The world is full of dangerous places and it turns out that some people are crazy enough to go to them voluntarily. You should probably use this article as a list of places you should avoid at all costs. But if you're one of those crazy people you could use this content as a vacation inspiration, it's up to you. So, Let’s dive into 8 the most dangerous destinations in the world.
1.Hawaii Volcano Tours
In Hawaii, a state so unique and far away you can bike or hike up volcanoes. It's a great way to sightseeing get some exercise but unfortunately, volcanoes can also kill you. You think the biggest danger from volcanoes comes from lava, but that's not the case. In 2007 the National Park Service had to temporarily shut down the bicycle tour due to three deaths and various injuries that occurred within a year.
The three deaths were due to people losing control of their bikes on the challenging downhill Trail, but people standing on solid ground without banks have died as well. Various deaths and injuries have been caused as a result of what's known as ‘’Lava Haze or ‘’Laze’’, which are volcanic gases that can swap areas quickly during periods of high wind.
This laze is made up of a combination of hydrochloric acid, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. None of which are things you want to breathe in a lot of; especially for people with respiratory conditions. If that's not enough of a reason to stay away, volcanoes can also lead to scalding hot ocean water and consent rocks flying through the air. So, if you're visiting a volcano, make sure to heed the warnings and be prepared.
2.Devil's Pool
If the name ‘’Devil's Pool’’ wasn't enough to keep towards the way, there's also a plaque nearby that reads ‘’he came for a visit and stayed forever’’. It was made to honor one of the now more than 20 people who have died at Devil's Pool in Zambia. It has been described as the ultimate infinity pool and it allows tourists to swim right on the edge and look out over one of the biggest waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls.
It's twice the height of Niagara Falls. You can only swim in Devil's Pool usually between September and December when the dry season reduces water levels and current enough for the pool to be accessible. The pool is separated from the falls by a natural rock barrier which creates a spot with a minimal current stopping swimmers from being carried away and allowing them to fool around a few feet from the edge.
The most famous dead at the Devil's Pool was that of a heroic tour guide who managed to save a tourist who started to fall but then fell over himself. If you ever go to Victoria Falls, consider looking at the water from a nice safe distance, possibly even while standing on dry ground.
3.Valley of Death
If Devil's Pool doesn't have an intimidating enough name for you, perhaps you would instead like to visit the ‘’Valley of Death’’ in Russia. Thanks to nearby volcano Kikhpinych, the Valley of Death has a high concentration of toxic gas that accumulates in The Valleys low lands without went to blow it away.
Locals estimated around 80 people have been lost to the valley. It's closed off to tourists for obvious reasons, but because we humans just don't know how to leave things alone, there are in fact ways for tourists to visit. You can view the valley and the beautiful landscape from an observation deck which was built at a safe distance away. If that doesn't cut it for you, you can take helicopter tours over the area and just hope you don't crash and end up in some bizarre scenario.
4.Yosemite Half Dome
Half Dome is a huge granite dome in Yosemite National Park, California. It's a famous rock formation in the park and it's pretty easy to see how it got its name. One side of Half Dome is a sheer rock face and the other three sides are round and smooth. The Crest is 4737 feet above the valley floor. It would be harmless if people would just leave it alone, but everyone knows that's not how people operate.
The Yosemite search and rescue team responds to about a hundred incidents each year from dehydration to too much more serious issues. Though it might look deceptively easy, it's not for the out of shape or faint of heart. Eight people have died hiking up the trail on half has done. As you can imagine by looking at Half Dome, it's a very challenging Trail. It takes a whole day to do, as you start at dawn and end around 12 hours later after walking around 15 miles. You ascend the entire thing and the last 400 feet is almost vertical, and cables must be used to complete the trail. Most fatalities and injuries are caused by slipping from rain or inadequate footwear. Rain can make the cables and rock slippery and there's even a section of Half Dome that's just called the death slabs. What often happens is people are greeted with clear mornings in the summer when they start to hike, but if it rains in the afternoon, even just a little bit, climbing the Dome can be extremely dangerous as the stubborn individuals carry on, when they should probably turn back. Here's a park ranger testing to how dangerous the cables can be during bad weather.
‘’My name is Steve Bumgarner. I'm a videographer for the park and I was shooting on the top of Half Dome on a July Morning when a thunderstorm rolled in very quickly. The threat of lightning was very real and everyone on the summit decided that they should go down. The problem was it began to rain at the same time. Once waterfalls on that route where the cables are, it becomes incredibly slick. The cables itself is very difficult to hold onto when it's wet, and the fear of falling led to a traffic jam on the cables. So, once we were stuck on the cables, we then became very exposed to the risk of lightning, and cables themselves became electrified. My metal frame pack began shocking me, people's hair began to stand up on end, and the fear in my gut grew very rapidly. I think that experience opened my eyes to how dangerous Half Dome can be and how serious the threat of weather is’’.
5.Running of the Bulls
When people say the running of the bulls, what they usually mean is the one held in Pamplona during the Festival of San Fermin held every year in honor of Saint Fermin. It began as a small local festival but his sense, of course, becomes a big tourism event attended by people from all over the world. Other towns in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Southern France have bull runs as well, but this is the one that you see in the news.
As you can imagine having a bunch of people run down the street while bulls chase after them is, in fact, quite dangerous. Every year somewhere between 50 and 100 people is injured. Since they started keeping track in 1910, 15 people have died during the run, 14 people have been killed by the actual bulls and one person got crushed in a big human pile up. So, sure 15 people in just over a hundred years aren't so bad. But do you want to risk it? Or even end up half-dead being done legally stabbed with a bull's horn… sounds pretty bad too.
6.Mount Hua Shan
To call the Mount Hua Shan a trail is a bit misleading since it's just planks bolted to the side of the mountain. You hook yourself to an iron chain that runs along the side of the mountain during the trip. Part of the way there aren't even any planks and you just have to step on divots that have been carved into the rocks.
While there are no official death statistics because the Chinese government is shady, rumor has it lots of people died there every year. If you want to visit a terrifying plank walk with it does keep official death statistics- consider El Caminito Del Rey, Spain. For about a decade the walkway fell into disrepair and parts of it were closed, but apparently, people didn't take the hint and they opened it up again. Five people died there between 1999 and 2000 causing many to view it as the world's most dangerous path.
7.Papua New Guinean Trails
Papua New Guinea is an incredible, almost unspoiled country with spectacular scenery. So it's no wonder why lots of people flocked there for hiking expeditions. Two Trails there are in particular ‘’the Kokoda Track’’ and Black Cat Track’’ are famously challenging. Both Trails feature spectacular jungles and mountains, and hikers can see historic signs from World War II along the routes as they were both areas of conflict between Japanese and Australian forces.
The Kokoda Track is a more popular trek running for 60 miles or 96 kilometers along; a single file trek from Port Moresby to the Village of Kokoda. Thousands of tourists make the trek every year. It takes anywhere from 4 to 12 days to hike the entire Trail including sections that you have to swim and climb. The nights are cold, the days are hot and humid with highly-likely torrential rain and tropical diseases such as malaria make this one challenging trail. Six Australian Trekkers have died from natural causes while attempting to walk the track over the years leading some people to call for mandatory fitness tests for all walkers before starting.
The Black Cat Trail is an extremely tough 6-day trek and recommended only for very fit and experienced trekkers. So, the whole thing would be challenging enough without the possibility of people with machetes coming out of the jungle at killing you. In 2013 a hiking party had both of their porter's killed by bandits known as Rascals and seven members of their party wounded. The attack was believed to be caused by a grudge related to money and hiring a porter from different Villages, but it still gives me second thoughts about signing up.
8.Death Road
The North Yungas Road also known as ‘’Death Road’’ or ‘’Road of Fate’’ is a road that leads from La Paz to Coroico-in the youngest region of Bolivia. It was dubbed the world's most dangerous road in 1995 by the inter-American Development Bank. In 2006 it was estimated that between 200 and 300 travelers died on it each year. It is mostly single lane and it follows close that drop down 2,000 feet.
Take into a count, most of the road is only 10 feet wide, which can leave little to no room for cars to pass each other on either side. From November to March rain and fog can lead to terrible visibility on the road and because they're even sections drenched by overhanging waterfalls, it's almost guaranteed that some of the routes will be extremely slippery and muddy.
As for local rules whoever is driving downhill never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge. Of course, because of all this craziness, it has become a destination for thrill-seeking tourists in their tours where you can bike death row. Before you sign up, note that 18 cyclists have died since 1998.
Would you like to take a risk and go for a vacation to these destinations?