Islands are adorable little havens, surrounded by water with picturesque landscapes, and greenery; sometimes flaunting kaleidoscopic fauna, sometimes mesmerizing with their tranquility and serenity. Pondering what can be peculiar about them?
Well, you can’t be more mistaken! There are numerous peculiar islands of the world that will make you question your notion of the picture-perfect islands. The following islands are simply peculiar. They offer isolation and shivers. Let’s scroll, buddy.
Top 20 Peculiar Islands Of The World
We have compiled a list of the top peculiar islands of the world you should explore. Take a glance and see which one of these steals the spotlight for you. The following list consists of some bizarre islands with their bizarre names, so read on to discover why there are such peculiar island names.
- Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Chile
- Ilha de Queimada Grande or Snake Island, Brazil
- Socotra Island, Yemen
- Ōkunoshima Island or Rabbit Island, Japan
- Sable Island, Nova Scotia
- Palmyra Island, North Pacific
- La Isla de las Muñecas or The Island of the Dolls, Mexico City
- Vulcan Point, Philippines
- Christmas Island, Australian territory in Indian Ocean
- The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- Tashirojima Island, Japan
- Deer Island, New York
- Howland Island, Pacific Ocean
- Hashima Island, Japan
- North Sentinel Island, Andaman
- Poveglia Island, Italy
- Ramree Island, Burma
- Izu Island, Japan
1. Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Chile
Image Source
Scattered all over the island, there are 887 peculiar statues, over 3 stories tall, renowned as Moia statues. And they weigh a staggering 14 tons and measure massive 13 feet! Peculiar is the question of how did early Polynesian inhabitants accomplish such monumental task with their relatively primitive tools. They had no carriages or cranes to lift and lower the large stones out of which the statues are carved. There is no answer though, Well now you understand why this is the first one of all the bizarre islands on the list.
Specialty: 887 peculiar sculptures
Suggested Read: 25 Most Eerie Locations Around the Globe
2. Ilha de Queimada Grande or Serpent Island, Brazil
Image Source
Alright, envision a deadly substance, so potent that a single droplet has the ability to dissolve human flesh. Now imagine an isle teeming with these venomous creatures.
Frightening, isn’t it? Indeed, Serpent Island contains 5000 Golden Lanceheads, one of the most perilous and toxic snakes on earth. These reptiles dominate the island as its sole residents, occasionally encountering a tourist or two.
Specialty: populated by snakes
Suggested Read: 10 Enchantingly Captivating Homestays in Japan That Epitomize Japanese Hospitability At Its Finest!
3. Socotra Island, Yemen
Image Source
A mere glimpse at its captivating visuals, showcasing its unparalleled flora and fauna, conveys a great deal. Just to clarify, this island boasts of over 300 plants, 27 reptilian species, and six species of birds that are exclusive to this location. And if you stumble upon images of Socotra Island, rest assured that they are authentic and not fabricated. Therefore, Socotra Island falls under the category of “bizarre island names.”
Specialty: multiple varieties of plants and numerous reptilian creatures
Suggested Read: 20 Enigmatic Sites in India That Are More Peculiar Than the Bermuda Triangle
4. Isola La Gaiola, Italy
Image Source
The stunning island, adorned with charming cobblestone streets, is rumored to be hexed. In fact, a pair of interconnected islands linked by a rusty bridge, the island is believed to bring extreme misfortune to its proprietors; occasionally leading to premature demises. Abrupt self-inflicted deaths, cardiac arrests, vicious homicides, admission into psychiatric facilities, downfall from wealth, or incarceration. Clearly classified as an island with peculiar island monikers.
Specialty: a doomed terrain
Suggested Read: Do Not Believe the Existence of 11 Esoteric Locations Across the Globe
5. Ōkunoshima Island or Rabbit Island, Japan
Image Source
This eccentric island of the world was once the site of numerous toxic gas facilities. Now it has metamorphosed into a rabbit haven with countless rabbits leaping about the island. Some speculate that they are descendants of the population brought there for poisonous gas experiments. While others assert that they are somehow descended from heavenly origins to pay homage to the original inhabitants. Quite peculiar, isn’t it?
Specialty: a haven for rabbits
Suggested Read: A Compilation Of 59 Most Unusual Locations Around the World You Should Visit
Planning your vacation but feeling unsure about where to go? These travel tales assist you in discovering your ultimate journey ever!
Authentic travel stories. Genuine accommodations. Useful pointers to aid you in making the correct decision.
6. Sable Island, Nova Scotia
Image Source
Also recognized as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic”, Sable Island accommodates numerous shipwrecks and hundreds of untamed horses. The distinct spookiness of over 490 deteriorated shipwrecks enhancing the island while more than 450 untamed horses sprint around, is certainly not lost on us.
Specialty: interact with the shipwrecks and untamed horses
Suggested Read: 35 Finest Destinations To Explore In Japan That Make It Appear Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale
7. Palmyra Island, North Pacific
Image Source
Stunning shoreline, palm trees, gleaming water, stunning sunsets, colorful corals, mesmerizing dawns, and serene vacations. Quite a captivating place, isn’t it? OR NOT.
The image is tarnished with tragic fatalities, peculiar occurrences, pirate assaults, buried treasure, clandestine military exploitation, cursed land, and gruesome homicides. All these peculiar incidents have compelled even the most logical thinkers to ponder the authenticity of the curse.
Specialty: marred by tragedies and is under a curse
Suggested Read: Eerie Locations In Austin: Attempt Not To Skip A Beat At These 10 Most Hair-Raising Spots
8. La Isla de las Muñecas or The Island of the Dolls, Mexico City
Image Source
The previous inhabitant of the island, Don Julian, used to assert that a small girl had drowned in the rear canals of the island, whom he was unable to rescue. Since that day, numerous dolls and disassembled body parts of dolls began appearing on the shore of the island.
Now now, thousands of dolls, dangling from trees or various objects, some disfigured, some covered in cobwebs, some with missing body parts, some simply decapitated!
Proficiency: the enigma of thousands of dolls
Recommended Reading: 15 Nightmare Inducing Haunted Places In Japan For Daring Trip
9. Vulcan Point, Philippines
Image Source
Vulcan Point is recognized as the geographical equivalent to the 2012 film, Inception. You inquire why. Okay so, Vulcan Point is an isle, which is within a lake, which in turn is on an island, which is within a lake, which is on an outer island which is located in the Pacific Ocean. Phew..
Understood? Or do you need to go through it once again?
Proficiency: an isle in a lake that’s on an island which is in a lake and on an outer island
Recommended Reading: 14 Strange and Unconventional Retreats For The Ultimate Wanderer
10. Christmas Island, Australian territory in Indian Ocean
Image Source
The isle is named as such, as it was discovered on Christmas day in 1643. Inhabiting the island are 14 species of crabs, who scramble to exit their inland burrows during the rainy season to reproduce in the sea. Nearly 140 million crabs undertake this month-long perilous five-mile journey to the ocean, despite all the obstacles of dehydration, treacherous terrain, being crushed by vehicles and encountering large swarms of yellow ants.
Proficiency: multiple species of crabs
Recommended Reading: 15 Haunted Places In New Zealand That’ll Give You Shivers
11. The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru
Image Source
These buoyant synthetic islands are rather peculiar and marvelous in their own manner. They are indeed intertwined mats crafted from buoyant totora reeds which are fastened together with ropes. Locals utilize these islands as settlements to evade conflicts with neighboring tribes regarding the territories.
Distinctiveness: utilized to avoid conflicts between neighboring tribes
Recommended Read: 20 Best Destinations To Explore In Peru For An Incredible Vacation Experience
12. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Image Source
Now this doesn’t qualify as an island until you consider the magnitude of this garbage patch. It measures to be two times the size of the entire continental US. And what makes it more peculiar and disheartening is that it is composed of waste and particles that have been disposed into the water over the years. All of which have converged due to the oceans’ vigorous currents and towering waves. Remarkable strangeness indeed.
Distinctiveness: it measures to be twice the size of the entire US
Recommended Read: 8 Haunted Locations In Arizona That No One Even Dares To Discuss
13. Tashirojima Island, Japan
Also recognized as “Cat Island”, this petite island in Japan has barely 100 human residents but a substantial feline population. In order to regulate the mouse population, it is believed that cats were introduced in the 1850s. If you plan on visiting the island, make sure you stay in a feline-like cabin for a distinct experience altogether. It is available for overnight stays between April and November.
Distinctiveness: more cats fewer humans
Recommended Read: 35 Best Destinations To Explore In Japan That Make It Appear Right Out Of A Fairy Tale
14. Deer Island, New York
One of the American Thousand Islands, Deer island is situated in the town of Alexandria, in close proximity to Alexandria Bay in New York. It largely resembles any typical island. Here, you can find the notorious Skull and Bones undergraduate secret society of Yale University. And to your astonishment, many former politicians and presidents were members.
Specialty: skeletons and craniums
Suggested Read: 6 Haunted Places In Kashmir That You Should Not Visit Even In The Daylight
15. Howland Island, Pacific Ocean
Located in the Central Pacific Ocean, Howland Island is an uninhabited coral island. This one of the most peculiar islands of the world is perhaps best known as the intended landing site for Amelia Earhart on her around-the-world journey, but she never made it. Since then, the island has been under close observation. No specified time zone exists on the island due to its lack of inhabitants.
Specialty: Amelia Earhart was meant to land here but never arrived.
Suggested Read: 6 Spectacular Beaches In Fiji That Will Astonish You With The Ocean Views
16. Hashima Island, Japan
Commonly known as Gunkanjima, this deserted island was once one of the most densely populated places on the planet. The abandoned concrete structures are the main feature of the island. It is now gaining international attention, and discussions about the ruins have become common. Well, you might have already guessed that visiting the island can be quite an eerie experience.
Specialty: Deserted concrete structures
Suggested Read: Top 10 Haunted Places In Tokyo That Will Terrify You!
17. North Sentinel Island, Andaman
North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands. Home to the indigenous Sentinelese people, it is one of the most perilous islands in the world. The island belongs to the South Andaman administrative district. Entry to the island is strictly forbidden due to the potential danger of being attacked by the Sentinelese people.
Specialty: Entry is strictly prohibited due to the high likelihood of visitors being attacked by the Sentinelese people.
Suggested Read: 47 Most Amazing Things To Do In Andaman That Travelers Cannot Miss!
18. Poveglia Island, Italy
Poveglia Island is a small island that was used as a burial ground for the diseased and the sick. This practice began with the Romans, and later in 1922, a mental hospital was constructed on the island. Many bizarre experiments took place here. But guess what, the island is now uninhabited, and none of the locals have the courage to visit.
Specialty: a burial ground for the diseased
Suggested Read: 15 Most Haunted Places In America: Unique and Each With a Disturbing History!
19. Ramree Island, Burma
Another of the most peculiar islands in the world is Ramree Island. Infested with saltwater crocodiles, around 500 Japanese troops were devoured alive here during World War II. This incident is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Currently, the region does not support a viable population of crocodiles.
Specialty: Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its exceptional historic incident
Suggested Read: 37 Places To Visit In Myanmar For Your Dose of History And Adventure
20. Izu Island, Japan
The air on Izu island has the highest concentration of sulphur on earth due to volcanic activity. Inhabitants are required to carry gas masks at all times if they plan to visit the island. Due to this reason, for visitors, it can be a completely unique experience.
Specialty: Contains a significant amount of sulphur
Further Read: 16 Hidden, But Beautiful Islands In India For A Memorable Escape To Bliss
What are your thoughts on this list of 20 peculiar islands of the world? Do you believe they are worth visiting? If yes, Book your world trip today. We assure you won’t regret it.
Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respective owners. We strive to provide proper attribution to the original author, artist, or photographer whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us, and they will be promptly removed.
