Most of us live in apartments or private houses. We are all used to having work, schools, shops and other establishments necessary for our civilized life nearby. But what about settling on an island? Yes, on a small piece of land half the size of Red Square and located in the middle of the water. No TsUM, no Pyaterochka across the road, no road itself. What shops, if your neighbors at best will be silent trees and equally taciturn (in human language, at least) birds and animals. Not ready yet? Then let's just find out how things are on the ten smallest islands where people live right now.
1. Bjarnarey, Iceland
This island is located near the southern shores of Iceland. Its size is such that a person would definitely be able to walk around the entire territory in one day. Bjarnarey cannot boast of a vibrant life - the only vegetation on the surface of the island is grass, and there are no permanent animals here either. The island would have long been recognized as uninhabited, if not for ... a lonely house, shrouded in legends. The history of the building is not known for certain, just like who lives (and what, in the end, eats) in the house today. There are suggestions that hunters who fly here by helicopter stay there during the breeding season of petrels.
2. Mont Saint Michel, France
It is also known as Mount Saint Michael. This island, located on the northwest coast of France, is essentially a fortress on the water. A small area of land below is surrounded by walls and towers, in the middle of the island there are houses and various buildings. The crown and main attraction of Mont Saint Michel is rightfully considered to be the Benedictine Abbey. In addition to its spiritual and historical significance, the monastery is also a real decoration of the island - as soon as the sun begins to set, Mont Saint Michel turns into a picturesque place, thanks to the illumination of the abbey. An amazing island with many cultural values annually attracts the attention of 1.5 to 2 million tourists.
3. Loreto, Italy
This beautiful place has been attractive for centuries for its seclusion. Loreto is a small private island and castle on Lake Iseo in Northern Italy. Originally inhabited by monks, a monastery was built here in the late 5th century, which lasted for several centuries and was eventually abandoned in the 16th century. During the visit of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo to the island in 1580, a hermit named Peter lived here. In the late 15th century, it was owned by the nuns of the Monastery of Santa Chiara and was abandoned in the 16th century. Now it is a private residence, a real gem of Lake Iseo in Italy.
4. Dunbar, Honduras
As with Bjarnarey Island, the piece of land called Dunbar contains only one building on its surface. However, further comparisons are useless - after all, on the rocky Dunbar there is a luxurious private villa, which actually occupies the entire territory of the tiny island. The owner of such an extravagant home eventually decided that six bedrooms would be too much for him alone, and began to rent out his apartment as a hotel. Needless to say, the island hotel is in good demand and is not empty - it is small, and there are always plenty of tourists and diving enthusiasts seeking an unusual holiday.
5. Gospa od Skrpjela, Montenegro
Another island with a historical and spiritual monument on its territory. This time we are talking about Gospa od Škrpjela, which is located near the city of Perast in Montenegro. On the surface of the island there is a church of the Mother of God, built by hand in 1630 as a talisman for sailors on voyages and journeys. However, 47 years later the temple was badly damaged by an earthquake, and the appearance in which the church appears to our eyes today, it acquired only in 1722. The monastery is the only building on the island - indeed, it is difficult to place something else on an extremely narrow piece of land of 3,000 square meters.
6. St. George, Montenegro
To visit the next island on the list, we do not need to fly to another country, and we do not even need to change the region of deployment. What is there, from Gospa od Škrpjela to the island of St. George is so close that this distance can be swum breaststroke if desired. There is also a shrine here - another Benedictine abbey, although the building is much more modest than on Mont Saint-Michel. In addition to the church, the surface of the island is occupied by a small forest, which creates a very picturesque landscape. However, you need to admire the views from afar - the island is closed to visits by ordinary people.
7. Island on Lake Galve, Lithuania
But on the island in the middle of Lake Galve, they are very happy to see curious tourists. The reason for their appearance here is the ancient Trakai Castle, built about 6 centuries ago. Indeed, this is rarely seen anywhere now: a real brick castle, as if it came from the pages of a fairy tale, and even on a separate island! In addition to the fact that the building itself is an architectural and historical monument, the castle also houses the Trakai Museum, illustrating all the stages of life and development of this city. In addition, you can sail around the island-castle on a boat, enjoying a romantic evening and a magnificent view of the illuminated fortress.
8. Pontikonisi, Greece
The famous piece of land in Greece also found its place in our rating. Pontikonisi is a place where man is in perfect harmony with nature. The island has a large amount of vegetation and trees, which makes it a real home for many birds and animals. The waters around the land are literally filled with various species of fish. The human trace on the island is present in the form of an active monastery - the holy monastery is located exactly in the middle of Pontikonisi, surrounded by forest. By the way, the second name of the island (Mouse) is associated with the temple. The fact is that the stone staircase leading to the monastery looks very much like a mouse's tail from afar.
9. Visovac, Croatia
As you can see, in most cases, a miniature island becomes habitable due to literally one building. Often, such a building is a temple. Visovac in Croatia is no exception. The island has an almost perfect circle shape, and on its territory there is a Franciscan monastery. The shrine is surrounded by several dozen cypresses and other trees: along with the clergy, various birds and animals share life on the island. In general, who else, if not monks, can settle on an isolated piece of land, the length of the coastline of which is only half a kilometer (it is easy to calculate how many times a day you can walk around Visovac along and across).
10. Wilhelmstein, Germany
It is worth taking a quick look at Wilhelmstein Island to see where we have come to see another representative of our hit parade. An artificial piece of land in the form of a rectangle, the sides of which are verified, it seems, to the centimeter. Also striking is the strict building erected right in the middle of the island. This is definitely nothing other than German precision! Initially, the island was built as a fortress on the water. A man named Duke Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe planned to use it to defend his own county and built a military college here. In fairness, the idea worked (the island did manage to repel the enemy attack), but only after Wilhelm's death. Today, there is a museum here.
11. Lake Bled Island, Slovenia
Well, here we come to the most interesting part. What, another church in the forest? In fact, it is – on the island of Lake Bled there is indeed a St. Mary's Church with a bell tower of medieval construction. Thousands of lovers come here every year not only to register their relationship, but also to get married, having first walked up the 99 happy steps leading to the temple. The uniqueness of this piece of land lies in the optical illusion that accompanies its contemplation. The thing is that if you look at the island, being at the same level with it, you get the feeling that it is simply hanging in the air! The visual effect is enhanced during fog. That is why this island is also called "flying".
12. South Bass, USA
The smallest tourist island in the world is located in the part of Lake Erie that belongs to the American state of Ohio. Its small area could accommodate a small brewery and winery, where the natives of these places work. In total, no more than 400 people live on the island. Tourists come here not only to try local alcoholic drinks, but also to ride boats on the lake and live in nature in camping.
13. Caye Caulker, Belize
This island is located in the Caribbean Sea, 20 miles off the coast of Belize. It is here that the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere is located.
The island is home to fewer than 1,500 people. Until the mid-19th century, Caye Caulker was uninhabited, with only occasional visits from British ships to replenish water supplies or make simple repairs. But then Mexican refugees arrived, planting coconut palms and establishing a fishing village with sandy paths that has now become a popular, albeit small, resort. The island even has an airstrip, although it remains vulnerable to hurricanes.
14. Saba, Lesser Antilles
In the Caribbean Sea, west of Saint Martin, there is the island of Saba, whose population is 1,200 people. The best time to visit it is in January-March. It is called the "pristine queen of the Caribbean" for its unspoiled state. There is practically no tourist infrastructure and places convenient for swimming. But this dormant volcano, which has become an island, is very attractive to divers. There is a unique marine park here.
15. Corvo, Azores
On the Azores Islands, lost in the vastness of the Atlantic, the most secluded and tiny is the island of Corvo. It has an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and the nature and green landscapes of the island, flowering hills, picturesque lakes and rocky shores delight with their pristine beauty those travelers who managed to get so far. And yet the name of the island translates as "island of crows".
The central Atlantic has a subtropical climate, which allows fishing, scuba diving, exploring the island in detail on leisurely walks or enjoying fresh seafood almost all year round. On Corvo, the only village of Vila Novo do Corvo is home to about 500 people, all of whom are very welcoming. In this very cozy tiny town, the houses are built of black stone, with cobbled streets flowing between them. The lifestyle here is absolutely pastoral, all the locals know each other very well. An old tradition here has become to lock houses with wooden locks, which are made by local craftsmen. Residents still use them, emphasizing their friendliness and openness.
16. Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands
In the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the coast of Argentina, there is a group of disputed islands (the Falkland Islands for Great Britain and the Malvinas for Argentina), among which the smallest bears the proud name of Sea Lion. The local waters have a very rich fauna: elephant seals, penguins, killer whales. Seven local residents keep order on the island, and the island becomes accessible to tourists in early October, and the season closes in April.
17. Little St. Simons, USA
Only 25 people live and work on this island permanently, and the rest of the residents are tourists. The island is located in the Atlantic waters near the coast of Georgia and is part of the Golden Isles of Georgia. The island has pristine clean sandy beaches and pine groves. The peak tourist season is in the spring.
18. Benguerra, Mozambique Islands
In the Mozambique archipelago there is the island of Benguerra, on which there is a national marine reserve. There are many different species of birds: flamingos, terns, kingfishers, white herons, cormorants. One and a half kilometers to the east of the island there is a coral reef, very popular among divers vacationing in Mozambique. Very beautiful corals grow here, clownfish, small sharks, grouper and a variety of bright coral fish live. Here nature has formed a unique pool among the corals, which is called an "aquarium", and in which it is ideal to snorkel.
The island's rhythm of life matches the leisurely existence of its inhabitants, who boast a rich culture. In the north of the island, African dhows dart across the horizon, some dragging fishing nets, while others take tourists to a coral reef.
The tropical Mozambique Islands enjoy summer all year round. But the best time to visit is during the dry and slightly cooler season from May to November, which is winter for Mozambique. However, it is too hot from December to January, and tropical rains pour down in February and March.
19. Yap, Micronesia
This island in the South Pacific is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. Only part of the island is designated for tourism, while the rest is given over to agriculture. There are excellent conditions for scuba diving.
The island is permanently inhabited by 1,200 people - they are simple, friendly, calm, smiling people, like on other islands. Guests do not bother them if they respect their way of life and traditions.
The local tribe has the hardest currency in the world – stone money. And not small coins, but three-meter circles weighing several hundred kilograms. The rate of each coin rose if a person was sacrificed for it. For example, if the head of the family died during a foray to the island of Palau, where the “mint” was located, then all the “hard currency” that his relatives owned rose in price. Even now, walking along the stone paths in the thickets, you can see these huge stone treasures, thoroughly overgrown with moss.
20. Madeleine, USA
Of the 22 islands of the Apostle Archipelago, only Madeleine Island is inhabited. 300 people live here permanently. The best time to relax here is from May to October. In the summer, you can even play golf, ride a bike or kayak, and in the winter you can ski or throw snow dust on snowmobiles.
