World’s most dangerous tourist attractions named and one’s in the UK
Baku, October 28, AZERTAC
While many tourists go on holiday to relax, some holidaymakers prefer their travel with a hint of danger. Research from holiday company, holidu, found the world’s most dangerous natural wonders, according to Express.co.uk.
The team looked at the average number of deaths and accidents compared to the number of visitors to find the world’s most dangerous attractions.
Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, was named the second most dangerous natural attraction in the world. In 2023, one person sadly lost their life on the mountain.
In 2017, seven people were killed on Ben Nevis while six people died in 2016. The majority of deaths occur off the main tourist track.
In 2018, three experienced climbers were killed in an avalanche on the mountain which threw them down the Number 5 Gully, on Ben Nevis’s north-east face.
Mountaineering Scotland recommends that only people with a reasonable level of fitness attempt the climb. Tourists should stick to The Mountain Track, which starts at the visitor centre in Glen Nevis.
While this is the most straightforward route to the summit, it’s a demanding walk which takes around six to nine hours to complete. Tourists should always check the weather forecast before attempting the climb.
The world’s most dangerous natural wonder was Mont Blanc in France. Some estimates put the mountain’s fatality rate at around 100 hikers per year. The mayor of Saint-Gervais suggested climbers should pay a 15,000 euro (£13,086) deposit to summit the mountain. He said inexperienced climbers need to be deterred from attempting the climb.
Jean-Marc Pelliex said: “Everyone has to be aware that when there are idiots who break the rules, there are consequences. Human consequences for them, because they can die. But there are also human consequences for the rescuers, who will go to look for their dead body or who will go to rescue them.”
The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, took fourth place on the list. Although many climbers reach the mountain’s base camp each year, fewer than 10,000 people have reached the peak.
Nepali climber, Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for summiting Everest. The intrepid climber has reached the top of the mountain an incredible 28 times. Lhapka Sherpa holds the women's record and has reached the top of Everest 10 times.
Despite Everest's height, Mount Fuji in Japan, is actually the third most dangerous natural wonder. In 2017, seven people died climbing Mount Fuji. All of them had gone up the mountain during off-season. The mountain is climbed by around 200,000 people every year, many of which are beginners.
Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro rounded off the top five. While the mountain can be climbed safely, amateurs should only do so as part of a tour. An estimated 10 people die each year and this is mostly due to altitude sickness.
Yosemite National Park is one of the USA's leading tourist destinations but it can be extremely dangerous. Tourists should be wary of waterfalls, cliffs and ledges with steep drop-offs. The park is also home to several hundred black bears.
Table Mountain is one of Cape Town's most popular tourist attractions but it's not without danger. There are risks of wild bushfire during the summer season and it's a snake habitat.
More than 500 people have died attempting to climb the Matterhorn, which averages at around three to four per year. Inexperienced climbers shouldn't attempt to summit the Matterhorn.
Top of many tourists' bucketlists, the Grand Canyon is one of the USA's most impressive natural wonders. But while it's beautiful, it can be extremely dangerous during certain weather. Hikers have been killed in flash flooding.
Ireland's Cliffs of Moher can be very dangerous. There are around nine deaths at the cliffs each year. Strong, sudden winds can knock people off balance and tourists should never approach the edge of the cliffs.
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