MAR 21 THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH

MAR 21  THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH

Coronavirus restrictions have many people feeling uneasy. Social distancing and sheltering at home creates anxiety. It's making urbanites nervous. It's making rural people suspicious. This issue came up during the DUNER-BLOG staff meeting. (Done remotely, of course). We began to wonder...where is the safest and...therefore...the most remote place on earth?

POINT NEMO. If we define remote in terms of isolation, that would mean the place farthest from another landmass. That place is Point Nemo. No, this tiny island is not named after the captain in the Jules Verne novel. Nemo is Latin for 'No One.' True, no one lives there. At 1,400 miles from the closest continent (Antarctica), it takes the title of most remote place on earth. NOTE: Point Nemo is mentioned in the HP Lovecraft story 'The Call of Cthulhu.'

TRISTAN DA CUNHA. This British Oversea Territory lays claim to being the most remote habitated place on earth. Let's see. Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, the nearest mainland is Cape Town, South Africa. The closest islands are the Falklands and St. Helena. All 246 people live on the main island and the other ten are nature reserves. One island in the chain is named 'Inaccessible,' just in case you wanted to try!

LONGYEARBYEN. Svalbard is the 36th largest island in the world. You've likely never heard of it because it is entirely above the Arctic Circle. The capital, Longyearbyen is northernmost city on earth. It's permafrost, meaning the land is frozen year round. So when people die here, they can't be buried here. Also interesting: The 2,000 residents are grossly outnumbered by polar bears. In fact, there's a law requiring residents to carry a firearm, as attacks are frequent.

CRESCENT LAKE. The previous three entries have all been islands. What about the opposite? What place on land is farthest from an ocean shore? Of course it's in Asia...that's the world's largest continent. Located in the middle of an equidistant triangle from the Pacific, Arctic and Indian oceans is a spot in the Xinjiang Province in China's Gobi Desert. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the driest places on earth too. The only place to get water is the tiny oasis of Crescent Lake.

PITCAIRN ISLAND. Our final entry is not only remote geographically, but its also remote socially. With only 53 inhabitants, Pitcairn Island has the smallest population of any national jurisdiction worldwide. Today's residents are all biracial descendants from Tahitians and the 'Mutiny on the Bounty' sailors such as Fletcher Christian. With no air transport, the only visitors are tourist charter boats that arrive six times a year.