These 25 Global Islands Have the Most Bizarre, Unbelievable Histories You've Ever Heard
Usually when you think about an island, you think of palm trees and a beautiful vacation. That is certainly not always the case. In fact some places have downright disturbing backstories.
This volcanic island has such high sulfur content in the air that residents are forced to keep a gas mask on them at all times...you know, just in case.
Fiji may now be an incredibly popular tourist destination, but when the first explorers found the island, the natives were known to cannibalize and torture both children and the elderly.
At one point a man hid away on this island, covering the whole thing in these dolls, thus the name which translates to "The Island of the Dolls."
The island is technically under the jurisdiction of India, but don't tell the locals. Natives of the island still control the island, and aren't exactly welcome to outsiders.
From above it looks like an island, but in reality, it's a giant sinkhole just off the coast of Belize. It's a huge destination for divers who apparently have no fear of getting sucked into the center of the earth.
Socotra is near Yemen and has some truly bizarre plant and animal life (like those weird, bloated trees). Many of the species that are found on this island cannot be found anywhere else.
This mining colony was once inhabited by imprisoned Chinese and Korean laborers.
Deer Island is the home to Yale's Skull and Bones society, a secret society that we assume uses this island for their super bizarre rituals that must exist.
Originally meant as a fort for the French military, this island became a prison when a fort at sea was made obsolete by advancing technology.
Located off the coast of Nova Scotia, this island is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. It's inhabited almost exclusively by horses and shipwrecks.
This island off the coast of Venice was once the home to a mental hospital where some not completely ethical experiments allegedly took place. It's been shut down, but probably not the most relaxing place to visit.
Originally built as a prison, and now used as a tourist attraction in the San Francisco Bay, many people claim the prison is haunted by a paranormal presence.
Travel to this island, 100 miles away from San Palo, Brazil has been banned by the Brazilian Navy. The reason? The whole island is full of deadly venomous snakes and not much else.
A large group of cats were brought to this island in the 1850s to combat a growing mouse problem on the island. Since then, the cats have multiplied quickly, and many of the humans have left, and there are now 6 cats for every person on the island.
During World War II, 500 Japanese soldiers were killed and then eaten by the crocodiles that infest it. The Guinness Book of World Records says this is the worst disaster caused by animals, not a record to necessarily be proud of.
Howland Island is where Amelia Earhart was scheduled to land on her flight around the world, and I think we all know what happened there.
During mating season a migration of 120 million crabs make their way from the jungle to the beach to get it on.
ÅŒkunoshima is inhabited by thousands of rabbits, all of which are decedents of some that were brought to the island for chemical weapons testing. So essentially, it's an island of chemically altered rabbits, or the setting of a truly cuddly horror movie.
It may look beautiful, but Palmyra was the site of a horrible murder in 1974, and many people that this tropic paradise has a general sense of dread and dismay, which is exactly what you want when enjoying a vacation.
Most well known for the giant statues known as Moai built by the ancient Rapa Nui people. There's been plenty of speculation but never any kind of confirmation how they were built and moved.
The people of Naples, Italy believe this nearby island is cursed, and with good reason too. Every owner of the home on the island has either ended up dead or completely destitute.
The Uros tribe decided that the best way to avoid issues with other tribes in the area was to simply create their own island. I love this idea, and would like to create my own city.
Not exactly an island, but this giant ball of trash dumped in the ocean that has merged due to ocean currents is twice the size of the U.S.
Vulcan point is an island that is found inside a lake which is on an island which inside a lake which is on an island. We don't suggest going here if you're high.