The 9 most dangerous places in the world

Whether closed to the public or open to the most adventurous among us, these 9 places are the most dangerous in the world!

Perhaps you’re one of those crazy people who like to jump off cliffs, ride roller coasters, push the accelerator pedal to the limit or set off alone into faraway lands? Whether it’s a natural penchant for adrenalin, an attraction to risk and novelty, or a quest for extremes to feel alive, your thirst for danger knows no bounds? We’ve got you covered! Did you know that our planet is full of dangerous places that will perfectly satisfy your insatiable need for dopamine?

More or less accessible, they will awaken your desire for thrills. For those of you with a weak stomach, fear of heights, fear of speed or a taste for routine, you’d best pass. Discover 9 of the world’s most dangerous places.

1. Mount Hua, China

This sacred Chinese mountain is consistently on the list of the world’s most dangerous places!

Leave behind the urban madness of China’s megacities and head for the mythical slopes of this sacred mountain. Can you see the microscopic paths carved into the cliffs? The miserable wooden planks strewn with branches that serve as hiking trails? Are we talking about those feverishly suspended installations at over 2,000 meters altitude? These staircases, carved out of the rock, entirely vertical? Well, it’s this way!

Of course, if you survive this few-hour climb, you’ll have seen some absolutely unique landscapes and panoramas!

2. The Devil’s Pool, Zimbabwe

If you’re bored of splashing around in a public pool, why not take a dip in the world’s scariest pool?

Our second dangerous spot is at the very top of Victoria Falls, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. This is the Devil’s Pool, which takes you to the edge of a precipice over a hundred metres high. Sure, it’s high, but it’s also torrential! The volume of water can rise in the blink of an eye and, potentially, send you into a fatal plunge.

3. The Yungas Route, Bolivia

AKA, the Death Road! At least there’s no doubt that it’s one of the most dangerous places on earth! The idea? A three-hour bike ride down an extremely vertiginous path cut right into the Bolivian cliffs.

You start at an altitude of 4,750 metres and finish at 1,200 metres. Then you go from five to twenty-five degrees. Then you’re off at 70 km/h. The trail is barely more than three meters long. Below, clouds cover the valley and mist sometimes obscures the landscape. The road twists and turns, narrows, the indentations and damp ground take you by surprise.

You’re on the edge of the void, trying to keep control of your handlebars while your fingers get cold, and above all, you have to stay focused at all times. A second’s inattention and you plunge, joining thousands of daredevils who never had a second chance.

4. The gateway to hell, Turkmenistan

This small landlocked republic in Central Asia is famous for its incredible gas crater near the village of Darvaza. It is one of the most dangerous and fascinating places in the world. In fact, it’s a crater, spitting fire all the time, right in the middle of the desert! The light emanating from it is so bright that this « gateway to hell » can be spotted from miles away.

If you get too close to the glowing precipice, before you burn to death at the bottom of the hole because the sand has crumbled beneath your feet, it may be a gust of burning wind that burns you to a crisp. But if your guide (no, you don’t go there alone) is skilful enough to allow you to get a little closer to the crater, you’ll be stunned by the flames that tirelessly lick the rock, by the thud at the bottom of the hole and by the smell of sulphur.

5. Queimada Grande Island, Brazil

You’ll need strong nerves to penetrate this frightening and very inhospitable place! Welcome, or not, to Queimada Grande Island…

This little jewel of greenery, peacefully nestled off the Brazilian coast, is actually one of the most dangerous places on earth. It’s literally overrun with snakes! But not harmless snakes, no, no! It’s infested with Jararaca-ilhoa: THE most venomous viper in the world. One bite and an hour later, you’re out of this world. The venom of these snakes is downright capable of dissolving human flesh. What’s more, with a density of one snake every square meter, don’t expect to go head-to-head with a Jararaca-ilhoa.

So, let’s be clear, unless you’re a world-renowned biologist or scientist, we’ll never let you set foot on this island.

6. The Kjeragbolten, Norway

Pulling yourself up onto a rock suspended almost magically above a bottomless fjord? You bet! Kjerag Rock is an emblem of Norway. But it’s also one of the most dangerous places on our list! To get there, you first have to tackle a tough hike. Right from the start, you’ll have to climb the rocks, sometimes in the company of drizzle or snow, making the walls particularly slippery. At the end of the path: the famous Kjerag rock.

Barely taller than you, this stone is wedged between two cliffs. To the left, a waterfall, to the right, a breathtaking natural fjord that glides to the horizon, below, emptiness, emptiness, emptiness. It’s a tradition among the more adventurous: climb this ridiculous rock and remain suspended in nothingness, against the backdrop of a spectacular landscape.

7. Lake Natron, Tanzania

It’s pink, it hovers in the heart of one of the world’s most beautiful nature reserves, but it’s a veritable bird graveyard! Lake Natron in Tanzania is one of the most dangerous places in the world, both for humans and animals. Only three species can survive here. Why should this be? Because this lake is salty and extremely alkaline. Its pH is almost equivalent to that of ammonia. At the slightest contact, the water inflicts excruciating pain and literally petrifies bodies.

That’s why, when the water level drops, you can see calcified bird corpses, frozen in time and detail. Not to mention the unbearable odors of sulfur that emanate constantly. So, who’s up for a dip?

8. Death Valley, USA

The American West is a key destination for road-trip enthusiasts. Every year, many travellers set foot in its almost lunar landscapes and monumental geological formations. You’d never know it was one of the most dangerous places on the planet.

And yet, even if Death Valley is on the classic itineraries, keep in mind that its name is no accident! It owes its morbid name to its particularly inhospitable characteristics for man and most animal species.

This desert valley holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth: almost 57 degrees! So, who’s up for stopping by the roadside for a digestive stroll down the oven corridor?

9. Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia

Now here’s the coldest city in the world. Let’s just say we’re not going there for a honeymoon or a relaxing vacation. As soon as you step off the plane, you’re greeted by a -50 degree thermometer!

In fact, just imagine a whole world built inside your freezer. Even worse! The air burns, the cold cuts, the jaws freeze, the whole landscape is frozen in ice, nothing is buried because the ground is frozen to a depth of two hundred and fifty meters. Nevertheless, if you’re a tad agoraphobic, are preparing for Everest or love unspoilt landscapes, there’s no doubt you’ll love this last of the dangerous places.