What is it about a mystery that makes a destination even more intriguing? Put an “off-limits” sign on something, and suddenly a traveler’s curiosity is piqued, leaving them eager to learn more. From curious vaults near the North Pole to top-secret military bases in the Nevada desert, here are five of the most fascinating places on the planet that you’re not allowed to visit.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault – Norway
In the event of a worldwide catastrophe, it might be up to Svalbard to rebuild society and replenish the planet. Completed in 2008, the Global Seed Vault in this remote Norwegian archipelago protects approximately 1.3 million seed duplicates from nearly every country, securing our future food supply. With many global crops vulnerable to threats such as war and climate change, this vault provides a crucial backup, housing 500 samples of each global crop variety in custom foil packages that are stored at nearly 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Svalbard is situated 580 miles from mainland Norway, about halfway between Norway and the North Pole. It is the country’s northernmost point accessible by commercial flights. The vault isn’t open to the public, but visitors can admire the exterior of the building — which extends nearly 500 feet directly into a frost-covered mountainside on the island of Spitsbergen — via hiking, biking, and driving tours. Designed to hold up to 4.5 million crop duplications, the vault continues to be expanded, ensuring that our agricultural heritage is preserved for generations to come.
Lascaux Cave – France
Discovered accidentally in 1940 by teenagers searching for their lost dog, the Lascaux Cave, near the village of Montignac in southern France, is an archaeological treasure trove of prehistoric art. In the two decades after the cave’s discovery, visitors flocked to admire its 600 wall paintings of animals and symbols, along with around a thousand inscriptions that date back approximately 17,000 years.
However, the influx of visitors began to damage the fragile artwork, prompting the cave’s closure to the public in 1963. In 1970, in an effort to preserve the cave, the French government invested $64 million to create an exact replica, which is situated alongside the original. Since its opening in 1983, the replica cave has hosted approximately 10 million visitors. It mirrors the original cave’s temperature and lighting, and its creators have gone to great lengths to ensure an authentic experience, including recreating the sounds of a forest on a summer day as visitors approach the entrance.
Pravcicka Brana – Czech Republic
Pravcicka Brana (also known as Pravčice Gate) is the largest natural sandstone arch in mainland Europe, drawing tourists far and wide who come to gaze upon this stunning natural landmark. With a span of nearly 87 feet, this magnificent sandstone arch is located in the Czech Republic’s Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Until 1983, visitors could walk right up to the arch and stand on top of it or under it, but now, its fragile state has rendered it unsafe and in danger of collapsing.
Fortunately, it’s not forbidden to admire Pravcicka Brana from afar. A scenic hike through the surrounding forest leads to a viewpoint offering breathtaking vistas of the arch, without compromising safety. At the end of your trek, you can relax at a charming café, where you can refuel and soak in the majestic scenery.
North Sentinel Island – India
North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman Islands archipelago, is home to one of the most isolated Indigenous populations in the world, the Sentinelese peoples. The island they inhabit is naturally protected by shallow reefs, which results in a lack of any natural harbor. The Sentinelese lead a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, using carved canoes and long poles to traverse the shallow waters around their home, and simple lean-to shelters clustered around fires.
The Indian government enforces a strict ban on visitors due to the tribe’s reclusive nature and history of rejecting outside visitors. Much of our knowledge about the tribe comes from educated estimates and observations by anthropologist Triloknath Pandit, who began visiting North Sentinel Island in 1967. Their population is estimated between 80 and 150, though it could range anywhere from 15 to 500 people. The international community respects the ban on visitation to protect this isolated culture and the tribe’s immunity to disease.
Area 51 – Nevada
One of the most highly classified places in the U.S., Area 51 is located near Groom Lake in southern Nevada. The top secret U.S. Air Force base is shrouded in mystery, which has led to many conspiracy theories over the years. The site was constructed in 1955 as a secret test site for the U-2 spy plane. Other aircraft tested in Area 51 include Archangel-12, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, and the SR-71 Blackbird. The perimeters of Area 51 are marked with orange posts and are heavily patrolled around the clock by armed guards, ensuring no outside visitors can get remotely close to the site.
Rumors about the purpose of Area 51 began to swirl in 1989 after Rob Lazar, a former employee, declared that he worked on extraterrestrial technology inside the site. Lazar claimed that he saw photos of alien autopsies and spacecraft at Area 51, and though his claims were debunked, the conspiracy theories continued — as did the number of alleged UFO sightings. While you can’t visit Area 51, alien enthusiasts often stop by the closest town, Rachel, located along the Exterrestrial Highway, to indulge in the quirky, otherworldly-inspired attractions.
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