11 OCT, 2023
Dristi Sharma
Photo: Getty Images
NASA Earth recently took to Instagram to share a satellite image of 'Deception Island'. The post talked about the island, but also came with a warning: 'Enter if you dare'.
Photo: Getty Images
Deception Island is part of the larger Antarctic Peninsula region. It is the only region in the world, where ships can directly sail into the center of an active volcano.
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About 4,000 years ago, a powerful volcanic eruption occurred in the South Ocean. This eruption ejected massive amounts of rock and magma, forming the island.
Photo: Getty Images
The volcano eruption gave Deception Island its distinctive horseshoe or crescent shape.
Photo: Getty Images
Deception Island has experienced over 20 eruptions since 19th century, with the most recent ones between 1967 and 1970, along with seismic activity in 2014-2015.
Photo: Getty Images
Though it's one of the most isolated places on earth, the island is the most popular tourist attraction in Antarctica with over 15,000 visitors per year.
Photo: Getty Images
Tourists come to Deception island to spend time on the beach and sit in geothermal baths and also for treks because it is not entirely covered in ice.
Photo: Getty Images
Although numerous nations have since claimed Deception Island, it is presently governed by the Antarctic Treaty System.