The world’s deadliest island

Off the coast of Sao Paolo, Brazil, lies the small island of Ilha de Queimada Grande.

As small as the island might be, it is home to the largest population worldwide of the golden lancehead viper, which just happens to be one of Earth’s deadliest snakes.

The island houses an estimate of 4,000 snakes which means that on every square meter of the island you can come across one to five vipers.

The snakes’ venom is so powerful that it can melt away human flesh and kill you within an hour.

The reason why its venom is so powerful is that the snake species had eliminated all its natural prey on the island and has nothing to feed on other than migratory birds. Therefore, their venom has evolved to such a strength that it instantly immobilizes any bird, preventing it from escaping.

Although, today, no one dares to live on the island, in the 20’s there was a lighthouse keeper, his wife and their three children. However, their story is a grim one as they disappeared, no one knowing what happened to them exactly.

Rumors tell that they were attacked by snakes while fleeing the island. It is said that snakes jumped onto them from trees while they were running to their boat.

The small island can be visited but only with a permit granted by the Brazilian government and a doctor’s assistance.