With thousands of different snake species around the world, they exist on every continent except Antarctica. Though some places host very few of the deadly reptiles, there are some places on the planet with such heavy concentrations of them that many people will not step foot on. Here is a list of five places in the world where seeing a snake is almost second nature.
#5. Snake Pagoda, Paleik Myanmar
Though many cultures around the world believe that snakes are evil and should be completely avoided, you might be surprised that there are also some people who believe snakes should be worshipped.
The snake pagoda surrounds a temple that was founded in 1979 after a pair of pythons were discovered coiled around a statue of Buddha within. After multiple times of the monks returning the snakes to the jungle, they continued to return.
After seeing this strong attraction of the snakes to the Buddha, the monks began to see them as holy reincarnations of past monks, and eventually stopped removing them.
Nowadays, the snakes have come to much enjoy the area. With a peaceful existence beside the monks and daily feeding, many snakes will visit and reside around the temple, as well as many people who wish to see them.
#4. Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica
This park is home to the greatest concentration of water birds in South America, which means that it is a very alluring spot to the predacious boa constrictor snakes since these birds and their eggs are ideal prey for the snakes.
In this park, it is almost cavalier sight to see a large constrictor snake enjoying a meal.
In the dry season especially, the snakes are even more common. Tours down the Rio Tempesque are always exciting because of flourishing population of these oversized snakes and birds.
#3. Pantanal, Brazil
Many spots in South America are home to large populations of snakes. Within the Amazon rainforest lurks a wide variety of snakes, including some of the largest and most venomous. In Pantanal, Brazil, there is a spot so infested with anacondas that it has become quite a tourist attraction.
The Estrada Parque is a dirt road that runs through the center of southern Pantanal, where most snakes can commonly be found basking in the sun and exploring.
Containing a hefty concentration of the largest snake in the world has made this a road a sight to see. Just be sure to watch it from a distance!
#2. The Sonoran Desert
Located in Arizona, this desert is home to the most species of rattlesnakes in the world. Its climate and habitat are ideal to the snakes. Though there is an extremely large population, they are not seen as much because most rattlesnakes will strive to avoid human contact.
If the snakes feel threatened by what they perceive to be predators, their rattle will sound as a warning. These snakes tend to stay away from wide-open spaces and concentrate their efforts on smaller prey, such as mice and rats.
Interactions with them are more common during the warm seasons. Common in the region, many snakes will be featured in events such as rattlesnake round-ups, where many of them are showcased.
#1. Snake Island
Located off the shore of Brazil, less than a hundred miles from São Paulo, lays one of the most terrifyingly snake-infested lands on the planet. Ilha de Queimada Grande is an island is currently home to zero people and actually illegal to visit. The reason for this is because it has the highest concentration of golden lancehead pit vipers on the planet.
The golden lancehead pit viper is one of the most malignant species of snake in the world. Snakes in the lancehead genus are responsible for at least 90% of fatalities resulting from snake-bites in Brazil.
On the island, researchers have estimated that there is at least one, but possibly up to five of these snakes per square meter! The only people who regularly visit the island legally are officials who go once a year to maintain the lighthouse on the island. Some daring souls may also visit the island illegally in attempts to catch a few of the snakes, since they are valuable on the black market and to research.
Top 5 Snake Spots Around the World
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