Our planet is an exciting, beautiful, fascinating place which never cease to surprise us in its diversity and vitality. It’s home to magnificent mountains, wondrous volcanoes, majestic rivers, endless deserts, and so much more. Yet no matter how beautiful our planet is, we should never forget how dangerous nature can be. Iha da Queimada Grande (Snake Island), Brazil – hidden somewhere off the coast of Brazil, this island is widely recognised as the most dangerous place on the planet! The reason for this is quite simple – this place is full of one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Researchers estimate that about five snakes per square meter live on the island. There are several stories of people succumbing to the deadly predators in no time at all. One of these stories recalls a lighthouse keeper, who was attacked by the snakes and died. Snake Island’s lighthouse has been automated ever since that fatality, and the Brazilian government has prohibited any visitors from setting foot there. Bikini Atoll, The Marshall Islands – lost somewhere in the ocean, this island looks like a paradise, doesn’t it? But Bikini Atoll was actually home to numerous nuclear testing programs that turned the picturesque island of Bikini into a radioactive wasteland. The inhabitants were forced to abandon their homes, and even today this remains hazardous for living organisms: the abnormally high level of radiation recorded here can cause cancer. Lake Natron, Tanzania – it may look like an extra-terrestrial landscape, but this surreal image is actually the photo of Lake Natron in Tanzania! The alkali salt crust on the surface of the lake is so dangerous that all living creatures die just coming into contact with it. For obvious reasons, swimming in this lake is strictly prohibited, and the strong odour of hydrogen sulphide coming from lake’s surface won’t let you admire the stunning scenery for long. Madidi National Park, Bolivia – at first sight, this place looks very picturesque, but it’s actually very dangerous! Why? Because it’s home to the most poisonous and aggressive fauna in the world: contact with any of the plants growing in this park can cause severe itching, rash and dizziness. Any cut, or even a small wound, can become infected with tropical parasites. Valley of Death, Kamchatka, Russia – the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the Russian Far East, also has its own Death Valley! It’s located not far from the famous Valley of Geysers. High concentrations of toxic gases found in this area pose a serious threat to every living thing: plants and animals die quickly, while people soon start to feel unwell and get a fever, dizziness and chill.