There Is An Island That Nobody Can Enter And It Didn’t Exist Until 1963
By now most of us know that no matter how curious people get, there are places that we will never be allowed to step foot in. We previously wrote about one such place, a mysterious island in the middle of NYC, but nothing can compete with this unique island in Iceland. Surtsey is a piece of land that formed in 1963, after a huge volcanic eruption that has lasted for 3 years. Now, the land is used for scientific research and observations. The focus of the work is to better understand how an ecosystem forms from scratch, without any human impact. There are only a couple of scientists that are allowed on the island’s premises, making it one of a few forbidden places on earth.
One of the main stories that surround this island revolves around a tomato. Yes, you heard right, a tomato. Since the territory is carefully surveilled, only a small house that fits a couple of scientists is allowed on the island premises. Before entering the island every person needs to be searched thoroughly because one of the main rules is not to bring any seeds with you. Well, someone did not pay close enough attention to this rule and pooped on some lava. After that, a tomato plant sprouted up on the island leaving the scientists truly mystified. After they realized the origin of the plant it was immediately destroyed, as it would disturb their scientific research.
Scroll down to learn more about this island and make sure you watch our video that shares stories about other forbidden places on earth!
Surtsey is a truly unique piece of land in Iceland that was formed in 1963
Image credits: Ron Cogswell
It emerged after a huge volcanic eruption that has lasted for 3 years
Image credits: National Centers for Environmental Information
Image credits: The Surtsey Research Society
What makes this island so intriguing is not only its formation but the fact that nobody is permitted to enter
The main purpose of Surtsey is to better understand how an ecosystem forms itself from scratch, without any human impact
There are only a couple of scientists that are allowed on the island’s premises, making it one of a few forbidden places on earth
Image credits: The Surtsey Research Society
Before entering this island, every scientist is carefully checked so they won’t carry any foreign seeds in on themselves
One story that received a lot of attention was when a tomato starting growing on the island’s premises, leaving scientists stumped
Turns out somebody disobeyed the island’s laws and pooped on some lava
Image credits: The Surtsey Research Society
The tomato had to be immediately removed so it wouldn’t disturb the scientific research
Image credits: The Surtsey Research Society
One of the first native plants to grow on the island without outside interference was moss
Fulmar and guillemot were the first species to inhabit the island
Check out this video to learn more about other forbidden places on earth!
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Share on FacebookIt's amazing how nature can do things on its own. Nature does not need us, humans. It's the contrary, we need nature to live.
Some spores also can be windborn and some seeds etc are water born
Load More Replies...But doesn't it make you wonder that if he or she didn't poop, they wouldn't have had the tomato grow? Then, it should makes you wonder what a Fulmar and Guillemot might bring to the island.
Load More Replies...Mother nature at its best again. She creates, she provides, she sustains.
In NL we have a forbidden island too, in the nature reserve Wadden Sea. It's called Zuiderduintjes. Its location is not fixed, because due to wind and sea streams it moves and changes in size every year. I love that we still have untouched nature!
I am tempted to lay a doodoo on this island just to see what might grow from it.
This is so interesting! Can't wait until a whole beautiful, diverse ecosystem develops! ✨
I think I will feed some tomatoes to a bunch of birds and release them off the coast of the island. Those few people on the island are gonna be in so much trouble when tomatoes start popping up Everywhere. "Uh, sir we found another tomato." Hehe. I jest. This is a pretty interesting thing. Worth some more time googling about the things that are and have happened there.
so you dont really need to be searched upon entering the island? just dont s**t on it.
Ten years after the eruption of Surtsey started, another volcanic eruption started on the island of Heimaey. Heimaey is only a few kilometers away from Surtsey and is the largest island in the archipelago. It had at the time (in 1973) roughly 5500 inhabitants. The eruption devastated the town; roughly 400 buildings were buried under the lava and a thick layer of ash covered the rest of the island. No one died and the whole population were successfully evacuated. I myself live on Heimaey and I can see Surtsey in the distance. Read about the Heimaey eruption and look at the dramatic photos https://www.google.is/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/photo/514394/
https://www.google.is/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/photo/514394/
Load More Replies...Indeed, but I don't know how to get there, departure say today around 02:00, but I don't know from where :))
Another interesting forbidden island is the Venetian 'ghost island'. 400.000 of plague victims have supposedly died there and in the beginning of the 20th century, a mental hospital was built there. Of course this triggered all kinds of fantastic ghost stories. Nobody's allowed to visit this island and nature has long since taken over the place. It looks quite peacefully from airial view.
Well, the tomato seed could have arrived by the wind, or from a bird
Load More Replies...Really? "Without any human impact"? Global warming. Plastic pollution. Morons that have to get a look at it - disturbing wildlife. Without any human impact....right.
What morons? Nobody is allowed on the island. Have you actually read the article?
Load More Replies...It's not "has lasted". You only use the "has" if it's ongoing. It started in 1963 then stopped after three years.
It's amazing how nature can do things on its own. Nature does not need us, humans. It's the contrary, we need nature to live.
Some spores also can be windborn and some seeds etc are water born
Load More Replies...But doesn't it make you wonder that if he or she didn't poop, they wouldn't have had the tomato grow? Then, it should makes you wonder what a Fulmar and Guillemot might bring to the island.
Load More Replies...Mother nature at its best again. She creates, she provides, she sustains.
In NL we have a forbidden island too, in the nature reserve Wadden Sea. It's called Zuiderduintjes. Its location is not fixed, because due to wind and sea streams it moves and changes in size every year. I love that we still have untouched nature!
I am tempted to lay a doodoo on this island just to see what might grow from it.
This is so interesting! Can't wait until a whole beautiful, diverse ecosystem develops! ✨
I think I will feed some tomatoes to a bunch of birds and release them off the coast of the island. Those few people on the island are gonna be in so much trouble when tomatoes start popping up Everywhere. "Uh, sir we found another tomato." Hehe. I jest. This is a pretty interesting thing. Worth some more time googling about the things that are and have happened there.
so you dont really need to be searched upon entering the island? just dont s**t on it.
Ten years after the eruption of Surtsey started, another volcanic eruption started on the island of Heimaey. Heimaey is only a few kilometers away from Surtsey and is the largest island in the archipelago. It had at the time (in 1973) roughly 5500 inhabitants. The eruption devastated the town; roughly 400 buildings were buried under the lava and a thick layer of ash covered the rest of the island. No one died and the whole population were successfully evacuated. I myself live on Heimaey and I can see Surtsey in the distance. Read about the Heimaey eruption and look at the dramatic photos https://www.google.is/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/photo/514394/
https://www.google.is/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/photo/514394/
Load More Replies...Indeed, but I don't know how to get there, departure say today around 02:00, but I don't know from where :))
Another interesting forbidden island is the Venetian 'ghost island'. 400.000 of plague victims have supposedly died there and in the beginning of the 20th century, a mental hospital was built there. Of course this triggered all kinds of fantastic ghost stories. Nobody's allowed to visit this island and nature has long since taken over the place. It looks quite peacefully from airial view.
Well, the tomato seed could have arrived by the wind, or from a bird
Load More Replies...Really? "Without any human impact"? Global warming. Plastic pollution. Morons that have to get a look at it - disturbing wildlife. Without any human impact....right.
What morons? Nobody is allowed on the island. Have you actually read the article?
Load More Replies...It's not "has lasted". You only use the "has" if it's ongoing. It started in 1963 then stopped after three years.
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