Armchair travel >> 8 of the world’s most isolated places
We all understand the importance of sheltering at home during a pandemic. So when quarantine fatigue sets in, a little travel daydreaming seems the best course of action. Crowded tourist destinations may no longer hold much appeal — not even for an imaginary vacation — so ponder this instead: Some of the most isolated places in the world, according to Tripsavvy.com and other publications.
Take Tristan da Cunha, for example, a remote South Atlantic archipelago that is part of the British Overseas Territories. Population 250-ish. The only way to reach the islands is by flying into Cape Town, South Africa, and then catching a bookedmonths-ahead ride aboard one of the three fishing vessels that do a handful of crossings per year. A South African polar research ship does one trip in September — and the crossing takes seven days or more, depending on weather.
Or Ittoqqortoormiit, the most remote outpost in Greenland’s already pretty remote landscape. Insider.com notes that sea ice makes this town of about 450 residents unreachable by boat for nine months of every year. There are no cars or roads, just the stunning natural beauty of Arctic fjords — and a heliport.
And then there’s Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression, which is both one of the lowest points in the world — one portion is 400 feet below sea level — and one of the hottest. It’s known for its salt mines, acid pools and otherworldly landscapes. Here’s just a sampling of places to (virtually) explore from the comfort of home.
• Pitcairn Island, South Pacific
• Cape York Peninsula, Australia
• Changtang, Tibet
• Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
• Oymyakon, Russia
• Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territory
• Choquequirao, Peru
• Danakil Depression, Ethiopia