Top 5 Snake Spots Around the World

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

Top 5 Myths About Snakes: Debunked

#5. Pythons sometimes measure their prey before consumption.

In a few tales that have spread around the internet, snake owners have reported strange behavior from their pets.  Often in these stories, the snake would refuse meals repeatedly and the owner would wake to find the snake in the bed with them, with its length stretched out beside them on various occasions.  After taking the snake to the vet to get an opinion on the matter, the vet says that the snake was measuring the owner and planning to eat them.

Though tales like these have spread around and seem to make sense, the truth is that a python does not measure its prey.  Since snakes are ambush predators, they do not have time to do this; if they did, they would likely starve.  Pythons are known to grab, squeeze and eat.  Many of their meals are not well thought-out, and if are actually too large, will often be regurgitated.  A python does not measure its meal, or wait on it if it is ready to eat.

#4. A constrictor snake has consumed a full-grown adult human

While countless stories, and even photographs, have swam across the web making this claim, there has yet to be an entirely affirmative account of it.

In few cases, babies or small children have been swallowed by snakes, but never has a full-grown adult been consumed.  An adult human is very difficult for a snake to swallow because of its less-than-ideal size and shape.  The shoulders on the human body are very hard for a snake to swallow.

While there have been many stories stating this, there has yet to be a single account that has credibility.

#3. It is dangerous to eat a venomous snake

When figuring out whether to eat a reptile, it is important to note whether it is venomous or poisonous.  If a creature is venomous, it injects its toxins into its victims, and if a creature is poisonous that means that the toxins are excreted through its skin or other outlets.

To answer the question, there are actually no poisonous snakes on the planet.  All snakes are venomous, meaning that in order to harm a person, a snake must puncture a person’s skin with its fangs to inject them with its toxins.  If this process, which immediately combines the venom in a person’s bloodstream, does not occur, then the toxins within the snake are of no harm.

Though in theory it is safe to eat even the most venomous snake in the world, it is still not exactly recommended.  Since if the venom is injected, it will be harmful, if it is able to enter the body through an opening in the skin, it mayl still be harmful.  If a person has a cut or abrasion in their mouth, and eats a venomous snake, they may still feel some of the effects from the venom.

Overall, it is considered safe to eat a venomous creature, but it is still risky.

#2. The function of a rattlesnake’s rattle

Some believe that it is used to lure in prey, while some believe that it is a mating call.  The most agreed upon reason that rattlesnakes have a rattle, supported by scientists and researchers, is that it is used when they feel threatened, or to warn potential predators that they are getting too close to it.

Another common myth about the rattle of these snakes is that it can serve as a determinant of the age of snake.  Though the rattle gains a new addition every time the snake sheds its skin, this cannot be reliable because the rattles are adding at various times and often break off. The rattle is made of keratin, which is the same as what human fingernails are made of, making it obvious how easily the rattles can break and tear.

A rattlesnake will not seek out large prey, such as humans, so if a rattlesnake senses one within a close perimeter, it will likely rattle its tail to warn.

Fun fact: To create the rattling noise, a rattlesnake will move its rattle at an incredible speed of sixty times per second!

#1. Snakes are aggressive towards humans 

Many people have ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes) because they simply do not understand them.  Many people have the misconception that snakes are always hungry, fierce and looking to attack.

This is usually not the case though.  Most snakes actually just want to be left alone by humans.  Snakes are generally only aggressive if they are hungry, feel threatened, or sometimes if they are disoriented.

More times than not, if a snake comes into contact with a human, it will choose to slither away quickly, rather than strike.  Some snakes even have warning tactics, such as a rattlesnake’s rattle, to warn of their proximity.

While it is true that snakes have a history of attacking humans, there is usually a cause for it.  Stepping on a snake, demonstrating intent to harm it, or invading proximity are the most common reasons a snake will attack a person.  In other cases, constrictor snakes have attempted to eat humans if they are starved and see no other options.

Top 5 Myths About Snakes: Debunked