So let's take a look at some of the most interesting places in the world that people can't (legally) visit unless they're researchers, scientists, military men, or daredevils.
1. Area 51, Nevada, USA
Via: flickr
Area 51 isn't only one of the most well-known forbidden places in the United States. It's also one of the most mysterious locations in the US. According to many of them, an alien spaceship crashed there, while according to others authorities use this place to examine the spaceship that, allegedly, crashed in Roswell, New Mexico (another super-mysterious place).
The official version states that Area 51 is the site used by the U.S. Air Force and CIA as a testing territory due to its remote location. If it's true (and it, probably, is), it's logical why the place is banned to enter for public.
2. North Brother Island, New York, USA
Via: nymag
Located in New York City's East River, North Brother Island is a 13-acre piece of land that became the last refuge to over 1 thousand people, whose passenger ship sank in its waters. Later it became home to a hospital for people with contagious diseases. The most well-known resident of it was Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary. She was the first documented person in the country to have typhoid fever and it's estimated that she infected over 50 people with it, 3 of whom passed.
Now the island is abandoned and it's home to a bird sanctuary with no possibility of access for people.
3. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Via: cntraveller
Technically, the Bhangarh Fort isn't completely banned to access, because tourists can visit it in the daylight and see this marvelous example of Rajasthani architecture. However, from sunset to sunrise, there is a strict ban to enter this place. Being declared a haunted place by the Indian government, this 17th-century fort is full of legends about ghosts and curses. Hearing some of them will certainly send shivers down your spine.
You might be wondering what happens to those, who dare to visit the Bhangarh Fort at night. In fact, no one knows it, because, according to locals, whoever tried to break the rule mysteriously disappeared after it.
4. Heard Island Volcano, Australia
Via: 5-five-5
One of the most remote territories in the world, Heard Island is considered an Australian territory, even though it's located between Madagascar and Antarctica. It's home to a wide range of animals, such as seals, penguins, and marine birds, as well as more than 40 glaciers.
There were a few reasons for closing the island to public. First, in 2000, researchers noticed a huge lava flow coming from the island's massive volcano called Mawson's Peak. Second, Heard Island is known for its poor weather conditions. And third, it's too remote to be safe. Judge it by yourself - it's located in a minimum two-week sail to the closest major landmass.
5. Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican
Via: forbes
Secret archives of Vatican serve as a storage space for a large number of documents relating to the Catholic Church. Some of these documents date as far back as the 8th century. Among others, there said to be papal account books, a letter from Michelangelo to Pope Julius II, a letter from Mary Queen of Scots written before her execution, and Martin Luther's excommunication document.
Most of the archive is located underground and it has 85 kilometers (53 miles) of shelves. It's forbidden to enter it for anyone, except for researchers with special permits to access. But even for them, there are multiple limitations to what documents they can view.
6. Ilha Da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Via: magnusmundi
Better known as Snake Island, Ilha da Queimada Grande is home to a huge population of snakes. According to some estimates, there's one snake in each square meter of the island. And they aren't just some harmless grass snakes that only frighten you with their look but can't cause you any damage. The snakes living in this island are world's most dangerous species. Among them is the golden lancehead viper whose venom melts flesh around the bite. Yikes!
So it's logical why the Brazilian government closed the island for visitors. Researchers who know how to deal with snakes can only enter under the condition that they have a doctor in their team.
7. Pravcicka Brana, Czech Republic
Via: flickr
Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, Pravcicka Brana is one of the most well-known attractions of the Czech Republic. Well, at least it used to be until 1982, because in that year it was forbidden to visit for tourists. The reason of the ban is simple: the more visitors come to the area, the more likely it is to collapse one day. So to reduce erosion of this beautiful landmark, tourists can now see it from afar, but not climb onto it.
Unfortunately, the erosion process continues even without "the help" of visitors and, according to geologists, the arch can still collapse in the future. But at least the ban decelerates the process and gives us more time to admire it.
8. Morgan Island, South Carolina, USA
Via: nhregister
A colony of approximately 4 thousand rhesus monkeys lives on Morgan Island, South Carolina, due to which it was nicknamed as Monkey Island. But, despite what you might think, the population of primates isn't native to the island. They were relocated there from Puerto Rico due to the spreading of herpes virus B infection. Before it happened, the island was uninhabited.
These days, people are prohibited by law to visit the island for their own safety, as well as for the safety of the monkeys. Only a handful of researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) can go there.
9. Lascaux Caves, France
Via: nationalgeographic
Not all UNESCO World Heritage sites are open to the public. For example, the Lascaux Caves in France have been banned to enter since 1963, because they were threatened by a series of fungal invasions due to a large number of visitors. This occasion revealed that any human presence is destructive to the caves. So to preserve 900 examples of prehistoric art dating back to the Paleolithic era, tourists can't come in there anymore.
These days, the caves are accessible only by security guards, but even they face certain limitations to visit. They can enter the caves once a week and spend only a few minutes there.
10. Mausoleum Of Qin Shi Huang, China
Via: nationalgeographic
Although the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangwas discovered upon unearthing the Terracotta Army in 1974, it hasn't been excavated yet. According to the opponents of excavation of the tomb, modern technologies can't prevent its destruction. For this reason, the access to it is still forbidden by the Chinese government that strives to preserve their cultural heritage and pays respect to the man buried there.
All we know about the mausoleum now is that it consists of a complex network of caverns underground, filled with the objects that, according to those who buried him, the emperor could have needed in the afterlife. Among others, it holds the reproduction of his army, known as the Terracotta Army, made of clay.
What's your take? Please do let us know in the comment section, and please don't forget to like and share with your friends too. Thank you.
1. Area 51, Nevada, USA
Via: flickr
Area 51 isn't only one of the most well-known forbidden places in the United States. It's also one of the most mysterious locations in the US. According to many of them, an alien spaceship crashed there, while according to others authorities use this place to examine the spaceship that, allegedly, crashed in Roswell, New Mexico (another super-mysterious place).
The official version states that Area 51 is the site used by the U.S. Air Force and CIA as a testing territory due to its remote location. If it's true (and it, probably, is), it's logical why the place is banned to enter for public.
2. North Brother Island, New York, USA
Via: nymag
Located in New York City's East River, North Brother Island is a 13-acre piece of land that became the last refuge to over 1 thousand people, whose passenger ship sank in its waters. Later it became home to a hospital for people with contagious diseases. The most well-known resident of it was Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary. She was the first documented person in the country to have typhoid fever and it's estimated that she infected over 50 people with it, 3 of whom passed.
Now the island is abandoned and it's home to a bird sanctuary with no possibility of access for people.
3. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Via: cntraveller
Technically, the Bhangarh Fort isn't completely banned to access, because tourists can visit it in the daylight and see this marvelous example of Rajasthani architecture. However, from sunset to sunrise, there is a strict ban to enter this place. Being declared a haunted place by the Indian government, this 17th-century fort is full of legends about ghosts and curses. Hearing some of them will certainly send shivers down your spine.
You might be wondering what happens to those, who dare to visit the Bhangarh Fort at night. In fact, no one knows it, because, according to locals, whoever tried to break the rule mysteriously disappeared after it.
4. Heard Island Volcano, Australia
Via: 5-five-5
One of the most remote territories in the world, Heard Island is considered an Australian territory, even though it's located between Madagascar and Antarctica. It's home to a wide range of animals, such as seals, penguins, and marine birds, as well as more than 40 glaciers.
There were a few reasons for closing the island to public. First, in 2000, researchers noticed a huge lava flow coming from the island's massive volcano called Mawson's Peak. Second, Heard Island is known for its poor weather conditions. And third, it's too remote to be safe. Judge it by yourself - it's located in a minimum two-week sail to the closest major landmass.
5. Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican
Via: forbes
Secret archives of Vatican serve as a storage space for a large number of documents relating to the Catholic Church. Some of these documents date as far back as the 8th century. Among others, there said to be papal account books, a letter from Michelangelo to Pope Julius II, a letter from Mary Queen of Scots written before her execution, and Martin Luther's excommunication document.
Most of the archive is located underground and it has 85 kilometers (53 miles) of shelves. It's forbidden to enter it for anyone, except for researchers with special permits to access. But even for them, there are multiple limitations to what documents they can view.
6. Ilha Da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Via: magnusmundi
Better known as Snake Island, Ilha da Queimada Grande is home to a huge population of snakes. According to some estimates, there's one snake in each square meter of the island. And they aren't just some harmless grass snakes that only frighten you with their look but can't cause you any damage. The snakes living in this island are world's most dangerous species. Among them is the golden lancehead viper whose venom melts flesh around the bite. Yikes!
So it's logical why the Brazilian government closed the island for visitors. Researchers who know how to deal with snakes can only enter under the condition that they have a doctor in their team.
7. Pravcicka Brana, Czech Republic
Via: flickr
Europe's largest natural sandstone arch, Pravcicka Brana is one of the most well-known attractions of the Czech Republic. Well, at least it used to be until 1982, because in that year it was forbidden to visit for tourists. The reason of the ban is simple: the more visitors come to the area, the more likely it is to collapse one day. So to reduce erosion of this beautiful landmark, tourists can now see it from afar, but not climb onto it.
Unfortunately, the erosion process continues even without "the help" of visitors and, according to geologists, the arch can still collapse in the future. But at least the ban decelerates the process and gives us more time to admire it.
8. Morgan Island, South Carolina, USA
Via: nhregister
A colony of approximately 4 thousand rhesus monkeys lives on Morgan Island, South Carolina, due to which it was nicknamed as Monkey Island. But, despite what you might think, the population of primates isn't native to the island. They were relocated there from Puerto Rico due to the spreading of herpes virus B infection. Before it happened, the island was uninhabited.
These days, people are prohibited by law to visit the island for their own safety, as well as for the safety of the monkeys. Only a handful of researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) can go there.
9. Lascaux Caves, France
Via: nationalgeographic
Not all UNESCO World Heritage sites are open to the public. For example, the Lascaux Caves in France have been banned to enter since 1963, because they were threatened by a series of fungal invasions due to a large number of visitors. This occasion revealed that any human presence is destructive to the caves. So to preserve 900 examples of prehistoric art dating back to the Paleolithic era, tourists can't come in there anymore.
These days, the caves are accessible only by security guards, but even they face certain limitations to visit. They can enter the caves once a week and spend only a few minutes there.
10. Mausoleum Of Qin Shi Huang, China
Via: nationalgeographic
Although the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangwas discovered upon unearthing the Terracotta Army in 1974, it hasn't been excavated yet. According to the opponents of excavation of the tomb, modern technologies can't prevent its destruction. For this reason, the access to it is still forbidden by the Chinese government that strives to preserve their cultural heritage and pays respect to the man buried there.
All we know about the mausoleum now is that it consists of a complex network of caverns underground, filled with the objects that, according to those who buried him, the emperor could have needed in the afterlife. Among others, it holds the reproduction of his army, known as the Terracotta Army, made of clay.
What's your take? Please do let us know in the comment section, and please don't forget to like and share with your friends too. Thank you.
