This Island Off the Coast of Brazil is Completely Overrun by Golden Lancehead Vipers, and it’s Illegal to Visit
OutdoorHub Reporters 06.28.18
Sitting out in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 25 miles off the coast of Brazil, there’s a dangerous island overtaken by deadly reptiles. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but this is no summer blockbuster dinosaur movie. . . this is the real deal, and it’s the stuff straight out of nightmares.
This mysterious island is known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, and thanks to an abundance of golden lancehead snakes on the island, officials in Brazil have actually made it illegal for anyone to set foot there.
Golden lanceheads are a species of pit viper, and are regarded as one of the deadliest serpents on the planet. A bite from one of these foot-and-a-half snakes could kill a human being in less than one hour.
According to Business Insider, up to 4,000 snakes have made home on this secluded island.
So, how did all these snakes wind up on that one particular island?
A local legend suggests the snakes were brought there by pirates desperate to protect their buried treasure on the island, which is an interesting theory, however, highly unlikely.
Queimada Grande was at one point part of Brazil’s mainland, but over time, broke away from the landmass and now floats in the Atlantic as its own island.
It’s been said, since it’s isolating move away from the mainland, the animals remaining there were forced to adapt – the golden lanceheads in particular. So, over time, mother nature worked it’s magic to help ensure the snakes could survive on an island with no other prey except local birds, who know the dangers of the land all too well.
The snakes, in turn, developed an extra-potent venom strong enough to kill any bird almost instantaneously.
The bottom line is, if you’re looking for a new vacation spot to sail off to, an island where a painful death literally lies coiled up in every corner is probably not your best bet!
