The most extreme places on earth. The highest waterfall. Mountain trail El Caminito del Rey, Spain

Do you know where the most extreme places on the planet? Read to the end and find out.

Ennedi Plateau, Chad, Africa

Ennedi is a sandstone mountain plateau in the Republic of Chad, surrounded by the sands of the Sahara. The Ennedi mountain plateau is one of the wonders of nature. Getting here is very problematic due to a number of factors: lack of developed tourist routes, thriving banditry among local population who lives in poverty, political unrest. Previously, Ennedi could only be reached by joining caravans, but now 4x4 safaris have become popular here.

But all difficulties fade into the background when you get to the Ennedi plateau. Sandstone cliffs up to 120 m high, natural arches, balancing stones, ancient petroglyphs on the rocks. Dozens of climbers from all over the world tried to conquer the arches on the Ennedi plateau for a long time, and only in 2010 a group of climbers led by Mark Sinnott managed to climb the highest of them.
Ennedi Plateau, Chad, Africa

Danakil, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Africa

Danakil is a desert in northern Ethiopia and southeastern Eritrea. The desert area is 100,000 km2. It is inhabited by the Afar people, who are mainly engaged in salt mining. High temperatures, low humidity, toxic fumes, earthquake faults, and sulfur lakes make this place dangerous for tourists to visit.

However, despite all these dangers, the Danakil Desert is a popular tourist attraction. Those who dare to visit Danakil are presented with magnificent views depicting a cosmic, extraterrestrial landscape.

Chernobyl, Ukraine

Everyone has heard about the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which happened on April 26, 1986. Measures to eliminate the consequences of the explosion nuclear explosion began immediately after the accident and continue to this day.

After the radiation level in the area of ​​the plant decreased, the Chernobyl exclusion zone became open to the public. The first tourists appeared in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone in the mid-90s, when radiation levels dropped significantly.

Dozens began to appear travel companies, who were involved in organizing excursions to the Exclusion Zone. In 2002, a UN report was published, according to which it was now possible to stay in the exclusion zone without much harm to the human body. Starting this year, the number of tourists visiting the Exclusion Zone began to grow steadily, by an average of two thousand people per year. Forbes magazine in 2009 named the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant the most “exotic” place for tourism on Earth.

Still, this place remains dangerous and when visiting the Exclusion Zone you must follow a number of rules:

It is prohibited to move around the territory without a guide.
Visitors are required to wear only closed, body-fitting clothing.
It is not recommended to smoke or eat outdoors.
It is not recommended to touch buildings and structures, as well as plants.
It is not recommended to sit down or place any objects on the ground.
It is not recommended to drink water from ground sources located within the exclusion zone.
It is strictly prohibited to remove or remove any objects from the exclusion zone.
When leaving the zone at the checkpoint, radiation monitoring is carried out. In case of high levels of radiation contamination, items are subject to confiscation. Despite the decrease in radiation levels, visiting the exclusion zone is still associated with health risks. Tour organizers are not responsible for the health of visitors, so before entering the exclusion zone you will be required to sign your agreement with this clause.

Vostok Station, Antarctica

Vostok Station is a Russian Antarctic research station. This unique station was founded on December 16, 1957. It is located in the center of the continent, among ice and snow. The thickness of the ice cover under the station is 3700 m.

Vostok station is a symbol of inaccessibility. The station is located 1253 km from South Pole and 1260 km from the sea coast. The Polar Night lasts here for 120 days - from the end of April to the end of August. The population of the station does not exceed 40 people.

Low temperatures, an altitude of more than three kilometers above sea level, complete isolation from the world in winter time make it one of the most inconvenient places on Earth for a person to stay. Despite the most difficult conditions, life in the “East” does not stop even at −80 °C. Scientists are studying a unique subglacial lake, which is located at a depth of more than four kilometers.

Tiger Monastery, Thailand

Tiger Monastery - Buddhist monastery in western Thailand. Founded in 1994 by Abbot Phra Acharn Phusit Kanthitharo as a forest monastery and refuge for wild animals, including several tigers.

It was possible to get close to these ferocious predators, feed them and pet them only in the Tiger Monastery. The first tiger cub was brought to the temple in 1999. The monks left the beast, and he got along well with people even as an adult. More than 130 tigers lived in the temple. Despite the tameness of tigers, accidents have occurred. Time after time, tigers scratched tourists.

But on May 30, 2016, Thai police and representatives of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation began removing all the tigers from the monastery. During this operation, about 40 dead tiger cubs were discovered in the veterinary office of the monastery. The monastery was accused of trading tigers on the black market.

Mountain trail El Caminito del Rey, Spain

El Caminito del Rey is located on the side of a sheer cliff in the village of El Chorro in Malaga, Spain. It was recently opened after reconstruction. They closed the same dangerous path in the world after the death of 5 people who tried to walk along it in 2000.

The structure consists of concrete and crutches driven into the rock and railway rails. The road is located at a very large distance from the ground, its length is 3 kilometers, its width is only 1 meter.

The trail was constructed between 1901 and 1905 to transport construction materials for power plant workers at Chorro and Gaitanejo Falls. It received its name “Royal Path” after the visit of King Alfonso XIII, who walked along it to the site of the inauguration of the dam in 1921. Over time, the metal supports and concrete structures deteriorated and the trail required reconstruction.

Despite the official ban on visits, there were extreme sports enthusiasts who still walked along the Royal Trail, using safety equipment. There are videos on the Internet about this extreme route.

The trail opened on March 29, 2015 and was featured in the Lonely planet guide's list of the best new attractions.

Volcano Villarrica, Chile

Villarrica is the most active volcano Chile and one of the most active on the South American continent. It is located in the Southern Andes in the National Park of the same name, overlooking the lake of the same name.

The height of Villarrica is 2847 m. It has rich history recorded eruptions. The volcano is part of a caldera - a vast basin - that was formed 3,500 years ago. In addition to Villarrica, there are about 30 cinder cones and volcanic faults in the basin.

The Villarrica volcano attracts tourists not only with its beauty and power, but also with the fact that you can ski and snowboard here.
Active volcanoes are extreme places to visit in their own right, but for $10,000 you can make your volcano visit even more extreme and bungee jump from a helicopter directly above the volcano. The service includes six days of hotel accommodation in the city, meals, a helicopter flight over Villarrica and equipment.

Everest, Nepal/Tibet

Every year climbers from all over the world try to conquer the most high mountain in the world - Everest. The height of the peak is 8848 meters. When climbing, climbers face the following difficulties: lack of oxygen in the air, low temperature, hurricane winds, threat of avalanches, etc.

The first official expeditions appeared here in the 20s of the 20th century. The peak was first conquered in 1953 by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary. At various times, 287 people died while trying to climb to the top, but despite this, every year there are new people who want to conquer Everest.

Pamplona (Encierro), Spain

The small town of Pamplona is calm and quiet place. But once a year, Pamplona becomes one of the most extreme places on the planet - during the week of encierro.

Encierro is a Spanish national custom that consists of running away from bulls, cows or calves specially released from a pen. The holiday became known throughout the world after E. Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta).”

The most famous encierro in Spain takes place in the city of Pamplona during the fiestas of St. Fermin (from 7 to 14 July daily in the morning). The entire race route (from the paddock to the arena along city streets) is fenced off with wooden barriers made of bars, which are quite easy to climb onto (or crawl under). The length of the route is about 1 km. Anyone can run: from members of local bullfighting clubs to foreign tourists.

Many runners fall and are often seriously injured. The most a large number of casualties were recorded in 1924. That year, 13 people were killed and 200 wounded. In 2009, a 27-year-old man died.

Animal rights movements hold protests against encierros, including in the form of "human encierros".

Queimada Grande Island, Brazil

Queimada Grande, or Snake Island, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 35 km south of the coast of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The area of ​​the island is about 0.43 sq. km.

The island is called snake island because it is infested with thousands of snakes. This is a real serpentarium under open air. There is not a single house or hotel here, only an empty autonomous lighthouse. One of the most dangerous snakes on the planet lives here - the spear-headed island Bothrops (Bothrops insularis), which has one of the most powerful poisons. A Botrops bite causes rapid tissue necrosis, acute renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral bleeding and death in 7% of cases.

On the island, the main inhabitants have no natural enemies, so this perfect place for their prosperity. Snakes breed here all year round; one female can produce up to 50 snakes.

There is no other living creature on the island, since any animal immediately becomes prey for snakes. They feed mainly on migratory birds, which calmly perch on tree branches, unaware of the mortal danger awaiting them.

Once upon a time, snakes lived on the mainland, but people set fire to the jungle and drained the swamps. Gradually the snakes were forced out onto the island. According to experts, Queimada Grande and the mainland were connected by a narrow isthmus, along which the snakes crossed. As a result of geological processes, the isthmus sank into the sea, and the island was at the complete disposal of poisonous settlers.

The snakes have repeatedly defended their rights to the island. They drove out the banana planters in the 19th century and killed 3 lighthouse keepers. In the end, people got tired of fighting the scourge and the Brazilian government declared Snake Island a restricted area. This is the only case known in history when a snake community completely displaced humans from the territory.

Despite the prohibitions, boats with tourists sail off the coast of the island who want to gaze at the piece of land infested with poisonous snakes.

IN modern world it's hard to surprise anyone with your photos against the background Eiffel Tower or Egyptian pyramids– these popular attractions have long lost the effect of novelty. However, there are still many truly extreme destinations for tourism. Today we will talk about 10 amazing places on Earth, having visited which you can then spend your whole life surprise friends with stories.

Antarctica

North Pole

Climbing to the top of Chomolungma is an activity for the strongest and most experienced athletes in the world, who have been preparing for this achievement for many years. However, almost anyone can experience this event without long training and hardships, because there are tours to base camp on Everest.

North Korea

This type of entertainment for residents of the Navarre region in Spain became known to the whole world thanks to the work of Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Pamplona for a long time and wrote the work “The Sun Also Rises” about this city.

Exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Afghanistan

Way of Saint James

A space flight

Price a flight on this ship is 200-250 thousand dollars. However, commercial flights from Virgin Galactic have not yet begun.

Hitchhiking to Vladivostok

Of course, not all people are ready to make even one of these trips. But this does not mean at all that the road to the End of the World is closed to them. After all, you can travel without even getting up from your couch. For example, using the Google Street View service, which allows you to get even into.

Unlike other planets in the solar system, Earth supports a wide variety of life forms. The protective atmosphere, the planet's position in the solar system, magnetic fields and the water cycle are the elements that make the Earth ideal for life to exist on it. But different places The conditions for life on Earth are very different, and not everywhere on this planet is it possible to live at all. The movement of tectonic plates, natural erosion, the movement of the Earth around its own axis and around the Sun are factors that lead to the formation of many extreme places on Earth.

Nevertheless, such places can attract millions of tourists every year with their beauty and unusualness.

So, 10 most extreme places on Earth:

— 1 —

Dead Sea, between Israel and Jordan

Lowest place

The Dead Sea is also called Salty sea, located on the border of Jordan and Israel. The surface of this salt-rich lake is 423 m below sea level, making it the lowest point on the Earth's surface. It is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world with a salinity of 34.2%.

The depth of this hyper-mineralized lake is 377 meters, the water contains a significant concentration of minerals. The unusual concentration of salt allows visitors to swim in the Dead Sea. This extreme salinity of the Dead Sea creates very harsh conditions in which living organisms cannot live.

As its name suggests, this extreme place cannot be welcoming. But this is where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world prefer to relax and receive treatment. Salt dead sea considered very good for health.

— 2 —

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Tallest waterfall

Angel Falls in Venezuela is the most... high waterfall in the world, its height is 979 meters, which is about 15 times higher than the height Niagara Falls. This extreme place is located on the territory of the largest national park in Venezuela - Canaima. It was discovered in 1933 by the American pilot James Angel. He was the first to fly over the waterfall in an airplane, and the waterfall was named after him.

During the rainy season, Angel splits into two separate falls, and visitors can feel tiny particles of water spraying from the falls from several kilometers away. It's interesting that in summer season The water in this waterfall evaporates before it even reaches the ground.

— 3 —

Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean

The most remote inhabited island

Tristan da Cunha is a group of volcanic islands located in the southern part Atlantic Ocean. Main Island also called Tristan da Cunha in this group, it is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. This remote island is part of a British overseas territory. In 2009, the total population of Tristan da Cunha was 275 people.

All land on this island is communally owned. Outsiders will not be able to buy land in this extreme place on our planet. The economy of Tristan da Cunha is mainly based on agriculture and fishing. Also, part of the population works in the small tourism industry within the island.

— 4 —

Dallol, Ethiopia

The hottest place

Dallol in Northern Ethiopia is the hottest inhabited place in the world. Between 1960 and 1966, a record high annual temperature of 35 degrees Celsius was recorded here. Daytime temperatures in Dallol will rise to 46 degrees Celsius almost every day. The presence of heat sources other than the Sun - hot springs and natural exhaust gases from the Earth - makes Dallol the hottest occupied territory in the world. Near this extreme place there is a volcanic crater, which also causes heat waves to spread in all directions.

— 5 —

Atacama Desert, South America

Driest place

The Atacama Desert stretches 1,000 kilometers along the Pacific coast of South America. It is the driest non-polar place on Earth. Temperatures in the Atacama Desert range from 0 to 25 degrees Celsius.

The annual rainfall in this desert is less than 1 mm/year. This extreme location is 50 times drier than Death Valley. Additionally, the Atacama soil has very little organic matter but high levels of non-biological oxidative chemicals.

Have you ever wondered where the most extreme place on Earth is? This is a different place for everyone. If it seems dangerous to someone, it may seem normal to another and vice versa. So, get ready to see 25 of the most interesting and extreme places on Earth that will surely take your breath away.

1. Teahupoo, Tahiti

Catch the heaviest and big wave you can do it here. Surfers from all over the world flock to this place to try their hand at tackling the deadliest wave on Earth. The waves coming off the coral reefs can seriously damage you if you're an inexperienced beginner, so don't go it alone!

2. Vostok Station, Antarctica

The coldest place on Earth may not be best vacation for the whole family, but some may find it interesting. At the Vostok station, the temperature can reach minus 87 degrees Celsius, so even there are relatively few scientists there in winter - only 13. In summer, their number reaches 25 people.

3. Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest and only waterfall in the world with a continuous free fall. Its height is 984 meters. This is three times higher than the Eiffel Tower.

4. Dead Sea

Located between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth - approximately 430 meters below sea level. In addition, the Dead Sea is the saltiest in the world.

5. Mount Thor

Named after the Norse god of thunder, Mount Thor is powerful and truly worthy of its name. In addition, it has the most vertical slope.

6. Gansbaai, South Africa

Great white sharks love to hang out in this place. And that's where documentaries are made about them. If you're brave enough, you can rent a boat and go diving in shark-infested waters.

7. Krubera Cave, Abkhazia

Located near the Black Sea, Krubera Cave is the second deepest cave after Verevkina Cave. The entrance is located at an altitude of 2197 meters above sea level. Initially, the passages to the cave were narrow and small, but many excavations in the process widened them and made it possible to go inside. In recent years, the cave has been called the “Everest” of speleology.

8. Atacama Desert, South America

If you like a dry climate, then head to the Atacama Desert, located in Chile. You won't find a drier place. Research conducted by NASA scientists has successfully proven this. Even more surprising is that such a dry climate is replaced by relatively cool air. During the day it can be +40°С, and at night + 5°С.

9. Taumatafakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaifenuakitanatahu, New Zealand

New Zealand, in addition to the extraordinary landscapes, can also be proud of the fact that here is one of the hills with the longest name in the world. But the locals simply call it Taumata. Literally, it translates as: “The top of the hill where the man with the big knees Tamatea, known as the earth eater, rolled down, climbed up again, swallowed mountains and played the flute for his beloved.” This place name is worth visiting New Zealand.

10. Mariana Trench, Guam Island

Mariana Trench considered the deepest point Pacific Ocean. Only a few were able to dive into its depths. Located at a depth of 11 kilometers, it will certainly appeal to all extreme sports enthusiasts and scuba diving enthusiasts.

11. Queimada Grande, Brazil

Better known as Snake Island, Queimada Grande, located near São Paulo, is the most... dangerous place on the ground. It is here that the largest number of deadly poisonous spear vipers are concentrated. Because of this, tourists and anyone else are prohibited from setting foot on the island. If bitten, death occurs in less than an hour. Although access directly to the island is prohibited, Brazilians make money from excursions to the island by boat. Tourists swim to the maximum safe distance, from which they can see many snake balls lying on the rocks. Those who are especially brave pay local residents who will take them to the island itself in special clothes. But it’s still not worth the risk.

12. Oymyakon, Yakutia

Russia is also rich in extreme places. One of them is the village of Oymyakon in Yakutia. This is the coldest place on Earth. The temperature at the “cold pole,” as it is called, can reach -88°C (!). At the same time, people live here permanently. But life here is incredibly dangerous and difficult.

13. Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

No matter how much you love extreme sports, no one would want to be near this volcano during its eruption. This is the most active volcano in existence. During one of its long eruptions, it destroyed about 200 buildings.

14. Dallol Volcano, Ethiopia

This same volcano is distinguished not only by unearthly, alien landscapes, but also incredibly high temperatures. Moreover, it is not just high, but consistently high. On average reaches +35°C throughout the year.

15. Volcano Chimborazo, Ecuador

There is a widespread belief that highest point on Earth is the peak of Everest. It is true, but partly. If we consider the distance not from sea level, but from the center of the Earth, then this volcano is much higher than Everest. By the way, it is always located above the clouds, so you can enjoy its scenery from the windows of an airplane.

16. Chernobyl, Ukraine

Chernobyl recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The release of tons of radioactive waste at a nuclear power plant in 1986 made one of its once prosperous cities, Pripyat, a ghost town, and life in it was impossible for any living creature. Despite this, several thousand pensioners remain living in the city, and tourists visit the city, visiting only some of its places that are least contaminated with radiation. But visiting Chernobyl is still not recommended.

17. Mount Washington

In winter, Mount Washington's magnificent scenery is thoroughly covered with snow. In fact, it is one of the snowiest places on Earth. On average, about 16 meters of snow falls here per year.

18. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The world's largest salt marsh with a length of 7242 km. Otherwise it is called “the mirror of God.” Indeed, the sight of such beauty takes your breath away. The salt marsh sparkling in the sun shimmers with bright colors, changing its color throughout the day. However, it is not easy for tourists to get to it on their own. There is no road to the salt marsh, and in winter it becomes unusually cold.

19. Bishop Rock, England

Most small island with the largest building on it. The lighthouse, built here in 1858, is 51 meters high and still helps ships find their way.

20. Tristan da Cunha, UK

The most remote inhabited island on Earth, but not the most the best place for relax. There are no hotels or restaurants here, and they do not accept credit card. It takes seven days to get to the island by boat, since there is no airport here either. The 300 people living on it are engaged in fishing and seal hunting.

21. North Korea

There is perhaps no more extreme place than North Korea. What makes it so is the totalitarian regime that reigns in the country, the labor camps, the complete isolation of the country and the lack of access to the Internet. Do you want to take a break from gadgets, smartphones and computers? Then you definitely need to visit the DPRK.

22. Pico de Loro, Colombia

A good place for surfing. The place is not so popular and quite remote. In order to get there, you will need the help of a guide. Don't forget to bring food, drinks and camping gear.

23. Mong Kok, Hong Kong

The area located to the West of Hong Kong is famous for being the most densely populated place on the planet with a density of 130,000 people per square kilometer.

24. Iron Mountain, California

California's Iron Mountain is heavily polluted by acidic rivers, salt and bacterial slime released by local mines.

The concentration of pollution and acid in the water can even burn skin and dissolve tissue. Just how dangerous this is is confirmed by a robot sent by NASA to the mine, which never returned.

25. Orfield Laboratory, Minnesota

The quietest place on Earth, which was even included in the Guinness Book of Records. It's so quiet here that you can hear your own heartbeat. As a rule, people here last 20 minutes at most.

Tired of ATVs, parachutes and diving? Are neither the caves nor the mountains breathtaking? Then go to the most extreme places in the world to test the strength of your nerves and get unforgettable experience!

Tianmen Mountain, China

“Whoever has visited Mount Tianmen has touched heaven,” they say in China. These are not just words: on the mountain there is a cave called the Gate to Heaven, which fulfills the wishes of thousands of tourists and pilgrims. You can climb to the Gate along the longest road in the world cable car or by car, but you can guarantee the fulfillment of your desire only if you reach the top on foot. For this purpose, a road called the “Path of Terror” was built along Tianmen Mountain. Not only do you have to overcome 999 steps to the top, but you also have to endure some fear! The most extreme places on the path to Heaven's Gate are located at an altitude of 1400 meters, when you cross a narrow transparent glass bridge.

Despite the bravado at the foot of the mountain, few daredevils dare to cross the 6-centimeter-thick glass bridge. Tourists often experience fainting or nervous breakdowns halfway through the journey. Those who have walked the road unanimously declare that it feels like you are soaring over an abyss.

Flight of the Gibbon, Pattaya

The jungles of the Chompo Nature Reserve near Pattaya are the most extreme places for tourism in Thailand. Here travelers will experience an unusual and spectacular adventure: a walk over the jungle called “Flight of the Gibbon.” From a bird's eye view, about 50 meters above the ground, you can make a path about 4 kilometers long: through platforms on branches, balconies in the treetops and suspension bridges. Anyone who wants to follow the path of the gibbon will have to not only climb trees, but also fly from platform to platform - and there are as many as 26 of them on the route! The longest distance between platforms is 300 meters. Despite high-quality equipment and reliable insurance, the flights are breathtaking even for the most experienced adrenaline junkies.

In addition to the extreme height at which they will pass over the jungle, those who dare to try the adventure will have amazing views of mountains, waterfalls and giant trees. Thanks to its picturesqueness and thrill, “Flight of the Gibbon” is one of the most popular excursions in Pattaya. And since the Chompo Nature Reserve is located in national park Chonburi, a walk can be combined with a visit.

Jump into Villarrica Volcano, Chile

Besides that active volcanoes- already the most extreme places on the planet, a trip to the Villarrica volcano in Chile is made unusual by special tricks. For a modest fee of $10,000, you can bungee jump over the volcano directly from a helicopter! The service includes six days of hotel accommodation in the city, meals, a helicopter flight over Villarrica and equipment.

The Villarrica volcano is one of the most active on the planet. Last eruption took place on March 3. But this in no way scares away wealthy extreme sports enthusiasts; on the contrary, it fuels interest in the most dangerous and expensive place in the world for bungee jumping.

Walking through the CN Tower, Toronto

The main symbol of Canada after Niagara Falls is the CN Tower in Toronto, which rises 554 meters high. Located at an altitude of 350 meters observation deck with a glass floor only one and a half meters wide. Once secured with a safety rope, you can use it to walk around the tower. At the same time, extreme tourists are invited to let go of their hands and lean back to feel like they are flying over Toronto.

The tour to the tower lasts an hour and a half, a third of which you will spend on the glass floor. After calming the trembling in your knees and hands, you can take photographs and video of the city’s landscapes.

Face to face with a shark, Cape Town and Sydney

Those who like to tickle their nerves at a meeting with wildlife They can, of course, go to a nature reserve or on a safari. But the real adventure is meeting the predator face to face. This service can be ordered in two parts of the world: Cape Town (South Africa) and Sydney (Australia). For shark fans, these are the most extreme places on Earth! In Cape Town you will be placed in a special cage and lowered under water. If you do this at dawn, you may find yourself in the thick of a school of great white sharks!

Recently, a similar attraction appeared in Sydney, Australia. It is enough to sail on a boat away from the beaches, call the sharks with bait - and you can lower the cage with the tourist to the bottom. Thrills are guaranteed.

No such attraction has yet been invented on land, but the Japanese TV channel Q tried to repeat the experiment with a grizzly bear. The experiment was also interesting because the grizzly bear used its paws to overturn the strong (!) cage with the participant in it, giving her a special impression. The whole range of emotions can be observed in the video filmed by the TV channel.

Troll tongue, Norway

The Troll's tongue is a piece that broke off from Mount Skjeggedal, which, due to its relatively small weight, did not fall down, but hovered at an altitude of 350 meters above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. This attraction has become popular among extreme tourists relatively recently. In 2009, Troll Tongue was photographed for a popular magazine, and tourists flocked to Norway for beautiful photos and high-altitude extreme sports. Moreover, a year later the flow tripled! Either due to the abundance of visitors, or “accidentally” in the same year, the funicular that took visitors to the top of Mount Skjeggedal broke down.

Now the Norwegian landmark is accessible only to the most persistent tourists: you need to walk 12 kilometers to get to it from the parking lot. Plus the same amount back. But the most enduring on the way to the Troll's Tongue will be rewarded with the beauty of mountain lakes. After the name of the attraction, the reservoirs are called “Troll Cauldrons”. The best time to go to the Norwegian rock is in summer or early autumn: the snow-covered paths to the top of Skjeggedal are the most extreme places on the planet.

Tiger Temple, Chiang Mai

You can be in close proximity to one of the most ferocious predators, and what’s more, you can feed and pet him at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Province. The first tiger cub was brought to the temple by border guards in 1999. The monks left the beast, and even as he matured, he got along well with people. Now there are more than fifty tigers living in the temple, which the monks saved from poachers and raised among their relatives.

But although tigers are quiet and diligent, and the area around the temple is not the most extreme place in the world, sometimes the predatory nature takes over and tragedies happen. There have been no deaths, but from time to time tigers scratch tourists.

To protect yourself, you need to remember a few strict rules, failure to comply with which could cost you your life. You cannot touch the tiger's head and face; the touch should be confident and moderately noticeable; You must not pull the animal’s tail, touch its front paws, or turn your back to the predator. It is also prohibited to move quickly, make loud noises, try to play with the animal, or photograph it with flash. But even if you don’t break the rules, it’s not entirely safe to be around tigers. Therefore, every tourist (and up to five thousand people visit the temple per day who want to touch a live tiger!) signs a special document stating that he is responsible for his own life and actions.

Festival of the Running Bull, Pamplona

The town of Pamplona in Spain is notable for most of the year only for its characteristic landscapes and pleasant climate. But at the beginning of July, the city and its surroundings turn into the most extreme places in the world! These days, San Fermin, better known as the Festival of the Running Bull, takes place in Pamplona. At the opening of the festival on Monday, at exactly noon, a herd of angry bulls is released into the crowd of thrill-seekers, from which they must escape.

The most dangerous section of the distance is the 230-meter section immediately outside the stall gate: there is nowhere to hide from angry animals. Many simply fall, hoping that the bull will rush past. By the way, festival participants receive most of the injuries due to crushes and falls, and not from bull horns. The Spaniards themselves never come closer than 50 meters to the gate, but tourists try their luck to the fullest.

Despite the unpredictable consequences of the race, Pamplona brings together not only everyone local residents, but also hundreds of thousands of foreigners. So, in 2009, on the opening day of San Fermin, a record was set: a million tourists visited Pamplona!

Death Road, Bolivia

One of the most dangerous roadways in the world is Bolivia's Death Road, which connects the cities of La Paz and Coroico. Every year, about 30 cars crash here and about a hundred people die. Accidents occur two to three times a month. The most dangerous section of the road is a 3.5-kilometer descent. Due to frequent rains and difficulties in getting repairmen here, the route is almost completely washed away, with asphalt remaining only a third of the way. On some sections, the wheels of wide cars hang half over the abyss - there is no doubt that these are the most extreme places on Earth!

Of course, due to the mortal danger, the road is popular among extreme sports enthusiasts. Some people want to go down the dangerous descent in a jeep, and some on a bicycle, but not everyone makes it to the end.

Officially, excursions along the Death Road are prohibited in Bolivia, but tourists can easily find a guide at jeep rental points in La Paz or Coroico.

Snake Island of Queimada Grande, Brazil

Trip to picturesque island Queimada Grande can become one of the most dangerous in your life, or even the last. The island is notorious throughout the world for the number of poisonous bothrops snakes: with an area of ​​only 0.43 square kilometers, there are five reptiles for every square meter.

Aggressively guarding their territory, the snakes quickly multiplied and drove almost all other inhabitants from the island. After a lighthouse keeper and his family were killed by crawling creatures, the island was closed to visitors. Now you can go here only at your own peril and, most likely, mortal risk. But off the coast of the island there are boats with tourists who want to look at a piece of land infested with poisonous snakes.

Despite the bans, about a hundred people die every year on Queimada Grande from bothrops bites. That's why these are the most extreme tourism destinations in the world!