Snake Island: Ilha da Queimada Grande

Ilha da Queimada Grande, commonly known as “Snake Island,” is a small island off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, that has earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous and cursed places on Earth. The island is home to thousands of golden lancehead vipers, and the Brazilian government has made it illegal for anyone to visit without special permission.

The Island

Location and Geography

• Located approximately 93 miles off the coast of São Paulo
• About 43 hectares (106 acres) in size
• Rocky terrain with temperate rainforest
• Steep cliffs rising from the sea
• Isolated from the mainland for approximately 11,000 years

The Snakes

The island is dominated by the golden lancehead viper (Bothrops insularis):

• Estimated 2,000 to 4,000 snakes on the island
• One snake per square meter in some areas
• Venom is 3-5 times more potent than mainland relatives
• Can melt human flesh around the bite
• Extremely fast-acting venom
• Endemic species found nowhere else on Earth

The Legends

The Lighthouse Keeper

The most famous story involves the island’s lighthouse:

• A lighthouse was built in the early 1900s
• A keeper was stationed there with his family
• According to legend, snakes entered through the windows one night
• The keeper, his wife, and his children were all killed
• When rescuers arrived, they found the bodies covered in bite marks
• The lighthouse was subsequently automated

The Fisherman

Another legend tells of:

• A fisherman who landed on the island
• While picking bananas, he was bitten multiple times
• He managed to return to his boat
• He was found dead in the boat, drifting at sea
• His body showed numerous snake bites

The Pirates’ Treasure

A more fanciful legend claims:

• Pirates buried treasure on the island
• They released snakes to guard it
• The snakes multiplied over centuries
• The treasure remains hidden, protected by serpents

Scientific Reality

Evolution

The snakes’ presence is scientifically explained:

• When sea levels rose 11,000 years ago, the island was cut off
• Snakes trapped there evolved in isolation
• Without ground-based prey, they adapted to eat birds
• More potent venom evolved to quickly kill aerial prey
• The population grew without natural predators

Conservation

The golden lancehead is:

• Critically endangered despite large population
• Threatened by habitat degradation
• At risk from inbreeding
• Protected by Brazilian law
• Subject of illegal wildlife trade (black market value: $10,000-$30,000 per snake)

The Ban

Government Restriction

The Brazilian Navy restricts access:

• Only scientists with permits may visit
• Military personnel maintain the lighthouse
• Visitors must be accompanied by a doctor
• Unauthorized landing is illegal
• Heavy fines and imprisonment for violations

Reasons

The ban exists because:

• Extreme danger to human life
• Protection of the endemic species
• Prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking
• Preservation of unique ecosystem

Modern Encounters

Scientific Expeditions

Researchers who visit report:

• Snakes everywhere, in trees, on rocks, on the ground
• Extreme caution required at all times
• Multiple close calls during brief visits
• The eerie experience of being surrounded by deadly serpents

Illegal Visitors

Despite the ban:

• Biopirates have attempted to collect snakes
• Thrill-seekers have tried to land
• Some have been bitten
• The island’s reputation attracts the foolhardy

The Curse Element

Supernatural Interpretations

Some view Snake Island as cursed:

• The concentration of deadly creatures seems unnatural
• The lighthouse keeper story has become ghost legend
• Local fishermen avoid the area superstitiously
• The island is seen as a place of death

As Natural Horror

Even without supernatural elements:

• The island represents nature at its most deadly
• Thousands of venomous snakes in a small area
• Evolution creating concentrated danger
• A place genuinely hostile to human survival

Cultural Impact

Media Coverage

Snake Island has been featured in:

• Documentary television programs
• News reports worldwide
• Nature and wildlife publications
• Horror-themed content

Popular Culture

• Referenced in books and articles
• Subject of online fascination
• Example used in discussions of dangerous places
• Symbol of nature’s dark side

Comparison to Other Dangerous Islands

North Sentinel Island (India)

• Isolated tribe attacks outsiders
• Government prohibits contact
• Different type of danger

Gruinard Island (Scotland)

• Former biological weapon testing site
• Anthrax contamination (now decontaminated)
• Human-made danger

Izu Islands (Japan)

• Volcanic gas emissions
• Residents wear gas masks
• Natural but different danger

Ecological Significance

Despite its danger, Snake Island is important:

Unique Ecosystem

• Endemic species found nowhere else
• Example of island evolution
• Scientific value for understanding adaptation
• Genetic reservoir for unique traits

Venom Research

The golden lancehead’s venom:

• Being studied for pharmaceutical applications
• May lead to blood pressure medications
• Could contribute to anti-venom development
• Represents potential medical breakthroughs

Visiting (Or Not)

Official Position

Do not attempt to visit Snake Island:

• It is illegal
• It is extremely dangerous
• There is no tourist infrastructure
• Medical help is far away
• You will likely be arrested or killed

Alternatives

For those fascinated by the island:

• Documentary footage is available
• Scientific papers describe the ecology
• The coast of São Paulo can be visited legally
• Other Brazilian wildlife experiences are accessible

Conclusion

Ilha da Queimada Grande represents:

• Nature’s capacity for concentrated danger
• The consequences of isolation and evolution
• A place where human presence is genuinely unwelcome
• A reminder that some places belong to other species

Whether viewed as cursed, haunted, or simply ecologically extreme, Snake Island stands as one of Earth’s most forbidden and deadly locations - a small piece of land where thousands of venomous serpents have created a kingdom hostile to human life.

The lighthouse still operates, automated now. The snakes still hunt birds in the trees. And the island remains closed to humanity, a sliver of land that evolution made into a deathtrap.