THE WORLD'S WEIRDEST ISLANDS

Travel across the globe with us to discover unique and beautiful lands dotted across oceans and waterways

- SCOTT DUTFIELD

THE SPINNING 'EYE'

Within Argentina's Paraná Delta is a curious floating island called El Ojo, meaning 'the eye'. Around 120 metres in diameter, the circular island seems to float on crystal-clear waters and move independently of its surroundings. The island, which is almost exclusively made of plant matter, appears to spin in a clockwise direction, which scientists have suggested is driven by a current that circles around the body of water it floats on.

While it continually rotates, the island scrapes along the surrounding banks, eroding them into an almost-perfect circle. The water that encompasses the floating disc is uncharacteristically cold, the cause of which remains a mystery. Satellite imagery of the island shows it has existed for at least 20 years. However, it wasn't discovered until 2016, when famed filmmaker Sergio Neuspiller travelled to the area while doing research for a documentary on the delta.

ENDEMIC SPECIES PARADISE

In the Indian Ocean, around 210 miles from the coast of southwest Yemen, is an archipelago of four islands and two rocky islets which extend the Horn of Africa. The largest of the islands is called Socotra, otherwise known as the 'jewel of Arabia'. Socotra is known for its unique landscapes, spanning across 1,400 square miles, and its endemic wild residents. Mountains occupy most of its interior and include deep valleys, extensive limestone caves and sandy beaches.