10 Natural Wonders Too Dangerous to Visit

#10: Great Blue Hole, Belize

This huge sinkhole sits just off Belize’s east coast. It’s over 400 feet deep, making it an attractive spot for divers. It used to be a limestone cave, but was flooded after the ice age, creating the beautiful hole we see today. While it’s tempting to explore, it’s exceptionally dangerous. Its bottom is too deep for humans, and divers frequently experience nitrogen narcosis. The best sights reside lower down, putting divers at risk of getting the bends. In the past, people have surfaced too quickly, which can prove fatal. 300 feet down, there’s a thick layer of toxic hydrogen sulfide, making life at the bottom impossible.

#9: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

In Russia’s far east lies the beautiful Kamchatka Peninsula. It has tons of mind-blowing nature, but to most people, it’s not worth the trip. Kamchatka is home to the biggest brown bears in Eurasia, which look spectacular but can be highly aggressive. It also hosts 160 volcanoes, 29 of which are active. Many of these are considered the most beautiful volcanoes on Earth. The Klyuchevskaya Sopka is relatively popular for hiking, but it’s proven to be fatal on more than one occasion. Additionally, the region is prone to both earthquakes and tsunamis, which can then result in rockslides and avalanches.

#8: The Bay of Fundy, Canada

Between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, you can find the Bay of Fundy. There are some remarkable rock formations on its beaches, which are caused by the highest tidal range on Earth. The tides can rise a total of 52 feet, which happens in only a few hours. This means it’s not the type of beach to sunbathe and read a book. Hopewell Rocks is the most famous site, but it can be fatal. Thankfully, the area has plenty of staff and facilities to keep you safe. If you go when the park’s closed, don’t even bother trying to see Hopewell Rocks; it’s just too dangerous.

#7: Danakil Desert, Ethiopia

This 52,000 square mile desert gets almost as hot as Death Valley. Danakil Desert is the site of some unique nature, making it tempting for tourists. Parts of it, like the areas surrounding the Dallol volcano, look like an alien planet. The volcanic activity also fills the air with toxic gases, like sulfur and carbon dioxide. This, combined with over 120-degree temperatures, makes it one of Earth’s least hospitable areas. Despite this, it gets quite a few tourists, particularly over the winter months when it’s safer. It’s also home to the Afar people, who make a living mining the region for salt.

#6: Table Mountain, South Africa

This remarkable mountain towers over Cape Town, South Africa’s legislative capital. If you know what you’re doing, hiking to its peak can be relatively safe. There are only so many precautions you can take, though, since it’s home to wildly unpredictable weather. Crime also poses an issue, with hikers being attacked fairly frequently. That doesn’t stop the national park that contains it from attracting over 4.2 million tourists annually, though. Thankfully, locals are trying to improve safety, via preventing crime and educating hikers. If you do visit, go in a group, and always hire a guide, or just take the cable car.

#5: Frying Pan Lake, New Zealand

The largest hot spring on Earth sits in a crater within the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley. It was formed in 1886, after the nearby Mount Tarawera erupted, then became a hot spring by 1917. It’s 9.4 acres in size, and is relatively safe to go and see. Going for a swim would disappointingly prove fatal, as it has an average temperature of 131 degrees. It’s also strongly acidic, plus it’s constantly leaking toxic gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The entire Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley is very geologically young, meaning it’s highly unstable. Sudden geysers, mud pools, or steam bursts can and will happen without warning.

#4: Mont Blanc, France

Climbing the highest mountain in the Alps isn’t an easy feat. It’s so dangerous that between 10 and 20 climbers perish there annually, usually from getting lost, falling off cliffs, or getting hit by rocks. In one valley, scientists found that rockfalls happen every 37 minutes. The effects of climate change aren’t helping at all, making the weather increasingly unpredictable. Interestingly, it’s rarely considered one of the hardest climbs. This causes it to attract thousands of visitors annually, many with little to no climbing experience. Two planes also tragically crashed into the mountain in the 20th century, making it seem cursed.

#3: Lake Natron, Tanzania

Northern Tanzania is home to one of the deadliest lakes on the planet. Lake Natron’s pH level can exceed 12, an extremely high alkalinity, with temperatures that barely drop below 100 degrees. That’s so hot, rain often evaporates before it hits the surface. It’s commonly claimed it turns animals into stone through a process called calcification, which happens after some animals come in contact with the lake. It’s full of cyanobacteria, which gives it a beautiful pink color, but can also be poisonous. Despite its dangers, tourists love it, especially photographers. The stone animals produce fascinating images. It doesn’t stop 2.5 million lesser flamingos from calling it home, though.

#2: Mount Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

This often active lava lake is unsurprisingly deadly. It’s also located in one of the poorest countries on Earth, which has been ravaged by decades of constant conflict, following a brutal Belgian rule. The volcano is dangerously active, erupting most recently in 2021. Thousands from the nearby city of Goma were displaced, and the chaos caused over 30 deaths. The region’s instability makes it challenging to monitor the volcano, resulting in there being zero warnings about the recent eruption. It also releases toxic carbon dioxide gas, which is an immense hazard and frequently claims the lives of locals.

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

Yosemite’s Half Dome, USA

It’s One of the World’s Deadliest Hiking Trails

Ben Nevis, UK

Scotland’s Highest Mountain Claims Roughly 3 Lives Annually

El Caminito del Rey, Spain

Pre-2015, It Was the World’s Most Dangerous Walkway

Mount Fuji, Japan

It Looks Beautiful, but the Climb Can Prove Fatal

Snake Island, Brazil

It’s Illegal to Visit Due to Its Highly Venomous Locals

#1: Mount Eiger, Switzerland

In southern Switzerland, more than 64 climbers have died scaling the north face of Mount Eiger. This has earned it the German nickname Mordwand, which translates to “murderous wall.” It’s one of the hardest climbs on Earth and wasn’t done successfully until 1938. It took multiple attempts, with many ending in fatalities. Its dangers make it highly appealing to climbers, seeing it as the ultimate challenge. What’s even more harrowing is that on a clear day, you can observe the entire face with telescopes nearby. This means you can sit and watch climbers ascend the mountain, a nerve-wrecking way to spend the day.

What natural wonder would you love to visit the most, but is tragically too unsafe? Let us know in the comments section!