(Check out our complete collection of Underwater and Oceanic Oddities.)
Did you know that one in every ten people in the world lives on an island? There is even a word for a “craze or a strong attraction to islands” - islomania! From places of paradise to the last refuge of pirates each of these islands has set at least one world record and some have stories that are truly stranger than fiction. From the greatest and grandest to the most remote, mysterious, deadly and least populated, here are seven amazing islands from around the world.
The Pitcairn islands are best known for being the home of the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and the Tahitians who accompanied them, an event retold in numerous books and films. Due to infighting, famine and disease, many of the initial compliment of the island perished. Today, Pitcairn boasts only 50 inhabitants (from nine families) and is also notable for being the least populated jurisdiction in the world. The wreck of the HMS Bounty is still visible underwater off the shores of the main inhabited island, and the Tahitian/European descendants speak a unique language: a mix of Tahitian and English known as Pitkern.
Palmyra is the quintessential combination of classic island stereotypes. It is simultaneously a kind of desert island paradise as well as a mysterious source of superstition. Its long strange history includes buried pirate treasure, tragic deaths, shipwrecks, military use and abandonment and a recent grizzly double-murder of a vacationing couple. Some believe the island to be cursed, but even rationalists are astonished at the number of bizarre happenings that have plagued the island since its discovery in the 1700s. It remains currently the only unorganized incorporated U.S. territory.
Bouvet is the remotest uninhabited island in the world. Is roughly 75 square miles of surface is mostly covered by glaciers and and very little survives on the island aside from moss, seals, seabirds and penguins. However, the island has been at the center of some peculiar mysteries. An early discoverer of the island documented second island nearby that was never seen again. In the 1960s an abandoned lifeboat was found on the island, though nothing was ever seen of its passenger. In the above satellite images, it can only be picked out by spotting disturbances in the weather patterns.
Tristan da Cunha is the remotest group of inhabited islands in the world, thouand of miles from South America and South Africa deep in the Atlantic Ocean. Among other strange native species, the Inaccessible Island is home to the smallest living flightless bird. Only 272 people live on the islands. The islands have seen there share of troubles, having been blamed for dozens of shipwrecks over the centuries. More recently, the populace had to be temporarily evacuated in the 1960s during a volcanic eruption that destroyed multiple buildings on the island.
Bishop Rock holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of smallest island in the world. An amazing lighthouse, built in 1858, is the only thing stands on this tiny island off the coast of Britain. The first lighthouse erected on the island was washed away before it could be completed. The current lighthouse has managed to survive currents and winds for well over a century. In historical times, convicted criminals were left with bread and water on the island to die.
Nauru is the smallest independent island country in the world. This Pacific island is only 8 square miles, and is the third smallest country in the world next to Monaco and Vatican City. Once its natural reserves of phosphate were depleted, this once-rich island nation first became a haven for money laundering and then had to seek aid from Australia. The island has since become a way station for asylum seekers looking to enter the land Down Under.
Dubai is home to an increasingly infamous set of awe-inspiring man-made islands, by far the largest in the world. One would almost have to be living on an island oneself to have not seen or heard of this project. These islands, in the shape of everything from a palm to the world itself, constitute the most massive land-moving operation of all time. Dubai has recognized that oil, its original source of wealth, will only last for so long. With islands like these and a thriving tourist industry around them there is no doubt that Dubai will outlast its oil supplies.
More Underground, Underwater and Other Wonders of the World
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7 (More!) Underground Wonders of the World
7 Underwater Wonders of the World
7 Island Wonders of the World
7 Engineering Wonders of the World
7 Urban Wonders of the World
7 Wonders of Modern Green Design and Technology
Amazing Abandoned Cities, Places and Property of the World
7 Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 Abandoned Wonders of America
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of America
7 (Even More!) Abandoned Wonders of America
7 Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union
7 Abandoned Wonders of the European Union
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71 Comments
October 28th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I think there’s something so sick, so perverted, so hedonistic about these man-made islands.
I wouldn’t mind spending a few years there, though. You know, some quality family time.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I agree, leave island making up to Nature.
October 28th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I lived and worked in Puerto Rico. It was a great experience, but I did sometimes feel out of the loop with respect to what was happening in the USA.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Wow - what’s the location of the waterfalls in that first photo at the top
October 29th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Bouvet Island is also suspected to be involved in the peculiar Vela Incident.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:19 am
i think top picture is not from an island but national park - plitvicka jezera in croatia. i found identical picture on the web
http://www.ursispaltenstein.ch.....007/01/10/
correct me if i’m wrong…
October 31st, 2007 at 3:46 am
Nature is a great thing and I believe humanity should do everything in its power to preserve it. Yet, there is no way of escaping from progress and development as well as from “big” money and its consequences and the Dubai island is a great example. Unless we want to live in a poor world we need to allow wealth.
I agree this is especially annoying given the number of people that don’t have enough food to put in the mouth of their children. I guess the Dubai World Island is how tomorrow’s terror targets would look like. Food for thought.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:56 am
I am from the caribbean islands and they hold such rich history. I love being in the States, but I missed the tranquility, blue waters and organic foods!
October 31st, 2007 at 10:22 am
Interesting stuff - but I’m agreeing with some of the commenters above - I would think there are enough natural islands in the south pacific that people could go see.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:24 am
Too true (@Webomatica and others). It seemed impossible not to include those man-made islands in a list of world island wonders, yet they certainly are the odd-man-out of the list. Dubai is an amazing place, but it is also excessive to be sure, and that wealth could be used for better purposes.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:51 am
re: Mountain Man’s comment—Yeah, living on an island can leave you a bit “out of the loop” but that’s exactly what I liked about living on St. Croix, a few miles to the SE of Puerto Rico, which he mentions. The rest of the world often seemed so peacefully far away.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I totally understand the magnetic pull of islands. . . . maybe it’s because I grew up in a virtual dessert (West Texas). Ever since, I’ve been drawn to the water, and have lived on or near it for over 20 years. My domestic island faves are Martha’s Vineyard and Hawaii; my overseas picks are Capri and the often-overlooked Ile du Roi in France.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:41 am
The first picture isn’t from an island at all its from Plitvice National Park in Croatia. Went there last summer, it was amazing.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:18 am
does anyone know where the first island is? the one with a lotta waterfalls.
November 4th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
where’s rotto? you can get booz delivered to your door without ID and there’s no cars allowed on the island. pah!
November 7th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
This is verrry neeeat! neat ^^
November 8th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I love the Dubai island that is a world map. Even with the outline of the globe.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:56 am
if anybody knows where in the world that first picture is on the top please tell me, the one with the waterfall!!!
November 16th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Ok, and thanks. Friend,
December 4th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Im from the Solomon islands located in the pacific. And there is no better feeling then belonging to an island. we also have some of the most remote island populace. the islands decsended from ancient seafarers who roam the pacific sea from east asia about hundreds of years ago. life at the islands are usually very s;pw relax pace , even thought hey have some of the most fascinating heirarchial societies. searh for Tikopia, Sikaina or Lord How Islands…
great list too
January 16th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Great information! I recently spent some time on Samothraki, home of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods where Alexander the Great’s parents are purported to have met during a ritual initiation.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I think I’m going to save up and buy a small island in 10 years.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:37 am
What about Oak Island off the coast of Nova Scotia? Site of one of the biggest mysteries in the world. For 300+ years people have been trying to solve it, and no one can.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
If there was really a “recent grizzly double-murder” the police should try looking for a huge, fierce, North American or Siberian bear. If there was a recent grisly double-murder, then the local police have to look for a human being.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
no st kilda? That should surely be here.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
The third picture you have for the Dubai islands is not from Dubai. It’s from Doha, Qatar. It’s called The Pearl.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Valentine magic
February 28th, 2008 at 11:12 am
As far is I know the flevopolder is still the largest man made island in the world…
February 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
those are PLITVICE in croatia- your picture is inaccurate. Croatia has thousands of islands off it’s coasts that are uninhabited. however Plitvice are of national park status. and they ARE amazing.
March 12th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I think they are artistically beautiful. Also we all know that amount of money can be put to better use, but it’s not Dubai that’s spending that money recklessly it’s the millionaires who want they’re own island. Dubai is taking advantage of that and making money off them. That surrounding area looks useless otherwise so why not find a new source of income for the country. Environmentally I think it’s better, most of those people probably have little or no respect for nature. It’s better they ruin a man made island and not tear down a natural one to build their mansions :X
April 7th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
my coolio is cool
April 25th, 2008 at 9:56 am
i think the world is cool.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I think the worldd is guuuuuud x
April 27th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
wow thats amazing
I LIKE CHEEEEEEEEESE
May 30th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
everything that so good
August 6th, 2008 at 12:39 am
WONDERFUL…
VIEW MORE PICTURES….
I LVE THE WORLD SO MUCH….
GOD IS REALLY GOOD…
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 am
Those man made Islands they are very interesting ! but it seem to me they all built on water. Not to mention the abandoned cities and towns, it’s surprising that a lot of us don’t know about these things.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I like to now your island thes is like my island san andres island colombia.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:36 am
its too much amazing with too crazy scene of course it makes mood fresh
January 29th, 2009 at 3:08 am
I’m looking for a more social, warmer place to live than here in Holland, I find myself drawn to islands for its tranquility, swimming waters and natural lifestyle but fear I will miss the buzz of the big city and get too lazy. What do you think? Can I have both?
March 11th, 2009 at 9:13 am
it would be crazy if those man made islands were nature made i dont know what i would think if they were but it would really be somthing
April 30th, 2009 at 6:34 am
The author forgot to mention the famous Manhattan island.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:49 am
i think all those wonderful islands show us that God is almighty……..
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