Imagine knowing that you are at least 3 feet away from a deadly snake at all times?

No, I’m not talking about a tropical rain forest or a desert simply because their population of deadly snakes is nothing compared to the place I am going to introduce you to.

It is called Ilha de Queimada Grande.

Ilha de Queimada Grande is off the shore of Brazil, almost 93 miles away from São Paulo downtown. The most amazing fact regarding this place is that there are between one and five snakes per square meter, and I’m not talking regular snakes.

The snakes on Queimada Grande are a unique species of pit viper, the Golden Lancehead. The Lncehead is responsible for 90% of Brazilian snakebite-related fatalities. The Golden Lanceheads grow from 1 – 2 meters long, and they possess a powerful fast-acting poison that melts the flesh around their bites! These snakes are so dangerous that the Brazilian Navy has forbidden anyone from going to the island, with the exception of some scientific maniacs.

This place sounds like a terrible nightmare.

Tales of Death at Snake Island

There are two popular tales of death on this island that visitors and locals of the Brazilian coast love to tell.

First, there was a fisherman that wandered onto the island to pick fruits. He was obviously bitten, but managed to get back to his boat. This is where he died, and was later found in a pool of his own blood.

The second story is of the last light house operator to work on this island. Him and his family were sleeping, and a handful of snakes entered through a window. The snakes attacked the entire family, biting each and every one of them. They tried to escape and flee towards their boat, but they were bitten by more snakes and died instantly.

Source: Atlas Obscura