The world is home to incredible treasures, some of which would remain hidden if the advances of modernity had not revealed them. This is the case of these four peculiar islands, which share an extraordinary shape that can only be seen from above.
Isabela Island
Isabela is the youngest and most extensive island in the Galapagos archipelago with just over 4.500 kilometers of surface. It was named in honor of Queen Isabel I of Castile and its fame comes from the curious shape that it presents seen from the heights, that of a seahorse. The shape of the island is due to the fusion of six large volcanoes, five of them active, into a single mass.
Puerto Villamil is the only populated place on the island with 864 inhabitants. What was once a quiet little fishing village today they have become one of the most important tourist destinations in the Galapagos archipelago.
Its main attractions lie in ecotourism. On Isabela Island you can find five species of giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flamingos, penguins, sea lions and even sharks, so animal lovers will be delighted. In addition, Isabela has spectacular viewpoints from where you can glimpse the summit of the Sierra Negra volcano to the calmest beaches, lagoons and bays with crystal clear waters in the surroundings. However, the island lacks potable water.
Isle of Galesnjak
The island of Galesnjak, off the Croatian coast, is the ideal destination for lovers. In 2009 it was nicknamed 'the island of love' after Google Earth discovered its peculiar heart shape with some aerial photographs.
This quirk of nature is one of the few geographic forms on the planet with this romantic morphology and represents the perfect place for romantic encounters, as it has virgin beaches with fine sand, turquoise waters and beautiful sunsets.
The island of Galesnjak is part of the small Skoljici archipelago that is located south of the port of Zadar, about 600 meters from the Dalmatian coast. Although it is a private property, the Croatian coastal law establishes that a thousand meters of beach is always a public good, so that anyone can go and enjoy the intact marine nature. In this way, many people come here to enjoy a day surrounded by nature, especially in summer.
However, to prevent mass tourism from disturbing the peace that is breathed on the island, the Croatian Ministry of Education and Science plans to create a pilot project to protect this peculiar area of the Adriatic coast.
Li Galli
During decades, the Italian Li Galli archipelago was one of the favorite secret corners of European high society to rest and enjoy the Mediterranean Sea.
Also known as Le Sirenuse, it is an archipelago of small islands on the Italian coast of Amalfi, between Positano and Capri, which is full of legends and symbolism.
This archipelago is made up of other islands: Gallo Lungo (which is shaped like a half moon), La Castelluccia (also called Gallo dei Briganti) and La Rotonda (almost circular in shape). Closer to the shore is Isca and finally, halfway between it and Li Galli) we find Vetara, a rocky outcrop that juts out above the water.
As noted above, Le Sirenuse was a haven reserved for billionaires that not only has beautiful landscapes to offer but includes an ancient Roman tower, a chapel, three villas, a boat dock and an exclusive hotel where stars like Greta stayed. Garbo, Ingrid Bergman or Sofía Loren, among others.
Turtle Island
Tortuga Island, also known as Guishan, is located about ten miles off the coast of Yilan in the Pacific Ocean. This island is the top of a high-rise underwater conical volcano, being the only asset from which fumaroles and solfataras emanate, possessing a certain form of tortoise.
Thus, the island is divided into three parts: the head, the body and the tail. In the head there is a small lake in which a statue of Guanyin has been built for the protection and safety of those who are on the island.
Isla Tortuga represents a protected area for geological and ecological studies. Due to its condition, there are no inhabitants on the island and visits are highly controlled to avoid the destruction of the environment.
In fact, you have to apply for a special permit at the Ilan National Coastal Center for Environmental Safety if you want to access Tortuga Island.