Indulge your need for adventure by scouting out some of the remotest places on earth.
5 of the Most Remote Places on Earth
The Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau,- often referred to as the ‘Roof of the World’- is home to Namtso Lake at a dizzy altitude of 15 479 feet. Years ago, pilgrims would walk across the frozen water at the end of winter and live on one of the lake’s islands, returning only when the lake froze over again. (Fortunately this is no longer allowed!) Tip: If you’re in the area and looking for civilisation, it will take you three weeks (20 days by foot and one by car) to get to the closest city.
Oymyakon
Extreme weather seems to go hand in hand with remote places. One such spot is Oymyakon, tucked away in the Oymyakonsky District of the Sakha Republic of Russia. The 500-strong population has been exposed to temperatures of -67.8C. The ground is permanently frozen….
Havasu Falls
It’s a strenuous hike to the Havasu Falls in the Havasupai American Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but apparently well worth it – the colours are breathtaking. Very apt considering Havasupai means ‘people of the blue-green water’. It takes four to seven hours each way to the falls from Supai, the capital of the Havasupai Reservation, and you will descend 2 000 feet into the canyon.
Easter Island
In the south-eastern Pacific Ocean, some 6 000km from Chile’s west coast and around 6 475km east of Tahiti lies Easter Island, one of the world’s most remote, inhabited islands. Famous for its 887 extant monumental statues or moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people, it was named a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1995.
Ittoqqortoormiit
Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote town in Eastern Greenland, has a population of less than 500 and temperatures that generally hover well below freezing. The brightly painted homes provide a colourful contrast to the harsh environment – one way to add brightness to the day! To get there you’ll need to fly from Reykjavík in Iceland, to Nerlerit Inaat, and then catch a chopper for the final 38km.
by Ingrid Wood