#WeirdWednesday – Places you’ll probably never be able to visit
Are you the adventurous type? Are you planning an exciting trip around the world? Maybe your goal in life is to visit every single interesting destination in the world? Unfortunately, that’s literally impossible.
The World — What you possibly don’t know is that there are a few places on this little blue rock of ours where absolutely no one is ever allowed to visit.
If you can manage it, you’re a lucky one! Here are some prohibited places that are just too dangerous or secretive to visit. But, if you do decide to go against all the warnings, tread lightly, as it may cost you your life!
1. Gruinard Island
About 77 years ago, during the Second World War, scientists from the United Kingdom secretly visited Gruinard to test the effects of a new kind of biological weapon that they were working on. This little island is located just two kilometres away from Scotland and has been deemed to be uninhabitable by human beings. The detonation of anthrax bombs killed nearly all of the wildlife on the island within a few weeks and, today, some traces of the deadly disease can still be found in the soil.
Although the island was decontaminated in 1990, no one has ever settled there, fearing the residual amounts of the Anthrax virus that may still be found there.
2. Club 33
Do you have half a million Rand just lying around? Do you like enjoying your R80 000 Glenfiddich 40 Year Whiskey without the noisiness of common folk around? Well, you might be interested in joining the extremely exclusive Club 33, situated in the heart of Disneyland, California. But wait, if the giant barrier of the entry fee, plus an additional R200 000 annual fee doesn’t put you off, you might have to wait more than a decade to get on the list – that’s if you get personally invited in the first place. Club 33 is a still mostly secret part of Disneyland, and nobody is even really sure how much it costs to join, or what happens when you’re inside. One thing is known, though: It’s the only place in the theme park that you’re allowed to drink alcohol.
3. The Secret Vaults of the Vatican City
The Vatican City is the smallest country in all of the world, but may be one of the most influential players in global politics. Why is this? It’s the home of the Pope and many other Catholic leaders, and is the place many spiritual institutions the world over look to for guidance. You wouldn’t be shocked, then, to find out that this is also one of the most well-guarded and secretive places in the world.
Though there are many places you won’t be allowed to go to in the city, there is one place above all that you won’t see, no matter how hard you try: The Secret Vaults of Vatican City.
Okay, maybe this has been written off as simple fiction or a big conspiracy theory by some … but there is something behind this. It’s already well known that the city houses many irreplaceable objects from ancient history. It’s also known that there are historical archives that not even scientists or historians are allowed to visit. That’s why many learned people believe that there is an even more secretive vault that may contain the secrets of the world, the universe and even life. Good luck finding it, though …
4. Snake Island
It’s not just that you’re lawfully prohibited to set foot on Ilha Da Queimada, but why would you ever want to?
This small island just off the coast of Brazil is home to thousands upon thousands of snakes! But, the real reason why this island is off limits to anyone without special military clearance is because it’s the only known home of the highly venomous Golden Lancehead Pit Vipers. These nasty biters are actually highly sought-after by poachers because of their rarity and high value. To protect this species, no one is allowed onto the island.
5. The United Nations Buffer Zone
Yes, that’s really the best name they could come up with for this stretch of dilapidated buildings in Cyprus. The terrible civil war on the island during the 1960s and 1970s between the invading Turks and the original residents of Cyprus forced the United Nations to intervene. But, the war proved far too volatile to stop without an unacceptable number of casualties. So, the United Nations Council decided on a physical separation of the two groups on the island. The so-called Green Line was drawn from Paralimni to Kato Pyrgos, creating a 180-kilometre stretch of land that no human being was allowed to enter. The result was that many towns were cut in half or forced to be evacuated completely. Today, those zones look more like the aftermath of an apocalypse.
6. The Pine Gap
You might be just as disappointed as I am to find out that this is not the home to an off-limits grove which grows the most delicious pineapples that the world has never tasted. Instead, this highly protected military installation in Australia is home to an enormous computer complex, antennas, satellites and who knows what else! Operated and protected by agencies such as the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office, this station is one of the largest deterrents against cyber terrorism in the world. Yeah, good luck using your computer to protect the world when the super-powered pineapples attack!
7. The Restricted Diamond Area of South Africa
It is said that you can walk around and pick diamonds up off the ground in the Sperrgebiet National Park, if only you were allowed inside.
Situated on the Namibian side of the border with South Africa, this 26 000km² area was cordoned off by the German government in 1908, giving sole rights to mining there to the German Diamond Company.
Today, the De Beers mining group controls the area, and it is the source of a major part of their annual diamond output.
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