Yes, it can be hard to believe, but despite the challenges posed by extreme isolation and harsh environments, people do live in some of the most remote and inhospitable homes around the world. These individuals often have very unique lifestyles and demonstrate extraordinary resilience. Let’s look at a few examples of real-life homes that are isolated in ways that seem almost unbelievable, yet people still manage to live there.
1. The Elliðaey Island Lighthouse (Iceland)
You mentioned the lighthouse on Elliðaey Island, and while the lighthouse itself is uninhabited, the surrounding Westman Islands are home to people who live in a similarly isolated environment. Heimaey, the largest island in the archipelago, has a small community of around 4,000 people who live there year-round. While it’s not as extreme as the cliff-side lighthouse, these residents face harsh weather and isolation from the mainland for much of the year. Some live in houses that are extremely isolated on the outskirts of the island, enduring long winters and limited resources.
2. Svalbard (Norway)
In Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, some people live in one of the northernmost inhabited areas in the world. The main settlement, Longyearbyen, has a population of just over 2,000 people, but the region is so isolated that it is effectively cut off from the rest of Norway for long periods of the year. The temperature can drop below -30°C (-22°F) in the winter, and in the dark winter months, there’s no sunlight at all for several months. Despite these harsh conditions, people continue to live there, working in mining, research, and tourism, adapting to the extreme isolation and limited infrastructure.
3. The Island of Gunkanjima (Japan)
Known as Hashima Island or Gunkanjima (meaning “Battleship Island”), this small island off the coast of Japan was once home to a thriving coal mining community. The island had densely packed concrete buildings where miners and their families lived. Though the mines were closed in the 1970s, and the island was abandoned, people lived on Gunkanjima for decades in a place where modern amenities were scarce. The homes on the island were extremely cramped and isolated, with nowhere to escape the industrial sounds and rough conditions. Now, Gunkanjima is a ghost town, but it stands as a testament to how people adapted to extreme isolation.
4. The Cliffside Houses in Cappadocia (Turkey)
In the Cappadocia region of Turkey, homes and entire towns have been carved into the cliffs and caves for centuries. People still live in these cave dwellings today, though modern amenities like electricity and plumbing have been introduced. These homes are carved from soft volcanic rock, providing natural insulation against the extreme temperatures of the region—hot summers and freezing winters. While it may seem like an ancient way of life, many people still live in these caves, embracing the solitude and unique living conditions.
5. The Desert Communities of Namibia
In the Namib Desert, one of the driest and most remote places in the world, people live in small, isolated communities. The Himba people, a semi-nomadic group in northern Namibia, live in small villages that are far removed from cities. These homes are typically made from mud and thatch, and resources like water are extremely scarce. Despite the challenges posed by the harsh desert environment, the Himba people have adapted their lifestyle, relying on traditional practices for sustenance and survival.
6. The Remote Villages of Bhutan
In the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, there are numerous remote villages that are hard to access. Some of these villages, like those in the Phobjikha Valley, are located in areas so isolated that the only way to reach them is through hiking along steep, narrow mountain trails. People in these villages live off subsistence farming and have limited access to healthcare and education. Despite the isolation, these communities maintain a traditional way of life that has been passed down for generations.
7. The Monks of Mount Athos (Greece)
Mount Athos, a mountain in northeastern Greece, is home to 20 monasteries that are completely self-contained and isolated from the outside world. Access is strictly controlled, with only male visitors allowed, and entry is limited to those who have special permission. The monks who live here follow an ascetic lifestyle, cut off from modern conveniences, and focus on prayer and meditation. These monasteries have existed for centuries, and the monks living in these remote areas have adapted to a life of profound solitude and spiritual focus.
8. The Tibetan Plateau (China)
In Tibet, remote mountain communities live at altitudes that are sometimes above 15,000 feet (4,500 meters). These communities, such as those in the Changtang Plateau, are often miles away from the nearest neighbor. These areas are incredibly difficult to reach, with minimal roads or infrastructure, and the residents rely on livestock and traditional farming to survive. They endure freezing temperatures and live in homes made from stone, mud, or yak dung. The isolation can be extreme, but the communities have developed ways of life that are intimately connected to the harsh landscape.
9. The Homes of the San People (Southern Africa)
The San people (or Bushmen) of southern Africa, particularly in places like the Kalahari Desert, live in extremely isolated environments. Many of their homes are simple, temporary huts made from branches and grass. These people often live in small, mobile groups, moving around the desert in search of food and water. Despite the extreme conditions, they have survived for thousands of years by living in harmony with the environment, and some still live in these isolated desert communities today.
Why Do People Live in Such Isolated Houses?
While it may seem unimaginable to live in such remote, isolated places, there are various reasons why people choose or have no other option but to live in these conditions:
- Tradition and Culture: Many of these isolated communities have been living in these conditions for centuries, passing down their ways of life through generations.
- Economic Necessity: For many people, these isolated regions are home to industries like fishing, mining, or farming that require living close to resources or work sites.
- Escape from Modern Life: Some choose isolation for a simpler life, to escape the stresses of modern society and reconnect with nature or religious practices.
- Survival: In certain remote areas, particularly in indigenous or nomadic communities, isolation is simply a part of survival and adapting to difficult environments.
Living in such isolated conditions might seem daunting, but for many people, it’s a way of life they’ve adapted to over time, shaped by necessity, culture, or personal preference.
