10 Forbidden Places in the World, from Snake Island to France's Ancient Cave
Reporter
March 17, 2025 | 05:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Technological advancements have allowed humans to reach even the most remote parts of the Earth. However, certain locations remain off-limits for various reasons.
From Area 51 in the United States to Snake Island in Brazil, several places around the world are strictly prohibited for tourists and locals alike. The restrictions stem from reasons such as safety concerns and classified information that must remain undisclosed.
As reported by Travel + Leisure Asia and Holidify, here is the full list of forbidden places around the world that are restricted from public access
List of Forbidden Places in the World
1. Area 51, United States
Speaking of forbidden places in the world, Area 51 cannot be missed from this list. Located in Nevada, the United States (U.S.), little is known about this area due to its tight security and remote location.
However, Area 51 is known to be a testing site for the U.S. Air Force and CIA. However, conspiracy theorists believe that Area 51, established since 1955, is closely linked to aliens or extraterrestrial beings.
2. Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, China
Thousands of terracotta warrior statues stand in formation in the mausoleum complex of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The blank stares of at least 2,000 of these statues, which have been unearthed since their discovery in 1974, add to the eerie atmosphere of this UNESCO cultural heritage site.
To this day, archaeologists and historians are still unsure of the contents of the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang due to the lack of permission from the Chinese government. However, it is known that the tomb contains items necessary for the emperor's afterlife.
3. Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Ilha da Queimada Grande, known as 'Snake Island,' is off-limits for good reason—this Brazilian island harbors around 4,000 deadly golden lancehead vipers.
The island is densely populated by these slithering creatures to the extent that visitors may encounter one snake within a one square meter radius.
Access to Ilha da Queimada Grande is restricted to researchers from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
4. Ise Grand Shrine, Japan
In addition to its cherry blossoms and refreshing natural landscape, shrines are also a popular attraction in Japan that successfully captivate many visitors. Among the 80,000 shrines scattered across the country, the Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture is one of the most breathtaking.
Its magnificent architecture is the result of renovations carried out every 20 years. This shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology, so access is limited to priests and members of the Imperial Family to preserve its sanctity.
5. North Sentinel Island, India
Another forbidden place on Earth is North Sentinel Island in India. It is not inhabited by venomous reptiles or other dangerous animals but people are forbidden to set foot on this island because its indigenous inhabitants, the Sentinel tribe, are unfriendly to outsiders.
The Sentinel tribe is known to have lived on the island for more than 50,000 years and has been protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Aborigin Protection Act since 1956.
6. Lascaux Cave, France
Once a popular tourist spot from 1948 to 1963, the Lascaux Cave in Paris is now completely closed to the public. This closure is due to the damage inflicted on the prehistoric paintings, approximately 17,000 years old, from increased temperatures, humidity, and microbes.
Nevertheless, tourists can still learn and appreciate the art from the Upper Paleolithic era through a replica of the cave called Lascaux II.
7. Chichen Itza, Mexico
There was an incident that led the Chichn Itz Pyramid to become one of the forbidden places to visit in the world. In 2006, a woman died after falling from the top of the Kukulcan Temple, another name for the pyramid.
As a result, visitors are only allowed to admire this New Seven Wonders of the World from a distance.
8. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, also known as the Doomsday Vault, is one of the forbidden places on Earth that holds over 100 million varieties of seeds from around the world. Located deep within a mountain in Spitsbergen, access to this vault is not open to the public and is only entered for the purpose of seed storage.
9. Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican City
Not everyone can enter the Vatican Secret Archives or the Vatican Apostolic Archives. This place houses various information about the Catholic Church and other priceless documents, such as Michelangelo's letters to Pope Julius II, which are securely kept on its 85 km of shelving and in its underground facilities.
10. Pravicka Gate, Czech Republic
Another forbidden place in the world is Pravicka Gate in the Czech Republic. Initially bustling with visitors who wanted to see the naturally formed large rock arch, this place is now off-limits to the public due to safety reasons as the rock arch is fragile.
TRAVEL AND LEISURE ASIA | HOLIDIFY
Editor's Choice: 10 Best Mountain Towns in the World You Must Visit
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
