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Top 10 Most Dangerous Places In The World

Top 10 Most Dangerous Places In The World
VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio WRITTEN BY: Matt Klem
These dangerous places are not for the faint of heart. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for places around the world you either can't or shouldn't visit due to the inherent dangers of the area. Our countdown of the most dangerous places in the world includes Mount Everest, Guatemala City, North Korea, and more!

#10: Mount Everest

Nepal
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that the tallest peak on Earth is also one of the most dangerous places. Ever since Sir Edmund Hillary made it to the top of this ginormous mountain, whose summit point is located across the China-Nepal border, people have been coming from all around the world to try to accomplish the same. With an elevation sitting at just under 30,000 feet, it’s not an easy climb for even the most experienced in their field. Aside from just the sheer physical exertion required, Everest boasts unpredictable weather, extreme cold, and highly dangerous terrain. Miss a little crevice and you are done for. Throw in altitude sickness and a real lack of oxygen, and everything about this place says stay clear of it.

#9: Lake Natron

Tanzania
Often you’ll hear mythical stories of a lake of blood. We usually take these tall tales as pure fiction. Turns out Tanzania does have a very red lake that you’ll want to stay clear of. Known as Lake Natron, the water is often discolored, red and can reach temperatures as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The color comes from a special algae bloom that occurs in the water. And although you might feel like taking a sip of it, the cyanobacteria in the water can be toxic. Consumption of it results in damage to your cells, nervous system, and the liver. Most animals who do drink the water end up looking more like a mummy after they go through serious calcification.

#8: Erta Ale Volcano

Ethiopia
It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know why volcanoes are dangerous. When they erupt, lava, poisonous gas, and blasts of smoke are sent in countless directions. No one wants to be anywhere near when that happens. But we’ll see your volcano, and raise you two lava lakes. Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia is one of the few places that has not one, but two actual lakes of lava. The flows found in each lake shrink and grow depending on certain circumstances, but are very clearly visible from the right spot. Going for a hike on an active volcano is dangerous enough. Adding two pools of hot molten magma is just a bit much.

#7: Guatemala City

Guatemala
If you look at the US State Department website, you’ll notice that the entire country of Guatemala is listed as a place you should reconsider traveling to. If you do choose to go there, particularly to Guatemala City, you may find the crime list to be quite large. Extortion, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and drug proliferation all seem to find themselves in various parts of the country. The situation there is so insecure that tourists are often recommended to stay in hotels with private security, and to not venture out on their own unless accompanied by a security officer. Your best bet is to either stay away entirely or manage to blend in.

#6: Snake Island

Brazil
It might be dangerous, but it turns out you can’t visit Snake Island anyway because visitors are banned. There is a good reason for this. The main residents of this island are a unique snake known as the golden lancehead pit viper. Their venom is so strong it has been known to melt human skin. At one time the island was part of the mainland but broke off during the last ice age, permanently stranding these deadly creatures. To protect the natural environment and prevent human injury, the local government has permanently prevented the general public from visiting here.

#5: Polesie State Radioecological Reserve

Belarus
One day after the Chernobyl incident, the city of Pripyat, Ukraine was evacuated leaving the city abandoned. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was set up to prevent anyone from visiting the area near the accident. Two years after the meltdown, the zone was extended into a portion of Belarus and became known as the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve. That area once contained various settlements with a total population of more than 22,000 people. It now serves as a major focus of study around the effects of radiation on the various wildlife that has thrived in the region since the disaster. Given the history of contamination in the region, we’d recommend you steer clear.

#4: The Middle East

Various
Some places are dangerous because of the wildlife. Others might be treacherous due to the climate or the nature of the terrain. But when it comes to the dangers presented by political and sociological differences, the countries of the Middle East win by a landslide. Afghanistan,for example, has suffered countless coups and insurgencies for years, which escalated after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran and countless other countries from this region continue to experience outbreaks of war and violence, making the area extremely dangerous for both their residents and anyone who may wish to visit.

#3: The Amazon Rainforest

South America
In choosing the name Amazon for his online bookstore, Jeff Bezos was drawing a comparison of how big his business would become to the largest rainforest in the world. This area of 2.1 million square miles is also one of the most dangerous places human beings can visit. Everything from mosquitos to frogs to large prey like jaguars can inflict serious damage to a person. Even the water or plants are capable of life-threatening dangers to all those who visit the region. Unless you have the right guide, and plenty of gumption, it’s an area we all should take an abundance of precaution when visiting.

#2: North Korea

North Korea
Danger comes in many flavors. We’ve covered war-torn regions, places covered with vast amounts of dangerous wildlife, and even hazardous manmade zones. North Korea however is dangerous for a whole other set of reasons, primarily concerning their dictatorship. North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since the late 1940s. Since then, residents have been forced to virtually worship and praise their leader and abide by his every rule. The regime in which residents live under provides for virtually no freedom, and there is a constant threat of violence against them and their family for crossing the will of the state. With conditions as vile as these, North Korea is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Bolton Strid, England
Considered the Most Dangerous River in the World

The Devil's Pool, Zambia
Hanging off the Edge of a Waterfall Is a Little Much

The "Killer" Exploding Lakes, Various
One Pop of CO2 From These Infamous Lakes Could Harm Thousands

North Yungas Road, Bolivia
The Worst One Way Street on the Planet

Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Littered With the Remains of Sea Life & Shipwrecks

#1: North Sentinel Island

India
For such a tiny little spot, this island packs quite a wallop on anyone who wishes to visit. The North Sentinel Island is home to an indigenous people known as the Sentinelese. Unlike some of their neighbors, they are incredibly hostile to outsiders. Virtually everyone who has tried to make landfall on the island has been met with either a deadly fate or a barrage of arrows and spears from the tribespeople. The Indian government made it illegal to travel to the island, but that hasn’t stopped some from trying. As recently as 2018, an American named John Allen Chau lost his life trying to reach the Sentinelese.

Would you ever dare to visit any of these places, or would you rather stay closer to home? Let us know in the comments.

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