There are certain places on the planet that are off-limits. Not because of natural forces. They are forbidden due to governmental reckoning. Off-limits. No entrance. Do not pass GO.
Some of these directives are in place for good reason. Take Brazil, as an example. There is an island down there called “Snake Island.” Brazil’s “Ilha da Queimada Grande.” Yes. It is what it sounds like. A rocky isle filled with snakers. Not just any run-of-the-mill serpents. These are the world’s deadliest snakes. They are called the Golden Lancehead Viper. The venom is so poisonous that it melts human flesh around the bite. Okay. That’s just bad. And it isn’t like there are just a few Lancerheads here and there. They say there’s one snake per square meter in certain areas. Of course, the Brazilian government would not allow visitors. But here is the thing. For safety reasons, a doctor is required on the team of any research visits. Who in their right mind would step foot on that island to do research? I hope they are dressed in armor, like medieval knights.
Another forbidden spot is Chernobyl, in Ukraine. Most of us remember the terrible accident on April 26, 1986. That is when an explosion ripped through a nuclear power plant, making it the worst nuclear disaster in history. Remarkably, only 31 people died from the initial accident. But estimates say that between 9,000 and one million people will die of cancer from radiation as a result. The government is still trying to clean up the mess and the power plant’s director guesses the area won’t be inhabitable for at least 20,000 years. That some serious beyond-Madam-Curie-radiation.
Several other places on the planet are forbidden for health reasons and safety reasons. I have no interest in visiting those. But there are a few which are off-limits for preservation measure. I know it is for the good of the “location,” yet I sure wish I could be a fly on the wall sometimes.
Like in the Tomb of the Qin Shi Huang, in China. A few farmers, who were digging around in their dirt, discovered the tomb of China’s first emperor (Qin Shi Huang) in 1974. So then the archaeologists went in and found those 2,000 clay soldiers standing there, all in their rows. Guarding, guarding, eternally, that tomb. But here is the thing. They expect there are another 8,000 soldiers still uncovered. Despite careful excavation, the Chinese government has forbidden archaeologists from doing much else. They are not allowed to even get near the central tomb with Qin Shi Huang’s body. He died in 210 B.C.E., so the tomb has been sealed closed ever since. They say the reason for the “No Go” is two-fold. Respect for the dead, and a worry that the artifacts might be damaged by excavation. But if you ask me, something is amiss The whole thing is reminiscent of the mysterious chamber scientists recently found in the Great Pyramid of Giza.
And then there is the noteworthy Area 51, in good old Nevada. Not too long ago, a group of UFO fanatics threatened to storm area 51. The government, our U.S. Government threatened to shoot them on sight. Donald Trump’s directive.
Despite all of that, the U.S. government wouldn’t even admit Area 51 even existed for many years. Not until 2013. That is when documents were released (from 1992), mentioning the Nevada military base. Officials still haven’t revealed what type of research goes on there. Or course, we all know that the conspiracy theorists claim alien activity is being studied. As close as you or I will come is the birds-eye view of the spot on Google Maps. But that wide open, sprawling desert makes it hard for anyone to sneak in. Security is airtight. The restricted area is 4,687 square miles, making it three times bigger than Rhode Island, according to NPR. That’s a lot of space for a Green Man Camp.
So there you have it. A few of earth’s forbidden places.
I thought perhaps since most of us can’t travel due to COVID-19, it might make us feel better to hear about the places we can’t go, even if there was NOT a pandemic. Just doing my bit to add a little sunshine to your day. Have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread. That will help too.
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“We hunger in earnest for that which we cannot consume.”
― Nenia Campbell, Black Beast
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“You know the minute you stop thinking about it, it’ll happen.”
― Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key
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“The cause is hidden. The effect is visible to all.”
― Ovid
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