The Earth is just amazing, so goes the byline of a science channel. And truly it is awesome particularly when you consider these places! So, you must mark these extreme ecosystems on your tabletop globe as must-see places before you hit the bucket.

Tristan da Cunha

If you want to get away from all the things that executive desk sets signify, then the islands of Tristan da Cunha are the place to be. It is, after all, the world’s most isolated inhabited island group, located almost 3,000 kilometers from South Africa, its closest neighbor. Thus, you cannot expect Wall Street to establish offices there!

And with just 271 people belonging to 80 families sharing just 8 surnames, you will be forgiven if thoughts of incest cross through your mind. Still, it must be nice to live in a place where everybody knows everybody! Just don’t get seriously ill. You might just die a premature death because the closest hospital is thousands of miles away, in Cape Town.

Oymyakonsky, Sakha Republic, Russia

Yes, it’s pronounced as “Oh, my achin’ skin!” No, really. This tiny Russian village located along the Indigirka River is so cold that even your skin will ache down to its last layer of fat, if it still hasn’t frozen to the consistency of ice.

Many places have laid claim to being the coldest inhabited area on Earth but Oymyakonsky appears to be the winner. Temperatures as low as _96.2 øF have been recorded there although the Russian Base Vostok in Antarctica reported a lower and colder -129 øF.

Why go there, you ask? Well, at least you don’t have to worry about the hot-as-hell heat of summer! And you can have all the ice cones you want.

The Dry Valleys, Antarctica

When we think of Antarctica, we instantly think of endless expanses of snow as far as the eyes can see. But the Earth has its amazing secrets still and one of these is the Dry Valleys of Antarctica.

True to its name, these valleys are very dry deserts in the middle of very frigid ice! There are no moisture whatsoever either from water or ice or snow because the 200-mph Katabatic winds evaporate all moisture from the area. Think of it as traveling from the desert into the glacier in just a few steps!

So, whenever you feel like life is bringing you down, hop on the nearest plane and visit these places. Do something crazier than attacking your executive desk pad out of frustration because you were, once again, sent to a boring meeting in a boring place called the conference room where you can just die of boredom. At least, you die of adventure in the abovementioned environments!

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