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13 Haunted Islands: The World’s Creepiest Places Surrounded by Water
Islands are often romanticized as peaceful, isolated retreats, but some of these isolated land masses harbor dark histories and eerie legends. Here are 13 haunted islands, each with unsettling tales and mysterious occurrences.
1. Poveglia Island (Italy)
Poveglia, a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, is often called one of the most haunted places in the world. It served as a quarantine station for plague victims in the 14th century, and later, a mental asylum in the 1800s. The island’s dark history is marked by tales of suffering, it is said that the spirits of those who died still haunt the island. Locals and visitors report hearing strange voices, seeing ghostly apparitions, and feeling an oppressive atmosphere. Poveglia remains off-limits to the public, only adding to its mystique.
2. Isla de las Muñecas (Mexico)
Located in the canals of Xochimilco, near Mexico City, Isla de las Muñecas, or the Island of the Dolls, is as creepy as it sounds. The island is scattered with hundreds of old, decaying dolls hanging from trees and buildings. The dolls were placed there by the island’s former caretaker, Don Julián Santana, who claimed they were a tribute to the spirit of a young girl who drowned nearby. After Julián’s death, visitors began reporting strange occurrences, such as the dolls’ eyes following them or hearing whispers in the wind.
3. Alcatraz Island (USA)
Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco Bay, is famous for its former prison, which housed some of America’s most notorious criminals. The prison closed in 1963, but stories of hauntings persist. Visitors and staff have reported hearing disembodied voices, footsteps, and cell doors slamming shut. Some have even claimed to see the ghostly apparitions of former inmates. The island’s turbulent history as a military fort, prison, and Native American protest site adds layers to its haunted reputation.
4. Hashima Island (Japan)
Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima or “Battleship Island,” was once a thriving coal mining community off the coast of Nagasaki. The island was abandoned in 1974 when the mine closed, leaving behind a ghost town of crumbling concrete buildings. The desolate, eerie atmosphere has led to rumors of hauntings, with reports of ghostly figures in the empty buildings and strange noises echoing through the deserted streets. The island’s isolation and rapid descent into decay make it a particularly unsettling place.
5. Roanoke Island (USA)
Roanoke Island, located off the coast of North Carolina, is the site of one of America’s greatest mysteries—the disappearance of the Lost Colony. In 1587, over 100 English settlers vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. The fate of the colonists remains unknown, and the island is said to be haunted by their restless spirits. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, hearing whispers in the woods, and experiencing sudden drops in temperature.
6. Isle of Wight (UK)
The Isle of Wight, located off the southern coast of England, is often referred to as “Ghost Island” due to its high number of reported hauntings. The island’s history includes tales of smugglers, shipwrecks, and bloody battles. Haunted locations include Appuldurcombe House, where ghostly monks have been seen, and the village of Bonchurch, where phantom carriages are said to travel along the old roads. The Isle of Wight is a popular destination for ghost hunters seeking to experience its eerie atmosphere.
7. Hart Island (USA)
Hart Island, located in the Bronx, New York, is the city’s largest mass burial site, with over a million bodies interred there since the 19th century. The island was used to bury unclaimed bodies, including those who died during epidemics and prisoners from nearby Rikers Island. The island’s grim history has given rise to ghost stories, with visitors and workers reporting strange sightings and feelings of unease. The isolation and the knowledge of what lies beneath the ground make Hart Island one of the most haunted places in New York.
8. Great Isaac Cay (Bahamas)
Great Isaac Cay is a small, uninhabited island in the Bahamas, known for its lighthouse and the eerie legend of a ghost known as the “Grey Lady.” The lighthouse was built in 1859, and according to local lore, the ghost is the spirit of a woman who lost her child in a shipwreck near the island. Visitors have reported seeing the figure of a woman in grey wandering the island, especially during the full moon. The island’s isolation and the mystery of the Grey Lady make it a chilling destination.
9. Sable Island (Canada)
Sable Island, located off the coast of Nova Scotia, is a remote and mysterious place known for its wild horses and its reputation as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” The island is surrounded by treacherous waters that have claimed hundreds of ships over the centuries. Many believe that the spirits of those lost in shipwrecks still haunt the island. The foggy, windswept landscape, combined with the island’s tragic history, creates an eerie atmosphere that lingers long after visitors leave.
10. Chiloe Island (Chile)
Chiloe Island, located off the coast of southern Chile, is steeped in folklore and ghost stories. The island’s indigenous Mapuche people and later settlers developed a rich mythology, including tales of ghost ships, witches, and spirits. One of the most famous legends is that of the “Caleuche,” a ghost ship that sails the waters around the island, crewed by the spirits of drowned sailors. The island’s dense forests, misty hills, and old wooden churches only add to its mysterious charm.
11. Torres Strait Islands (Australia)
The Torres Strait Islands, located between the northern tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea, are home to the indigenous Torres Strait Islanders, who have a deep connection to the spirit world. The islands are known for their “Zogo” sites, sacred places where rituals and ceremonies are conducted. Many of these sites are considered haunted by ancestral spirits, and it’s believed that disturbing them can bring misfortune. Visitors to the islands are often warned to respect these sacred places to avoid angering the spirits.
12. Norfolk Island (Australia)
Norfolk Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, is known for its beautiful landscapes and dark history as a brutal penal colony. From 1825 to 1855, it was used as a place of exile for the most hardened convicts, who endured extreme punishment and harsh conditions. The island’s former prison buildings are said to be haunted by the spirits of the convicts who died there. Visitors and locals have reported hearing disembodied voices, footsteps, and even seeing the ghosts of prisoners in the ruins.
13. Eilean Mor, Flannan Isles (Scotland)
Eilean Mor is one of the Flannan Isles, a small group of islands off the western coast of Scotland. The island is best known for the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers in December 1900. When a relief ship arrived to replace the men, they found the lighthouse empty, with no sign of the keepers. The beds were unmade, and a meal was left uneaten, but there were no clues as to what happened to them. Theories range from abduction by a sea monster to alien interference, but no definitive explanation has ever been found. The eerie mystery has led many to believe that the island is haunted by the spirits of the missing men
Conclusion
These haunted islands, each with their own eerie tales and mysterious histories, remind us that isolation can sometimes amplify the strange and supernatural. From the spirits of the lost and forgotten to legends passed down through generations, these islands are surrounded not just by water, but by an air of mystery that continues to captivate and haunt those who dare to explore them.