Exploring The Most DANGEROUS Places on Earth [Photos]

The planet is dotted with locations where nature’s beauty conceals hidden perils. From the towering Half Dome in California, where hikers risk life and limb to reach the summit, to the alluring yet deadly depths of Jacob’s Well in Texas, these destinations remind us that danger can lurk in the most enticing places.

We venture into some of the most perilous corners of the world, uncovering the stories and dangers that make these places unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

HALF DOME, CALIFORNIA

People have fallen to their death trying to hike to the top, while climbers are also at increased risk of lightning strikes. Although bear attacks are rare, it’s the mountains that are more likely to lead to untimely deaths.

JACOB’S WELL

The location attracts all sorts of people because of its beauty and plentiful activities. It’s a massive sinkhole with an underwater cave system that runs 140 feet deep and over 4,300 feet long. The well and cave system are fed by an artesian spring.

FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN

The power plant itself remains a dangerous disaster zone, with workers just beginning the complex, risky job of locating the melted fuel and figuring out how to remove it. These areas still have relatively high radioactivity.

THE COLORADO RIVER

Every second thousands of cubic feet of water flow through the canyon creating massive eddies and rapids. Though rafters are typically safe, there have been several drowning deaths since 1925.

LAKE NYOS, CAMEROON

The lake is positioned right above a magma pocket. The carbon dioxide and other gases leak into the water to form carbonic acid. This makes the lake highly volatile and susceptible to eruptions.

MAILU SUU, KYRGYZSTAN

The town is one of the most polluted sites in the world. It’s pit contains huge quantities of poisonous radioactive waste. It is estimated that the Soviet Union dumped 2 million cubic metres of radioactive waste across the 23 pits around the town.

DALLOL, ETHIOPIA

Dallol craters are dangerous places to visit because their surface can be covered by a crust of salt with pools of hot acidic water just inches below. Toxic gases are sometimes released from craters.

NORTH SENTINEL ISLAND

Located in the Indian Ocean, the natives of North Sentinel Island have been isolated from the main island for ages. Any efforts to make the natives a part of the mainland have met resistance.

SANAA, YEMEN

There is a very high risk of kidnapping, and detention of U.S. citizens in Yemen, particularly dual national Yemeni-Americans. Rebel groups in Sana’a have detained U.S. citizens, including dual Yemeni-American citizens.

LAKE NATRON, TANZANIA

The highly reflective and chemically dense waters of Lake Natron seem like a glass door that dupes hovering birds thinking they’re flying over an empty space. The moment they land on the lake, their body corrodes within minutes.