WebUrbanist » 7 Island Wonders of the World: Most Amazing, Mysterious, Remote and More

7 Island Wonders of the World: Most Amazing, Mysterious, Remote and More

Amazing Island Waterfalls

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.

Picairn 2

Picairn 1

HMS Bounty Painting

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 1

Palmyra 2

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 Island

Bouvet Island Satellite Photos

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 de Cunha 1

Tristan de Cunha 4

Tristan de Cunha 3

Tristan de Cunha 2

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

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

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 5

Dubai 1

Dubai 4

Dubai 3

Dubai 2

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.

Want More? Check out These Other Amazing Wonders of the World:

7 Abandoned Wonders of America
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of America
7 Abandoned Wonders of the European Union
7 Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union
7 Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 (More!) Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 Underground Wonders of the World
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

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Posted by Urbanist October 28th, 2007
7 Wonders, Environment, Urban Images, Urban Videos, Various
Comments: 50

Comments

Comment from People in the Sun
Time: October 28, 2007, 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.

Comment from Justin
Time: October 28, 2007, 3:12 pm

I agree, leave island making up to Nature.

Comment from Moutain Man
Time: October 28, 2007, 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.

Comment from Matt
Time: October 29, 2007, 3:09 am

Wow - what’s the location of the waterfalls in that first photo at the top

Comment from Chris Hanson
Time: October 29, 2007, 8:18 am

Bouvet Island is also suspected to be involved in the peculiar Vela Incident.

Comment from danijela
Time: October 30, 2007, 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/blog/weblog.php?/weblog/2007/01/10/

correct me if i’m wrong…

Comment from giL
Time: October 31, 2007, 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.

Comment from Angela
Time: October 31, 2007, 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!

Comment from Webomatica
Time: October 31, 2007, 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.

Comment from WebUrbanist
Time: October 31, 2007, 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.

Comment from tikiloungelizard
Time: November 1, 2007, 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.

Comment from Kango Island Hopper
Time: November 1, 2007, 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.

Comment from matthew
Time: November 3, 2007, 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.

Comment from Mike
Time: November 4, 2007, 10:18 am

does anyone know where the first island is? the one with a lotta waterfalls.

Comment from fuzz
Time: November 4, 2007, 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!

Comment from Remi
Time: November 7, 2007, 8:53 pm

This is verrry neeeat! neat ^^

Comment from Brandon
Time: November 8, 2007, 2:13 pm

I love the Dubai island that is a world map. Even with the outline of the globe.

Comment from omar
Time: November 12, 2007, 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!!!

Comment from Melvin Parslow
Time: November 16, 2007, 10:48 am

Ok, and thanks. Friend,

Comment from aelanindasan
Time: December 4, 2007, 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

Comment from Hamilton
Time: January 16, 2008, 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.

Comment from Online Calculator
Time: January 22, 2008, 11:46 pm

I think I’m going to save up and buy a small island in 10 years.

Comment from hodge_poj
Time: January 29, 2008, 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.

Comment from Imperious Leader
Time: January 29, 2008, 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.

Comment from iain
Time: January 30, 2008, 4:41 pm

no st kilda? That should surely be here.

Comment from Wayne
Time: January 30, 2008, 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.

Comment from ktpty
Time: February 6, 2008, 3:22 pm

Valentine magic

Comment from Rev
Time: February 28, 2008, 11:12 am

As far is I know the flevopolder is still the largest man made island in the world…

Comment from croatiansensation
Time: February 29, 2008, 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.

Comment from Sasa
Time: March 12, 2008, 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

Comment from coolio
Time: April 7, 2008, 4:17 pm

my coolio is cool

Comment from finn22
Time: April 25, 2008, 9:56 am

i think the world is cool.

Comment from amanaa x
Time: April 25, 2008, 9:58 am

I think the worldd is guuuuuud x

Comment from cheese head
Time: April 27, 2008, 5:37 pm

wow thats amazing
I LIKE CHEEEEEEEEESE