The most dangerous geographical location in the world

Most dangerous geographical location in the world

Update by Riti Roy 05-06-2021 10:35 AM IST

Learning things, in general. It's reputed to have the highest diver fatality rate of any blue hole across the world.

So far more than 180 divers have been lost in the hole. Among them were very reputable and admired divers across the world.

Sure it's not the most dangerous geographical location in the world. But for divers you wanna think twice before venturing into it's abyss.

Here it is:

The Cumbra Vieja volcano on La Palma off Morocco.

73,000 years ago this volcano erupted and created a tidal wave that crossed the Atlantic and flooded what is the east coast of America with a 500 foot high tidal wave up to 35 miles inland. It covered most of England with water, too.

Many scientists believe it is far-fetched that anything like that could happen again, however, volcanic activity on the island has been increasing on the island, and the real problem isn’t just the volcano but terrorists who might plant nuclear bombs to set off a tectonic slide that would create a tsunami that would have serious affects on the East Coast of the US where more than 50 percent of the population live within 10 miles of the coast.

Americans would have about six hours to pack up and move 35 miles inland or to ground higher than 500 feet in elevation. Any kind of tsunami would economically and politically destroy the US.

Most people have asked why the blue hole is so dangerous. I didn’t provide an explanation but I've seen Elizabeth's comment below which is well detailed. Check it.

Also Viktor's linked article is very helpful and detailed too.

Have a look at Ilha da Queimada Grande. Located in the Atlantic off the coast of Brazil. Looks like a normal island, right? Until I say something.

This island has snakes (it is also called “Snake Island”). And, I mean a lot of snakes; one snake to every metre square. It's like walking 3 feet and discovering another snake.

What makes it more intimidating is this creature:

The Golden lancehead viper. They are found nowhere else on Earth but here. It is estimated that there are 2,000 to 4,000 of them. Its venom is so strong that human skin can melt when it comes in contact with it.

There is a lighthouse in the island and it is believed that a family used to control it. But, one day the snake entered through open window and the family were bitten to death. Terrifying story just to think of.

Humans are barred to go into the island which is absolutely relevant and valid. I believe we shouldn't be trying to intrude into the island and disturb their ecosystem. They're there as they are and so it should be. Khumbu Icefall. Definitely.

Everybody knows Mount Everest.

The highest peak in the world (above water), and a daunting challenge to climb, and impossible to conquer anyway.

(In my opinion, only crazy people want to risk their life to climb something which is so much more powerful than simple small humans — but I am crazy myself, so who am I to criticize them ?)

Back to Khumbu.

The Khumbu Icefall is located at the head of the Khumbu Glacier and the foot of the Western Cwm, which lies at an altitude of a modest 5,486 meters (17,999 ft), not far above Base camp and Southwest of the summit.

It is arguably the most dangerous stage of the South Col route to Everest’s summit. Maybe even of all routes.

(A look from Base camp.)

The Khumbu Glacier which forms the Icefall moves very fast, at an estimated 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 ft) down the mountain, every single day !![1]

Because of this tremendous speed, large crevasses (deep cracks in ice sheets or glaciers) open up with little warning, and moreover, most suddenly large towers of ice — called seracs — ranging in size that of cars to 10-story-buildings, tumble down from time to time, just like that.

WWWOOOMMPPPPP.

(Yet another life is gone.)

It is a gigantic, moving meat grinder, waiting for little vain humans to crush when they don’t expect it. (And they never do.)

It is the resting place of many, and always waiting to welcome more in its eternal graveyard.

Here is the account of one of the many disasters which happened on the Khumbu Icefall — this one on April 18, 2014:[2]

At approximately 06:45 local time (01:00 UTC, 18 April 2014), an ice avalanche occurred on the southern side of Mount Everest, at an elevation of approximately 5,800 metres (19,000 ft). Twenty-five men, mostly Sherpas, were buried in the avalanche. The group was fixing ropes and preparing the South Col route for fee-paying climbers during the upcoming climbing season. The accident zone, locally known as "the Golden Gate" or "Popcorn Field", lies within the Khumbu Icefall.
The ice avalanche came from a large serac breaking off on the slopes of Mount Everest's western shoulder. Despite most reporting, this was not an avalanche in the usual sense of the word as there was little snow involved and the large blocks of serac ice behave much more like a rockfall. The serac was estimated to have been 34.5 meters (113 ft) thick and to have had a mass of 14.3 million kilograms (31.5 million pounds). Though there have been calls for construction of defensive structures, they are impossible on the scale necessary.
Sixteen people died in the disaster. Thirteen bodies were recovered as of 48 hours later, when search and rescue operations were called off due to "too much risk". Three victims are still buried in roughly 80 to 100 metres (260 to 330 ft) of snow and ice. Nine other guides were also injured, including three who required intensive-care hospitalization. Their names ?

Mingma Nuru Sherpa
Dorji Sherpa
Ang Tshiri Sherpa
Nima Sherpa
Phurba Ongyal Sherpa
Lakpa Tenjing Sherpa
Chhiring Ongchu Sherpa
Dorjee Khatri
Then Dorjee Sherpa
Phur Temba Sherpa
Pasang Karma Sherpa
Asman Tamang
Tenzing Chottar Sherpa
Ankaji Sherpa
Pem Tenji Sherpa
Ash Bahadur Gurung

Another famous Khumbu disaster happened on April 5, 1970, during the production of The man who skied down Everest (six Nepalese Sherpas died).

Now, trying to imagine the very heart of the Khumbu Icefall, I always think of a cold, white, ruthless hell-version of Easter Island: everywhere we can — and will — look, we see huge monolithic stone statues (“moai”), not moving an iota apparently.

(But they do.)

There are thousands, and thousands, and thousands. And more.

None of them are small.

Some are as big as a car; others are simply enormous — much larger than a blue whale.

And every now and then, one falls over.

And then another. And another.

Suddenly very deep cracks appear in the earth’s ground when we are trying to escape a falling statue.

And we are no more.

(The moai open their monolithic mouths and cry, but we do not know if they are mourning, or laughing.)

No, dear reader, as much as I am inspired, amazed and humbled by the beauty and extremes of Mount Everest (and many other mountains), I will never cross the Khumbu Icefall — not in this life, anyway.

But I guess if you want to describe hell-on-Earth, then crossing the Khumbu Icefall would be a strong candidate in every single list.

And mind you: no matter how many times you were able to pass —

It will get you in the end.