth by generations of African penguins coming
13:12ashore to roost and nest.
13:14In the 1950s, the island supported tens of thousands of penguins, but by 1975, the population
13:19was estimated at about 60,000 birds, and by the year 2000, the number had dropped to around
13:2456,000.
13:25The decline in penguin population here can be attributed to several factors, like the
13:29commercial exploitation of their eggs and the collection of guano, which the birds use
13:33to burrow and nest.
13:365.
13:37DECEPTION ISLAND Deception Island, located in the South Shetland
13:41Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula, is a fascinating place.
13:44It's a large, natural harbor, often seen as a safe haven, and it belies the island's volatile
13:50nature.
13:51This seemingly peaceful island is actually the caldera of an active volcano, which caused
13:56significant damage to local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969.
14:01Today, it draws over 15,000 tourists annually, despite its harsh environment.
14:06Its deceptive calm is rooted in its history.
14:09It was first spotted by British sealers William Smith and Edward Bransfield in January of
14:141820.
14:15The name Deception Island stems from its misleading appearance.
14:18What looks like a typical island is actually a ring around a flooded caldera.
14:23The island is the exposed part of an 18-mile-wide active shield volcano, which includes volcanic
14:29ridges and seamounts dating back to the Pleistocene era.
14:33The island's history of eruptions, most notably in 1839, 1967, 1969, and 1970, further underscores
14:40its persistent volatility.
14:43And due to the hostile environment, Deception Island has become a popular destination for
14:47adventurous tourists.
14:49By digging into the sands of the beach, one can create a warm bath, a peculiar contrast
14:54to the surrounding icy water.
14:56In certain volcanic areas, the air temperatures can soar to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and water
15:01temperatures can reach 158 degrees, which is enough to boil an egg.
15:05However, these conditions create a unique ecosystem, supporting a variety of rare plant
15:10species.
15:114.
15:12Cocos Island Cocos Island is a remote island in the Pacific
15:17administered by Costa Rica, lying about 342 miles southeast of Costa Rican mainland.
15:23It's known for its marine biodiversity.
15:25This island is hailed as one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world.
15:29Its underwater ecosystem is a treasure trove of marine life, where encounters with large
15:34pelagic fish are very common.
15:37Its coral reefs are among the most extensive in the Pacific.
15:40Legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who visited the island multiple times, once
15:44called it the most beautiful island in the world.
15:47Such high praise underscores the need for stringent protection.
15:51Despite the allure, Cocos Island is uninhabited, with only Costa Rican park rangers residing
15:56there.
15:57Visitors, including tourists and ship crew members, require permission from the island
16:01rangers to even go ashore.
16:03Overnight stays, camping, and collecting any flora or fauna or minerals are prohibited.
16:08The island is steeped in pirate lore and treasure legends.
16:12It's rumored that over 300 expeditions have searched for buried treasure on the island,
16:17including the hoard of the infamous pirate Benito Bonito.
16:20But the most famous treasure legend associated with this island is the fabled Treasure of
16:24Lima.
16:25In 1928, an army approached Lima.
16:28Viceroy José de la Serna allegedly entrusted a massive treasure to the British trader Captain
16:33William Thompson for safekeeping.
16:36Thompson and his crew murdered the viceroy's men and sailed to Cocos Islands, where they
16:40supposedly buried the treasure, shortly after they were captured by a Spanish warship.
16:45Today, treasure hunting on Cocos Islands is strictly prohibited by the Costa Rican government.
16:513.
16:52Bear Island Bear Island is the southernmost island of
16:56the Norwegian's Falbard Archipelago, discovered by Dutch explorers on June 10, 1596.
17:02The island was named after a polar bear spotted swimming nearby.
17:06Despite its intriguing history, though, and occasional commercial activities like coal
17:10mining, fishing, and whaling, Bear Island's harsh climate and barren landscape have made
17:14it inhospitable.
17:16Its history began with its discovery by Barents, who once named it Bird Island due to the abundance
17:21of seabirds.
17:23The island was used as a base for hunting walruses and seals from the early 17th century,
17:27and seabird eggs were harvested until 1971.
17:31The island's environment is harsh and uninviting.
17:34The only native land mammals are a few arctic foxes, and despite the island's name, polar
17:38bears are not permanent residents.
17:40The waters around Bear Island are home to ringed seals and bearded seals, which are
17:45preyed upon by polar bears.
17:47The island is rich in seabirds, making it an important bird area recognized by Birdlife
17:52International.
17:53It supports a large breeding population of northern fulmars, purple sandpipers, little
17:58auks, common guillemots, thick-billed guillemots, and black guillemots.
18:02Additionally, Bear Island serves as a migratory stop for pink-footed geese, barnacle geese,
18:07and long-tailed ducks.
18:09Despite the harsh conditions, though, the island's natural beauty and diverse wildlife
18:12continue to draw interest from the scientific community and adventurous visitors.
18:182.
18:19ALDABRA ATOL
18:21The Aldabra Atol, the world's second-largest coral atol, is located in the Indian Ocean
18:26and is part of the outer islands of the Seychelles, lying about 700 miles southwest of the capital,
18:31Victoria, on Mahe Island.
18:34Initially named by Arab seafarers for its harsh environment, Aldabra's history includes
18:38French and British colonial periods, with significant exploitation of its resources,
18:43particularly the giant tortoises.
18:46In the 1960s, potential military use threatened the atol, but international protests led to
18:50its protection.
18:51Today, Aldabra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains uninhabited by humans, save
18:57for a few scientists.
18:58The atol's giant tortoises are especially notable, with a population of about 100,000.
19:03These herbivores can grow up to 41 inches in carapace length and weigh as much as 700
19:09pounds.
19:10Females lay eggs from June to September, with incubation periods ranging from 70 to 160
19:15days.
19:16The juveniles, however, are vulnerable to predation by coconut crabs, land crabs, rats,
19:21and birds.
19:22The climate here is marked by the northwest monsoon season from November to March, which
19:26brings the heaviest rainfalls.
19:28Despite being a cyclone-prone region, its proximity to the equator makes cyclones pretty
19:32rare.
19:34Conservation challenges on Aldabra include invasive species and plastic pollution.
19:38In 2019, a significant cleanup effort removed large amounts of plastic waste, but an estimated
19:44500 tons still remains.
19:46Its isolation and harsh climate make it pretty tough for human habitation, but its ecological
19:51importance can't be overstated.
19:53The atol continues to be a vital site for scientific research and conservation, offering
19:58a glimpse into a unique and largely untouched natural world.
20:021.
20:04Devon Island Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island
20:08in the world, located in Baffin Bay in Nunavut, Canada.
20:13It's part of the Arctic Archipelago and the second largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands,
20:17with an area of over 21,000 square miles.
20:20It's as big as its own little country.
20:23The island's barren, Mars-like landscape has drawn considerable scientific interest.
20:28Despite its desolate environment, it supports some wildlife, including muskoxen, small birds,
20:33and mammals, mainly concentrated into the lowland area.
20:37The island experiences extremely harsh conditions, with temperatures during the short growing
20:40season rarely exceeding 50°F and winter temperatures plunging to negative 58°F. Precipitation
20:47here is minimal, contributing to that polar desert ecology.
20:51A significant feature of Devon Island is the Houghton Impact Crater, formed around 39 million
20:56years ago by a meteorite about one mile in diameter.
20:59The impact created a 14-mile-wide crater that was a lake for several million years, and
21:04today the crater is one of the world's best analogues for Mars, attracting scientists
21:09for Mars simulation projects.
21:11Since 1997, the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station and the Houghton Mars Project have
21:16utilized Devon Island for research, simulating conditions on Mars.
21:20In 2007, fossils of a seal ancestor were discovered on Devon Island, adding to its
21:25significance here.
21:26The Canadian Space Agency has also used the island for training astronauts such as Jeremy
21:30Hansen in preparation for potential future missions to Mars, the Moon, or even asteroids.
21:36And because the winters here on Devon Island are so harsh, researchers can only work in
21:40the crater during the still-cold summer.