Do you sometimes desire to get away from all the noise and just chill? While most of us are satisfied with a weekend trip to the mountains, others just pack up and move in with the wild. Life in these places isn't easy, but it is free of some of the complexities of modern-day life. Here are the top 20 most isolated communities at the end of the earth.
1. Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territory
The volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha boasts a population of 258 people with only nine different last names. The locals speak English, but have also invented their own dialect with words derived from Scottish, St Helenian, South African, American, Italian, and Irish, languages. This is reflective of their various places of origin. Located in the South Atlantic, South Africa is the nearest country to this British Overseas Territory. It is said to be the most isolated community in the world. To get there, you have to time your visit to one of the three ships that make nine trips from Cape Town each year - a journey of 1,732 miles.
2. Cape York Peninsula, Australia
The northernmost point of Australia, Cape York is a peninsula that's crawling with crocodiles. The strange place is owned by five indigenous communities, who also manage its tourism. Cape York is a 28-hour drive from Cairns, and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is a must. In 1606, Dutch sailor Willem Janszoon, on board the Duyfken, reached Australia as its first known European explorer. He docked at the Cape York Peninsula. Besides his visit, there has been little foreign contact as much of Cape York Peninsula remains frontier wilderness.
3. Oymyakon, Russia
This remote place is considered the coldest inhabited place on Earth. Its 500 residents live in darkness for 21 hours a day with an average temperature of -58 degrees. It is impossible to grow crops there. The inhabitants live on reindeer meat, frozen fish, and horse blood with macaroni, according to WIRED. Indoor plumbing is also tricky since the water freezes, so most use outhouses. Getting there can take several days. From Moscow, a flight to either Yakutsk or Magadan is the closest you can get, both are over 560 miles away.
4. Pitcairn Island, British Overseas Territory
These isolated communities live 3,300 miles from New Zealand, which serves as the island's administrative headquarters. No plane or helicopter has ever landed there, so getting in requires a 32-hour yacht ride. Not much is known about the island's first settlers. European mutineers of a ship called "Bounty" discovered the remains of a Polynesian civilization including stone gods, burial sites, and earth ovens in 1790. The mutineers then settled there. In 2004, six local men were convicted of committing on the population of 50.
Quite a sobering story to ponder over as we climb up. Remember to share your thoughts on the comments section.
5. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Even though the oasis is such an isolated place, the inhabitants' Siwi language and Amazigh culture have been preserved. Located in the middle of Egypt's Western Desert, it is not a common stop for tourists. However, if you can brave the five-hour desert bus-ride from Cairo, you can enjoy locally-grown dates and olives, swim in Cleopatra's Bath mineral spring, and stay at the famous desert eco-lodge, built out of mud and salt. Hit the thumbs up sign if you can.
Who would have known you can live 9000 feet up? Come with me for a visit to the top 10 isolated communities?
6. Socotra Island, Yemen
This is one of the most middle-of-nowhere places on Earth, thanks to its weird-looking Dragon's Blood Tree. Located on Yemen’s Gulf of Aden, Socotra Island hosts over 800 rare species of plants, a third of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the florae do look a bit extraterrestrial, but their odd shapes reflect how they've adapted to the island's tropical desert climate. A Unesco World Heritage Site, Socotra Island has 40,000 inhabitants, but only built its first road in 2011. The habitation is about 400 miles from Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, from which flights are available.
7. Coober Pedy, Australia
This isolated place is also known as the "opal capital of the world." Gem-quality opal was first discovered there in 1915. The mining industry continues to sustain the small town of 3,500 people, a two-hour flight away from Adelaide. The District Council of Coober Pedy estimates the population to be 2,500. The interesting fact, is this community has approximately 60% of the people being of European heritage, having migrated from southern and Eastern Europe.
Which of the isolated places surprised you the most? Would you like to visit any of them? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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