10 Deserted Islands with Fascinating Forgotten Histories

Swift Summary:

• Isle of Demons: Located off Newfoundland, believed haunted by evil spirits. In 1542,French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque survived two years marooned on the island after being exiled for an alleged affair.
• Más a Tierra (Robinson crusoe Island): Chilean island where Alexander Selkirk lived as a castaway for four years in the early 1700s. Inspired “Robinson Crusoe.”
• Roatan Island: honduran site of Philip ashton’s survival story; escaped pirates and lived in isolation for 16 months in 1722.
• Elephant Island: Antarctic island tied to Ernest Shackleton’s survival saga during his disastrous expedition in 1914.
• Palmyra Atoll: Uninhabited Pacific island notorious for mysterious deaths and electromagnetic anomalies; gained infamy following murders in 1974.
• flannan Isles: Location of unsolved disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from Scotland’s Eilean Mòr in December 1900. Known for supernatural folklore.
• Clipperton Island: Mexican colony turned deadly during isolation caused by revolution; survivors killed tyrannical leader Victoriano Álvarez to end his reign of terror (1914-1917).
• Jure Sterk’s Ghost Island: slovenian sailor disappeared near an uncharted “temporary” volcanic island while sailing solo around the globe (2009).
• Snake Island (Ilha da Queimada Grande): Brazilian government bans access due to high venomous snake population,including golden lancehead vipers.
• North Sentinel Island (India): Home to isolated Sentinelese tribe who violently reject outside contact. Protected under Indian law with restricted access.

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Indian Opinion Analysis:

For India, North Sentinel Island stands out as a critical intersection between ancient curiosity and modern governance challenges. The Indian government wisely maintains an exclusion zone around this unique ecosystem-a decision rooted both in ethical respect for indigenous autonomy and practical concerns regarding safety. The tribal group has become emblematic of human resilience through millennia-long isolation but raises tough questions about balancing preservation with rights.In broader context, deserted islands like North Sentinel illuminate humanity’s complex relationship with nature-ranging from romanticized survival narratives to stark cautionary tales about exploitation or tragedy during colonization attempts. Islands such as Snake or Clipperton highlight extreme consequences when balance is lost: from environmental hazards like venomous species dominance on Snake Islanders’ accidental discoveries gone horrifically wrong Clipperton-Mexico Gulf