Most Remote Places in the World

In a world of 3G phone companies that battle for bars and coverage down to the last sand dune, it's a wonder that anywhere on Earth could be considered remote. Yet this list of places features inhabited islands with only seven last names, the ruins of a once-thriving dessert oasis, a school that students reach by snowmobile ride, and a large city that's closest comparison is over 1,000 miles away. These are some of the most remote places on Earth.

Bouvet Island- Sci-Fi fans might remember this remote place on Earth by the Norwegian name Bouvetoya in Aliens vs. Predators. Appearing as a desolate island covered in a combination of volcanoes and glaciers, the A v. P version wasn't far from the truth. Bouvet Island's nearest land mass is a cold 1,000 miles away- Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Reaching Bouvet Island is largely unreachable, even by boat. The shores are sheer sheets of smooth ice, thanks to the heavy waves constantly beating on Bouvet. In fact, the only "safe" way onto shore is by helicopter drop. The Norwegians did it back in 1994, creating a small field station for weather research. However, their weather satellites could no longer make contact with the station as of 2007. They assume an avalanche destroyed it. Or aliens.

Tristan De Cunha- "The most remote place on Earth" is Tristan De Cunha's slogan. No doubt it could be true: the nearest mainland city is South Africa's Cape Town, a mere 1,763 miles away. Tristan is in the South Atlantic Ocean and is so small that most cartographers can't get it to show up on a map due to poor resolution. Also known as the most isolated settlement on Earth, Tristan's population is made of 270 British citizens that aren't afraid to live on an island that is also home to a live volcano. The locals have been isolated for so long that only seven surnames exist in Tristan De Cunha! If you want to visit and possibly add an eighth name, you'll have to leave by one of only 12 fishing vessel berths that launch from Cape Town.

Ascension Island- There are a multitude of satellites that orbit the Earth's atmosphere, constantly beaming information beyond comparable speeds. Yet some of these satellites wouldn't even function had it not been for a group of workers that reside on Ascension Island, a 57 square-mile island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. It's nearest neighbor is St. Helena, which is 800 miles away. Although Ascension Island is far away from any major land, some tourists take pleasure in hitting the greens of what was once known as the world's worst golf course according to the 2008 Guinness Book of World Records. It seems the English like a good getaway to remote places on Earth- Tristan, Ascension and St. Helena are all British-owned territories.

Palmyra, Syria- Once a thriving oasis for travelers going through Syria, Palmyra is now a tourist spot full of ruins located in a six-kilometer square area. Thousands of years ago, Palmyra was known as the "bride of the dessert". Now it's only inhabited by guides and tourist-related buildings. You can reach Palmyra by bus from Damascus. Just be prepared for a 3-hour ride through dunes and dunes and dunes of sand. Yet when you arrive, you might be awestruck by the Temple of Bel, which is a group of towering columns and carvings that date back to 2,000 B.C.

Angle Inlet, Minnesota- One of the most remote places on Earth is actually in the United States. Despite America's ever-expanding population and sprawl, there are still a few that aren't exactly a stone's throw away. Home to only 150 people, Angle Inlet is the Northernmost point in the continental United States; so north that people who want to travel by road must go through Canada to reach it. The local business is hosting fishing trips for anglers looking to catch some Muskie or Walleye. Angle Inlet is also home to Minnesota's last one-room school. Many students must travel by snowmobile to get to class! It isn't uncommon for student to arrive by boat during warmer weather.

Perth, Australia- The Aussies prove that even a large city can be a remote place on Earth. Located on Australia's west coast, Perth is home to 1.2 million people. Yet the next closest city with a similar-sized population is 1,300 miles away (Adelaide, South Australia). Perth is actually closer to cities in other countries. Dili, Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia are closer to Perth than Sydney is. Since Perth is a large city with an airport, getting there isn't incredibly difficult. Over a dozen international airlines touch down in Perth. Just don't expect a short drive to any other urban outfits.