Look At Me
Selfies were a thing in the '90s, (particularly in Asian countries) but it wasn't until the 21st century that selfie culture really took off in the rest of the world. Now, with selfie sticks and front facing cameras, the world is our selfie oyster. But some oysters are safer than others. These are some truly beautiful—but also crazy dangerous—selfie spots around the globe.
Trolltunga Rock: Norway
Trolltunga, which translates to "troll's tongue", is a large rock that—like a tongue—sticks out over the iconic Norwegian fjords. We can understand how the temptation to walk out and look out at the natural beauty in front, and below, is probably palpable—as is the temptation to take a pretty awesome selfie. Especially since the rock has been described by some as the best place in the world for selfies. Just be really careful...
Steinar Talmoen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Trolltunga Rock: Norway
In 2015, an exchange student from Australia was setting up to take a group selfie with some friends when her foot slipped and she fell to her doom. It isn't just the tip of the tongue that can be dangerous either. The walk up to the rock can be tiring and treacherous also. But speaking of dangerous walks, there might not be one any more dangerous than our next location.
Frankemann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mount Huashan, China
The perilous trek up the 7,000+ feet of Mount Huashan's elevation in China is a literal plank walk that has been called the most dangerous hike in the world. With that in mind, it would make sense to us that keeping all of one's focus on the hike, rather than trying to snap a cool selfie, is the way to go. But unfortunately, not everyone has felt the same way over the years.
Mount Huashan, China
The Chinese government isn't very forthcoming about how many lives have been lost on the mountain (because of selfies or otherwise). However, one incident we are aware of took place in 2019—when a college student was making her way along the planks, posting selfies in real time—until the selfies stopped. Sadly, she was later found to have taken a fatal fall after disregarding safety warnings and railings.
The Running Of The Bulls: Pamplona, Spain
The yearly running of the bulls in Pamplona is on many people's bucket lists. But if one isn't careful, it could literally be the thing that initiates the bucket part. Running through the streets being chased by ferocious bulls is dangerous enough, and people get hurt all the time without any selfies involved. However, the photo of one's self has led to a few horrific outcomes.
Jim Hollander, CC BY-SA 4.0,Wikimedia Commons
The Running Of The Bulls: Pamplona, Spain
In 2019, an American man, having just finished the race, tried to memorialize the experience with a selfie when he was gored in the neck by a bull. Thankfully, they got him to the hospital in time and his life was saved. Unfortunately, four years earlier, a man at a bull run in another Spanish town had perished when he tried to take a selfie.
Carlesmari, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Machu Picchu: Peru
The Incan ruins of Machu Picchu are a must see—and as amazing as they look in photographs, they are even more so in person. So, again, we get the appeal of taking a selfie with the ruins behind you. But again, as is the case with many of these locations....please, watch your step. These are ancient ruins, they've been there for a very long time. The stairs and walkways are well-worn and, given in the elevation, often covered with a moist layer of mist that makes them a little slippery.
Machu Picchu: Peru
A few years back, a German tourist was using a drone to take a "flying selfie". He was concentrating too much on controlling the drone and not paying attention to his feet, when he slipped and fell 100 feet down.
Tour De France: France
It's the most iconic bicycle race in the world, and every year thousands upon thousands of fans line the streets to get a glimpse of the amazing cyclists as they race by. But the Tour de France isn't all wide Champs-Élysées-sized avenues. Much of the race takes place on narrow roads—made even narrower by the fans on either side. See where we're going with this?
Tour De France: France
For some fans, just watching the athletes go by isn't enough. It's almost like it doesn't count unless they get a photograph of themselves in there as well. Which means turning one's back on the race. As one racer put it on Twitter: "Standing [in] the middle of the road with [your] back turned while 200 cyclists come at you, just to take a selfie. #think".
The Grand Canyon: USA
It's one of the natural wonders of the world and as such, the Grand Canyon is a major tourist attraction and a hotbed for naturalists, hikers and, of course, for selfie-taking. It seems like everywhere you go around the canyon it offers up another amazing vista that would look awesome in the background of your selfie. But there's something else to notice as you hike around this worldly wonder....There are a lot of spots without railings and/or safety barriers of any kind.
The Grand Canyon: USA
Estimates put the number of Grand Canyon deaths at about 12 every year, and at over 750 since they started keeping records. How many are selfie-related? We don't know—but it wasn't long ago that a woman taking a photo with some hiking friends fell right off the cliff.
Christian Mehlführer, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Train Tracks: Everywhere
Do we really have to say that taking a selfie on a train track is a bad idea? Obviously, it's not just the train tracks. Unfortunately, for many people, the whole point of taking a selfie on train tracks is to get the oncoming train in the shot. But as fast as your selfie finger is, trains are often much faster.
Train Tracks: Everywhere
There are too many train track selfie deaths to mention them all here. But one of the saddest involved three teen girls in Utah who found themselves sandwiched between two oncoming trains while trying to get a good selfie on the tracks. They got the shot with all of them in frame and the train's lights approaching in the distance, but all three of them were also struck by the trains.
Mattsjc, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cabo Da Roca: Portugal
Just over 26 miles from Lisbon, at the westernmost point of mainland Portugal, you'll find Cabo da Roca. The rocky cliffs, the ocean views, the 250 year old lighthouse....it's not hard to see why this place is great for selfies. And if you stay on the paths and behind the barriers, you should be able to enjoy the view and get some nice shots—selfie and otherwise. But not everyone does...
Vvlasenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cabo Da Roca: Portugal
In 2014, a couple who had warned their young children about staying behind the barrier didn't take their own advice and fell to their deaths after going beyond said barrier to take a selfie.
El Tatio: Chile
Located in the Andes Mountains, El Tatio is the third-largest geyser field in the world and a major tourist destination as well. The name "El Tatio" has different meanings associated with it—one of them being "oven". Needless to say, the geysers are very hot. Which one woman found out firsthand.
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
El Tatio: Chile
In October of 2015, a 68-year-old woman from Belgium was at El Tatio and as she tried to take a selfie in front of one of the geysers, she took one too many steps backwards—right into the burning water. She had burns over 85% of her body and perished in the hospital.
Victoria Falls: Zambia/Zimbabwe
Located between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls are a spectacle to behold. Think Niagara Falls but a lot bigger. The beauty and power of nature combine in these 5,604-feet wide falls that millions of tourists flock to each year to see in person. Whenever we talk about rocks and water and great heights, we must also talk about the dangers that combination brings with it—something that more than a few people have come face to face with, never to be seen again.
Victoria Falls: Zambia/Zimbabwe
Like Roy George Tinashe Dikinya who, back in 2021, was trying to get that perfect selfie when he slipped and fell over 300 feet into the gorge below—swallowed up by the powerful water of the falls.
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mount Everest: Tibet
With an elevation of 29,031.7 feet, Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak above sea level. The summit was first reached in 1953, by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, and the hike up this mountain has just continued to grow in popularity over the decades since. In that time, over 300 people have perished on the mountain with more than 200 of the bodies still there. For many people, the ascent up Mount Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience—and one that must be memorialized in a selfie.
Luca Galuzzi, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Mount Everest: Tibet
It's gotten so bad that you could find yourself waiting amongst a crowd of climbers for your turn to take that coveted selfie. The wind, the weather, the altitude—they all combine to make the climb up Everest a challenge, even for the best climbers in the world. With that in mind, any energy devoted towards selfie-taking could have dire consequences.
Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn), Flickr
Kīlauea: Hawaii
Kīlauea is an active shield volcano between 210,000 and 280,000 years old. It is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, with the last eruption occurring on June 3, 2024. Even Dr Evil recognizes the dangers of volcanoes and liquid hot magma, but that hasn't stopped people from trying to get a hot selfie with flowing lava around them.
U.S. Geological Survey, Flickr
Kīlauea: Hawaii
When not erupting, the danger levels are lower, but when Kīlauea is doing its thing, taking a volcano selfie is an eruption in pure idiocy. With the recent eruption, police had to set up roadblocks in an attempt to keep people from getting too close for that perfect selfie. Although, many just headed into the sea and onto boats where the lava was flowing into the water.
Plitvice Lakes National Park: Croatia
Founded in 1949, Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the largest national parks in Croatia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979. With all the lakes, caves and waterfalls you can truly get lost in the fantastical beauty of your surroundings. But you can also lose your life if you aren't careful.
Artem Kavalerov, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Plitvice Lakes National Park: Croatia
In 2015 and 2016, people fell hundreds of feet while trying to snap a selfie. The incident in 2015 ended in death while the tourist in 2016 was only saved because they hit a branch on the way down that broke their fall. Park officials tweeted this out: "Stop taking stupid and dangerous selfies. Thank you".
Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lion Rock: Hong Kong
We wouldn't recommend taking a selfie with an actual lion, but a lion-shaped rock can be dangerous as well. Lion Rock is a granite rock that resembles a crouching tiger and rests at an elevation some 1,600 feet high. People can hike up a winding forest path that leads to the head of the lion—but the hike itself can be treacherous, let alone the footing atop the lion.
Lion Rock: Hong Kong
There have been multiple deaths on both the trail and the rock with more than a few people slipping and falling right off the head. One tragedy that occurred in March of 2016 involved a man trying to get a nice selfie atop the rock. He lost his footing and....well, you know.
Mumbai: India
Yes, the entire city of Mumbai. Social media is huge in India and it's been reported that the country accounts for about 40% of all the selfie-related deaths in the world. With that in mind, city officials took matters into their own hands and passed some strict regulations.
Mumbai: India
There are now 16 "no selfie" zones throughout the city—from rocky cliffs to dangerous beaches. The new laws were put into place in 2016, following the sad demise of an 18-year-old girl who drowned while taking a selfie in the ocean.
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