Photo: Pok Rie

Do deserted islands still exist?

There are more than 2 million uninhabited islands in the world. Some are protected as nature reserves, while some are owned by private individuals or groups. Some others remain inhabited due to political or religious reasons.

a-z-animals.com - No One Lives Here: 10 Uninhabited Islands From Across the World

What is a feminine way to sit?

The easiest way to sit like a lady is to sit upright in your seat with your knees touching. Cross one ankle over the other and angle your legs so...

Last updated Feb 2, 2018

Do I have childhood trauma that I don't remember?

Memory loss after surviving traumatic events is sometimes called traumatic dissociative amnesia. It can happen in people who experienced adverse...

Last updated May 3, 2022

Promotion

Uninhabited islands are islands with no permanent human habitations. They are sometimes used for agricultural and industrial purposes. Likewise, some of these islands are useful breeding grounds for various wildlife species. The big question is – Why is no one living on them? Truth is, uninhabited islands remain uninhabited for a reason –if not, people would have colonized them by now. There are more than 2 million uninhabited islands in the world. Some are protected as nature reserves, while some are owned by private individuals or groups. Some others remain inhabited due to political or religious reasons. Surprisingly, they’re not all completely creepy, some of them are literal “paradise on earth,” serving as great tourist attractions to people from all corners of the world. Aside from these, the reason why many islands are uninhabited remains largely unknown. Here’s a list of 10 notable uninhabited islands from across the world and why no one lives there.

10 Uninhabited Islands From Across the World

Devon Island

Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world. ©RUBEN M RAMOS/Shutterstock.com Located in Baffin Bay, Canada, Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world. With an area of 21,331 square miles, it is also the 27th largest island in the world —its area is just slightly smaller than Croatia! Devon Island was not always uninhabited though. People called this place home till the 1950s when the last permanent residents left. The Haughton Impact Crater, a huge hole measuring over 12 miles in diameter, was formed 23 million years ago on the island. Scientists found that the surface of this island had a striking similarity to that of Mars, and this has led them to use it as a site for equipment testing and to simulate travel missions to Mars. Devon Island is a vast and barren island in the Arctic with a cold and dry climate, making it hardly welcoming for anyone to inhabit.

Clipperton Island

Clipperton Island has had no permanent inhabitants since 1945. ©Shannon Rankin, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) / This image is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, taken or made as part of an employee’s official duties. An overseas state private property of France, Clipperton Island has had no permanent inhabitants since 1945. It is an uninhabited 2.3 square mile coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Following the escalation of fighting in the Mexican Revolution, many residents died, while the last surviving islanders – four women and seven children – were rescued by the U.S Navy. Except for occasional visits by fishermen, French navy controls, film crews, and scientific researchers, the island has been completely abandoned by its inhabitants since the end of World War II. Today, Clipperton Island has become a popular site for transmissions by amateur radio operators.

Ball’s Pyramid

Ball’s Pyramid is a 1,844-foot high rock island. ©Jon Clark / flickr – License Lying 12 miles southeast of Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean, Ball’s Pyramid is a 1,844-foot high rock island named after Royal Navy Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, who reported discovering it in 1788. The pyramid is positioned in the center of a submarine shelf and is surrounded by rough seas, making any approach difficult. Steep, eroded, and formed 6.4 million years ago, it is a remnant of a shield volcano and caldera. In 1986, all access to the island was banned by the Lord Howe Island Board. Later, the policy was relaxed to allow some climbing under strict conditions. It is interesting to note that the last known wild population of the Lord Howe Island stick insects can be found in Ball’s Pyramid.

Okunoshima Island

What is most useful to a homeless person?

What Do People Experiencing Homelessness Need Most Besides Shelter? Socks. Living on the street, many unsheltered people rarely take their shoes...

Last updated Aug 24, 2021

What are the 4 types of traps?

Types. Most of the traps used for mammals can be divided into six types: foothold traps, body gripping traps, snares, deadfalls, cages, and glue...

Last updated Dec 16, 2021

Promotion

A small island in the Inland Sea of Japan, Okunoshima Island is uninhabited by humans. ©iStock.com/thanyarat07 Often called Rabbit Island because of the numerous rabbits that roam the island, Okunoshima Island is uninhabited by humans. It is a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan that was used as a poison gas factory for much of the chemical warfare carried out in China during World War II. This whole scheme was kept a secret for so long until 1988 – when the Poison Gas Museum was opened in Okunoshima to educate people about the Island’s dreadful role in poison gas production. The ruins of the old forts and the gas factory still exist all over the island, but entry is restricted as it is too dangerous. Hunting the large population of rabbits on this island is forbidden, but tourists are allowed to interact with them.

Maldives Desert Island

Of the 1,191 islands in the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean, only 187 are inhabited by local Maldivian people. ©Timo Newton-Syms / flickr – License The Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean are home to about 1,192 islands grouped into 26 coral atolls, but only 187 are inhabited by local Maldivian people. Undoubtedly, there are more deserted, uninhabited islands than inhabited ones in the Maldives. Most of these islands are stunning beauties, with clear blue oceans and white sandy beaches. 88 of the uninhabited Maldives desert islands have been developed as tourist resorts for people looking for the perfect escape to enjoy the sheer tranquility of the beautiful islands. It’s an incredible island to add to your bucket list of places to visit!

Jaco Island

Jaco Island has a maximum elevation of 330 feet. ©iStock.com/urf

Lying just off the eastern end of the island of Timor, Jaco Island is a low-lying island with an area of 4.2 square miles and a maximum elevation of about 330 feet. Jaco Island is predominantly uninhabited as the locals consider it to be sacred land. However, tourists are allowed to visit for day trips, as well as for camping. It was made a part of the Nino Konis Santana National Park in 2007. It is an uninhabited island covered mainly by tropical dry forest, fringed by vegetation and sandy beaches. This island supports diverse populations of birds, making it to the list of Important Bird Areas.

Aldabra Atoll

Aldabra atoll is the second-largest coral atoll in the world. ©David Stanley / flickr – License The world’s second-largest coral atoll, Aldabra is one of the Outer Islands of Seychelles. It belongs to the Aldabra Group of Islands in the Indian Ocean. Its name was given for the atoll’s “harsh, sun-baked environment.” As there are no surface freshwater sources on Aldabra, early explorers majorly exploited the species of tortoises, turtles, and fishes, and did not inhabit the atoll. Aldabra is home to the world’s largest population of the Aldabra Giant tortoises – about 152,000 of them live here! After World War II, the exploitation of Aldabra for commercial use came to an end. Restrictions were then imposed on the number of people who could stay on the islands. As of today, the islands are predominantly isolated and difficult to access, and they have no permanent human residents.

Antipodes Island

What happens if you break the Golden Rule?

There's only one rule in this ancient, Roman city: The many shall suffer for the sins of the one. If someone commits a sin, all the inhabitants are...

Last updated Mar 5, 2020

What food should you stock up on for emergency?

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener. Protein or fruit bars. Dry cereal or granola. Peanut butter. Dried fruit. Canned...

Last updated Oct 24, 2020

Promotion

Antipodes Island is a natural reserve. ©Benjamin Hell / Creative Commons – License Antipodes Island is one of the main islands of the New Zealand Outlying Islands. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antipodes Island is a natural reserve and entry is extremely limited to the public. The Antipodes group has also been identified as an Important Bird Area because of its significance as a breeding site for several species of seabirds. With a cold climate and harsh winds, they are uninhabitable and inhospitable volcanic islands. This island is also known for several shipwrecks and deaths. In June 1999, two people lost their lives as a result of a wreck at the Antipodes.

Phoenix Islands

The Phoenix Islands is made up of eight atolls and two submerged coral reefs that lie in the central Pacific Ocean. ©Ron Van Oers / Creative Commons – License Part of the Republic of Kiribati, the Phoenix Islands is made up of eight atolls and two submerged coral reefs that lie in the central Pacific Ocean. The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is one of the world’s largest protected areas –covering over 157,000 square miles! It is home to about 120 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish. All of the Phoenix Islands are uninhabited, except for a few families who live on Kanton Island. There is evidence to suggest that people used to live on the islands in the past, but the hard life on these remote, isolated islands led to the extinction or migration of these settled people.

Tetepare Island

Tetepare Island is an area with high biodiversity and preservation values. ©This image is in the public domain because it is a screenshot from NASA’s globe software World Wind using a public domain layer, such as Blue Marble, MODIS, Landsat, SRTM, USGS or GLOBE. With pristine rainforests and rich marine life, Tetepare Island is known as an area with high biodiversity and preservation values. Numerous bird, mammal, reptile, and frog species have been recorded on Tetepare, including rare and endemic bird and bat species. It is the largest uninhabited island in the Southern Pacific and a part of the Solomon Islands. This island once had local residents who spoke the Tetepare language and had unique traditions. But the island was abandoned in the mid-19th century with the locals dispersing to neighboring regions of the Solomon Islands –for reasons still unknown. In 1995, landowners came together to form an association to conserve Tetepare for the benefit of all descendants and future generations. You can also read our article on the most uninhabitable places on Earth. We also have one on some unclaimed islands from around the world.

a-z-animals.com - No One Lives Here: 10 Uninhabited Islands From Across the World

How do you tell if your TV has a hidden camera?

Cameras on Smart TVs are often found at the upper edges of the TV, on the bezels. A small circle for the lens usually denotes these cameras. What...

Last updated Jun 9, 2021

What are humans supposed to eat naturally?

Although many humans choose to eat both plants and meat, earning us the dubious title of “omnivore,” we're anatomically herbivorous. The good news...

Last updated Nov 5, 2022

Promotion

Who slept the longest?

In December 1963/January 1964, 17-year-old Gardner stayed awake for 11 days and 25 minutes (264.4 hours), breaking the previous record of 260 hours...

Last updated Apr 25, 2020

Promotion

What is the Fae realm called?

Fairyland Fairyland (Faerie, Scottish Elfame, c.f. Old Norse Álfheimr) in English and Scottish folklore is the fabulous land or abode of fairies or...

Last updated Jan 13, 2021