The planet Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to support life. The Earth has the right conditions needed for plant and animal life as 

The planet Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to support life. The Earth has the right conditions needed for plant and animal life as we know it. In spite of this, there are some places on our planet with conditions that are seen as unfavorable and are said to be uninhabitable. These places are naturally hostile to even the most basic of life forms. For some places they are not livable because of our actions and its impact on the environment. Here are five of those uninhabitable places. 1. Snake Island  Ilha Queimada Grande is the official name of Snake Island which as the name suggests is overrun with snakes; extremely venomous snakes at that. This 110 acre island was once a part of the Brazilian mainland until the sea level rose and covered the land that connected it to the mainland. The snakes became trapped on the island. The population grew in numbers and it is said that there is one snake per square meter. Imagine facing one of these creatures with every step you take. This threat to human life has led to the island being closed to the public. 2. Danakil Desert According to National Geographic, the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia is called “the cruelest place on Earth.” This desert is known to have active lava beds, sulfurous hot springs, and salt lakes, all considered as harsh conditions to live in. The temperature can increase to as high as 145 degrees Fahrenheit and barely receives 100-200 milliliters of rainfall annually. It is one of the lowest spots on earth at 410 feet below sea level. 3. Wittenoon  Wittenoon is one of Australia’s most polluted areas known for mining blue asbestos. Yes you read correctly- asbestos. Mining began there from the late 1930s until the 1960s and during this time it was the only source of blue asbestos. Asbestos is linked to mesothelioma, a form of cancer and other fatal diseases, leading to the Wittenoon mine's closure. In 1966, the town was abandoned. The entire town was relocated after it was realized that the town was contaminated. To deter settlers, the town's electricity supply was shut off and all road maps and signs were removed. 4. Centralia Centralia is an abandoned town in Pennsylvania. This was the result of a “controlled fire” that was started one day in 1962 to get rid of garbage at a dump site and it refused to go out. The fire spread underground into the coal mine. All efforts to extinguish the fire were futile. The residents faced rising smoke, heat and toxic fumes. The fire and intense heat caused unexpected sinkholes to appear which were hazards and caused injuries and even worse accidents. In 1984, the US government ultimately issued an order for the complete evacuation of the town. This fire continues to burn today. 5. Devon Island  Devon Island, located in the most northern part of Canada is the largest uninhabitable island on Earth. This island is hardly welcoming with its polar-desert climate and rocky barren topography that is frequently shrouded in fog. The ground is completely frozen for almost the entire year. Ice caps that are 500-700 meters thick permanently cover parts of the island. There are brief periods during the height of summer lasting forty-five to fifty days when there is no snow on the ground.

Earth's Most Uninhabitable Places

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