Top 10 Little Known Islands of the World
1. Niihau Island
Elizabeth Sinclair purchased in 1864 the westernmost island of the eight major islands of Hawaii. It is also known as “The Forbidden Isle” as visitors are seldom given permission to visit it. In past few years limited tourists have began to get permission. It has a population of almost 130 people, who speak in their native language, Hawai’i an, but can also speak English.
There is a huge number of beautiful islands we know and discuss about. But there is a variety of others which are either totally unknown or are obscure. Here is a list of top 10 of these obscure islands which are in some way unusual or noticeable. The numbering or ranking is just a formality. You would have a hard time deciding which one is better than the other.
1. Niihau Island
Elizabeth Sinclair purchased in 1864 the westernmost island of the eight major islands of Hawaii. It is also known as “The Forbidden Isle” as visitors are seldom given permission to visit it. In past few years limited tourists have began to get permission. It has a population of almost 130 people, who speak in their native language, Hawai’i an, but can also speak English.
2. Attu Island
Attu Island is the westernmost island of the Aleutian Islands chain in Alaska but it lies in Eastern hemisphere. It consists of a population of 20 people and all of them work Attu Station, a United States Coast Guard LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation) facility. The island was the only location of land-based conflict on American land in World War II.
Attu Island is the westernmost island of the Aleutian Islands chain in Alaska but it lies in Eastern hemisphere. It consists of a population of 20 people and all of them work Attu Station, a United States Coast Guard LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation) facility. The island was the only location of land-based conflict on American land in World War II.
3. Monuriki Island
This small uninhibited island belongs to the Mamanuca Island group of Fiji. It became popular since when it has been used as a primary location for the shooting of Tom Hank’s film “Cast Away”, in 2000. In contrast with the movie, the island is not entirely isolated rather has other several islands within a few miles.
This small uninhibited island belongs to the Mamanuca Island group of Fiji. It became popular since when it has been used as a primary location for the shooting of Tom Hank’s film “Cast Away”, in 2000. In contrast with the movie, the island is not entirely isolated rather has other several islands within a few miles.
4. Navassa Island
The Island is one of the few territorial disputes of United States as it is also claimed by Haiti. The reason is that it is about thirty miles west of Haiti and ninety miles south of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The coastline of the island consists of steep cliffs that make the landing of a boat totally impossible. This nature reserve is seldom allowed to visit by the government.
The Island is one of the few territorial disputes of United States as it is also claimed by Haiti. The reason is that it is about thirty miles west of Haiti and ninety miles south of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The coastline of the island consists of steep cliffs that make the landing of a boat totally impossible. This nature reserve is seldom allowed to visit by the government.
5. Spitsbergen
The largest island of Svalbard islands, Spitsbergen has the famous town of Longyearbyen. The island also has the world’s most northerlies, also containing the northerly church and airports. There is a law to carry rifle when you are roaming about on the island because you can have an encounter with a polar bear anytime. Svalbard Global Seed Vault is also located here where a number of seed plant varieties are stored to preserve biodiversity in case of any large-scale disaster.
The largest island of Svalbard islands, Spitsbergen has the famous town of Longyearbyen. The island also has the world’s most northerlies, also containing the northerly church and airports. There is a law to carry rifle when you are roaming about on the island because you can have an encounter with a polar bear anytime. Svalbard Global Seed Vault is also located here where a number of seed plant varieties are stored to preserve biodiversity in case of any large-scale disaster.
6. Palmyra Atoll
Located between Hawaii and Samoa, it is actually a collection of small islands. The largest of them is owned and administered by The Nature Conservancy while the rest is the property of United States Federal Government and is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. A small team of scientists is also working there for preservation and research. A double murder occurred on the island in 1947 and the details were given in the Vincent Bugliosi’s best selling true crime book “And the Sea Will Tell”.
Located between Hawaii and Samoa, it is actually a collection of small islands. The largest of them is owned and administered by The Nature Conservancy while the rest is the property of United States Federal Government and is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. A small team of scientists is also working there for preservation and research. A double murder occurred on the island in 1947 and the details were given in the Vincent Bugliosi’s best selling true crime book “And the Sea Will Tell”.
7. Howland Island
Situated at fifty miles from the equator, the island is between Hawaii and Australia. It was claimed by the United State and mined in the search of guano deposits. Colonization was also tried on the island which was destroyed by the Japanese during World War II. After that no efforts were made for colonization but it is a natural reserve.This island has the very place where the final flight of Amelia Earhart was to be landed.A lighthouse was also build here in her loving memory.
Situated at fifty miles from the equator, the island is between Hawaii and Australia. It was claimed by the United State and mined in the search of guano deposits. Colonization was also tried on the island which was destroyed by the Japanese during World War II. After that no efforts were made for colonization but it is a natural reserve.This island has the very place where the final flight of Amelia Earhart was to be landed.A lighthouse was also build here in her loving memory.
8. Pitcairn Island
Pitcairn Island, one of the four is the only remaining British overseas territory. With almost only fifty inhabitants, the island is the least populous, all of whom are descendents of mutineers of the HMS Bounty and the Polynesians. They have no airport and mail deliveries can delay for months.
Pitcairn Island, one of the four is the only remaining British overseas territory. With almost only fifty inhabitants, the island is the least populous, all of whom are descendents of mutineers of the HMS Bounty and the Polynesians. They have no airport and mail deliveries can delay for months.
9. Bouvet Island
Completely covered with ice, the 19 square mile volcanic island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is maintained by Norway. Most part of its coastline consists of steep cliffs that make the landings impossible. It is also claimed to be the most remote island in the world.
Completely covered with ice, the 19 square mile volcanic island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is maintained by Norway. Most part of its coastline consists of steep cliffs that make the landings impossible. It is also claimed to be the most remote island in the world.
10. North Sentinel Island
The island is located 20 miles in the west of Smith Island. Specialty of this island is its ‘uncontacted inhabitants’. Those people are highly xenophobic and fire arrows on everyone coming close to them, like boats and helicopters. There is not much information about the island like number of inhabitants, language, culture etc as the inhabitants do not allow coming near. Technically it is the part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory, but they have left it to its inhabitant.
The island is located 20 miles in the west of Smith Island. Specialty of this island is its ‘uncontacted inhabitants’. Those people are highly xenophobic and fire arrows on everyone coming close to them, like boats and helicopters. There is not much information about the island like number of inhabitants, language, culture etc as the inhabitants do not allow coming near. Technically it is the part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory, but they have left it to its inhabitant.
