Real Places On Earth Humans Are Banned From

There are places in this world that are off limits to us. These places range from sensitive areas to places that are reserved for the rich and powerful or simply too dangerous for anyone. Whatever the reason, we’ll probably never go there.

Vatican Secret Archives

I think I should have changed the title to Vatican Archives, since they’re not secret anymore. I mean we know they’re there. The Vatican not so secret archives contain a wealth of information, some of which is believed to be too sensitive for public consumption. Access is tightly controlled and only a select few scholars are allowed to view certain documents. When they say scholars, they mean people who have actually been to college. The contents of the archives have fueled many conspiracy theories over the years but the truth remains hidden behind the walls of the Vatican. It’s likely that the archives contain information on many controversial topics, from the church’s involvement in politics to the Vatican’s role in World War II. All I know is if someone has nothing to hide, well they hide nothing. As juicy as it sounds, we’ll probably never know unless someone can get past the librarian and the scary Swiss guard.

Lascaux Caves

The Francis Lascaux caves are a genuine masterpiece of prehistoric art, the paintings were made by Paleolithic people who lived in the region around 17000 years ago. The prehistoric paintings on the cave walls are so vivid that they appear to be just waiting to come to life. Some of the artwork which features bison, stags, and cattle is thought to be around 7300 years old. Although the Scott caves are a sight to behold, the public has been unable to visit them since 1963. According to archaeologists, the ancient artwork might be destroyed by humans.

Snake Island

Snake island is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world and as a result it’s off limits to the public. Not that anyone would want to go there anyway. Scary snakes such as the Golden Lance Headed Pit Viper are endemic to the island and its venom is potent enough to kill a human. Not only will its venom kill you, but the spot where you’ve been bitten may rot away. The island is a protected area and only a handful of scientists and researchers are allowed to visit each year. While it may be disappointing for some crazy people not to be able to visit the island, it’s important to remember that it’s essential to protect the local ecosystem and wildlife. In other words, they’re trying to protect the snakes from you.

North Brother Island, New York

This is a hospital where many people actually came to die and it was where a famous person with typhoid actually ended up staying. North Brother Island was once home to a hospital for people with contagious diseases, but today it’s an abandoned and scary bird sanctuary. The island is off limits to the public but it’s not hard to imagine why. This was actually the home of Typhoid Mary. Her real name was Mary Malone and she was confined to North Brother Island twice in her lifetime. Her first confinement was from 1907 to 1910 and her second confinement was from 1915 until her death in 1938. While it would be fascinating to explore the island’s history, it’s not worth risking one’s safety or sanity to do so.

North Sentinel Island

If you’re trying to escape disease, one place it will never find you is on North Sentinel Island, nor will anyone else. Why? Because the locals will probably welcome you with a sharp point of a spear or a blowgun or whatever they use for weapons over there. North Sentinel Island is a small remote island in the Indian Ocean that’s home to the Sentinelese tribe who are known for their hostility towards outsiders. The island is off limits to the public and even the Indian government has restricted access to the island to protect the tribe’s way of life. While it may be tempting to visit such an isolated and unique community, it’s important to respect their wishes for isolation and maintain their culture. Just ask the colleagues of the one person who tried to teach them about their religious culture. John Allen Shaw tried to do the unthinkable in 2018 and now he’s no more. The story is tragic and we hate to say it but they told them so.

Area 51, Nevada

If you’ve never heard of Area 51, then you’ve probably been living under a rock somewhere all this time. Area 51 is one of the most famous restricted areas in the world with many conspiracy theories surrounding its activities, or as these people refer to their theories the truth. The U.S military base is located in the middle of the Nevada desert and is definitely a testing site for experimental aircraft and weapons. While it’s unlikely that the base contains any Martians with big black eyes green complexions and love for probing, it’s clear that the US military wants to keep their activities secret from the public. It’s important to remember that National Security is a top priority for governments, whatever that means and some things must be kept confidential.

Surtsey Island, Iceland

Iceland, the land of Fire and Ice and new islands. Surtsey island is a relatively young remote volcanic island located off the southern coast of Iceland. It was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions in the 1960s and is now a protected area for scientific research. The island is off limits to the public but it’s not hard to understand why it smells bad. Actually, it’s because the island is a fragile ecosystem that needs to be protected from human interference. While it would be fascinating to explore such a unique environment, it’s important to remember that scientific research is essential for understanding of the natural world. Surtsey offers a unique place where the formation of new land and the establishment of life can be studied. The island is also protected by a special unit of ninja scientists or is that scientific ninjas.

Raven Rock Mountain Complex

The Raven Rock Mountain Complex is a secret underground nuclear bunker located in Pennsylvania but it doesn’t exist. It actually does but because it’s classified, it really doesn’t actually exist. The bunker is designed to provide continuity of government and military command in case of a major disaster such as a nuclear war like World War III. The complex contains many secret underground tunnels, bunkers, and command centers all of which are heavily fortified and protected. Access to the complex is restricted to only authorized personnel, which means you and I are not welcome there and we won’t make it through World War III but what do the government and elites care as long as they’re safe. It’s no secret that the US government has a number of secret bunkers throughout the country. Raven Rock is just one of them but what’s interesting about this particular bunker is that it’s located only a short distance from the nation’s capital. So while the rest of Washington DC might be in ruins after a nuclear attack, the government will still be up and running and happy in Raven Rock.

Mezhgorye, Russia

Mezhgorye, town is a secret military base located in the Ural Mountains of Russia. It’s believed to be the location of a massive underground bunker that’s designed to house top government officials and military leaders in the event of World War III. The base is heavily guarded and surrounded by barbed wired fences and armed guards. The exact purpose of the base is unknown but it’s believed to be the site of the Russian government’s secret command center. Some speculate that the base may even house a secret UFO research program. Access to the base is strictly prohibited and the guards aren’t exactly known for their hospitality.

Pine Gap Australia

Pine Gap surveillance space plays a crucial role in U.S military action around the world. Pine Gap is a Joint Defense Facility operated by the United States and Australians. The Base is located in the Australian Outback and is used for intelligence gathering, missile defense, and other classified operations. The base is said to be one of the largest and most important U.S intelligence gathering sites outside the United States. Despite its importance, very little is known about Pine Gap. The base is shrouded in secrecy and access to the facility is heavily restricted. The Australian government has never officially confirmed the existence of Pine Gap although it’s widely believed to be one of the country’s most important defense assets and if you do happen to stumble across Pine Gap during your kangaroo watching travels be prepared for a quick and decisive response from the bases heavily armed guards.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex ,Colorado USA

The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is a secret underground bunker located in Colorado. Of course it’s not a secret anymore, as the beans have been spilled. The complex was built during the Cold War and was designed to provide a secure location for the U.S military’s top command in case of World War III, basically a fancy and strong hole in the ground. The complex contains a number of underground tunnels, bunkers, and command centers, all of which are heavily fortified and protected. Access to the complex is restricted to only authorized personnel and the base is heavily guarded by armed security personnel. In fact the complex is so secure that it’s said to be able to withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb, The basisguards are known to be some of the most heavily armed and well trained in the world.

The Greenbrier, West Virginia USA

The Greenbrier was the cover for one of the best kept secrets of the Cold War. A luxury resort called The Greenbrier has a hidden bunker underneath it that would be ideal to hide during War III. It wasn’t made public until 1992, despite being constructed during the Cold War. a 25-ton blast door decontamination rooms and Congressional housing are all included in the bunker tour. The caveat is that access is severely restricted. The resort was initially constructed so wealthy visitors could unwind and rest while traveling through the Allegheny mountains. Since then it’s hosted a number of well-known visitors including royalty celebrities and 27 U.S presidents. Those presidents probably loved their vacations too much to consider staying in a bunker. Therefore the Greenbrier has what you need, whether you’re looking for an opulent getaway a look into the past or a place to hide from World War III, just keep in mind that access to bunkers is extremely restricted. Perhaps concentrate on the luxury in history instead or simply get elected presidents.