A whitewashed house on a remote island in Iceland is worthy of being named the loneliest house on planet Earth.
Just try to imagine living here, without neighbors and crowds. On the right and left, there is only green grass as far as the eye can see. The house is not imaginary, but it really exists.
The house is on Ellidaey Island which is part of the Vestmannaeyjar Islands area, in the southern part of Iceland. Many people call it the loneliest house in the world, because there is only one house on the island. Tourists also became curious.
Quoted from On Manorama, Ellidaey Island is the third largest island in the Vestman Archipelago, which consists of around eighteen small islands. There is not much fauna on the island except for a Nordic bird species called the puffin.
Ellidaey Island itself only has stretches of grassland and hills, without a single tree. Pay attention again, there is a unique curve like the letter ‘U’.
In the middle of that arch, there is the loneliest house in the world. Many rumors circulated about the house.
Some believe the house was built by a billionaire who was preparing to move there if the apocalypse occurred.
So, what is the history of this house?
About 300 years ago, the island of Ellidaey was inhabited by five families. They live here because they want to find peace, as well as to hunt puffins (Fratercula cirrhata).
This bird is often found on islands around the Atlantic Ocean. This medium-sized bird has a distinctive characteristic, namely its bright and thick beak, and yellow legs.
In the following two centuries, many people on Ellidaey Island moved. This is due to depleting natural resources, as well as wanting to find a better life.
Most of them moved to mainland Iceland and continued to live by raising cattle and other animals.
Until 1930, Ellidaey Island was completely abandoned by its inhabitants. So this island is completely empty.
In 1953, the Ellidaey Hunting Association, a community of puffin hunters on Ellidaey, built a large lodge on the island.
Every few years, members of the community would come there to spend the night and hunt puffins. After that, the house was empty and uninhabited.
The house has no electricity, no internet and no plumbing. Members of the Ellidaey Hunting Association community who spend the night get water from dew or collect rain.
They are also required to carry a large supply of water to survive. Until now, the house on Ellidaey Island is still very well maintained.
Unfortunately tourists are prohibited from staying overnight, only members of the Ellidaey Hunting Association community are allowed to come to his house and spend the night there.
But don’t be disappointed, several tour operators in Iceland such as Rib-Safari offer speed boat tours to Ellidaey Island. From above the sea, tourists can take photos of Ellidaey Island and see from afar the loneliest house in the world.