14 places to go if the world is going to end

Iceland is by far the most isolated country in all of Europe, and is hundreds of miles from any other land, making it tricky for any potential invaders to get to.

The country is also awash with useful resources for staying alive. It's powered almost entirely by geothermal energy from the country's many active volcanoes, and its coastal waters have some of the best, and most abundant seafood anywhere in the world. So in the event of having to hole out on the island for a long time, you can rely on being warm, and well fed.

Iceland also survived a near total collapse of its banking system during the financial crisis, so you know its citizens are pretty resilient, essential if the end of the world does come.

This island chain in the south Atlantic is actually the world's most remote inhabited archipelago, more than 2,000km from the nearest land. The population is just over 300, so we're sure they're looking for new residents. It's known for excellent fishing — the perfect career if times were to get really bad.

This is one for American patriots, who can take refuge in this far flung outpost of America. Guam is situated in the Pacific, and is home to a massive American military presence, perfect for keeping people safe in the event that Russian-Turkish relations go downhill and we find ourselves in the middle of World War Three.

Guam isn't exactly home to a booming economy however, with most of its income coming from tourists and the US government, but prior to being colonised in the 16th century, people lived on the island for more than 4,000 years, so it must be pretty inhabitable!

All you really need to know is that this idyllic city in northern Thailand is where Swiss investor Marc Faber makes his home. Faber is famous for being incredibly pessimistic when it comes to the state of the world. He's constantly issuing warnings about where you should live if the war comes (rural farmland), and what will happen to the dollar (it will be worth less than toilet paper).

On top of this, while Southeast Asia has been a hotspot for war, heroin, massacres, and political turmoil for decades, Chiang Mai has remained a stronghold of peace and stability. That's a great sign that it can probably survive no matter what history throws at the rest of us.

Denver has a few things going for it. Its got proximity to amazing shale oil reserves, meaning that there will always be fuel.

In the event of a war, it's the easiest city in the US to defend, because its a mile in the air, nowhere near the sea, and surrounded by mountains.

Being more than a mile above sea-level also makes it an excellent place to go in the event of global warming. In fact, global warming should help make Denver's surrounding agricultural land incredibly fertile.

Antarctica is probably one of the most inhospitable places in the whole world, and that's why its the perfect spot to hide out come the end of the world. If you can manage to get there with enough food to last the cold winter, you can base yourself in one of the expedition huts, and hunker down until things improve. No war is going to get as far as the world's southern most place.

The only downside is that if sea levels rise thanks to global warming, you might end up like this penguin.

This mountainous region of Indonesia wouldn't seem like a very hospitable place to live. But then, remember, in a time like this you're not exactly looking for hospitable. You're looking for survivable. And it turns out that the largest gold mine in the world is in Puncak Jaya, which means there's going to be tons of work and trade if you play your cards correctly. It also houses the third largest copper mine on Earth.

When you're in the land of Africa, Cape Town is as good as it gets. Gorgeous views and harbours, the city is the second most populous in South Africa with good reason. Even if everything went horribly wrong, Cape Town would quietly continue along, as if nothing had ever happened.

The state of Cape Town's economy is nothing like that of its sister cities to the north, thanks in part to the location of South Africa. It also is relatively free of Western foreign influence, yet, maintains stability and tranquility through the years.

Switzerland has undoubtedly proven itself a safe haven during Europe's bloody past.
Bern is surrounded by the Swiss Alps, giving it natural protection, and the Swiss capital is probably the best place to hide out in Europe thanks to its diplomatic nous.

Switzerland is famous for having remained neutral in almost every major conflict in recent years, and this neutrality makes Bern a pretty good place to hole up during World War Three. Swiss agricultural land is already some of the most fertile around, and this will only get better if global warming starts to really hit home.

Bern is believed to be named, conveniently, after the German plural for bear, "Bären". It even has a 500-year old tradition of maintaining live bear pits, and now a more humane 'bear park'.

This is the Island that Virgin mogul Richard Branson owns. If you call him up, we're sure he'll let you live there when everything collapses. After all, he always seems like a pretty nice guy.

Wind patterns make this region in South America, the perfect place to avoid any nuclear fallout. Again, there's a benefit of extremity. Nobody is going to bother invading Tierra del Fuego.

The Yukon is the westernmost of Canada's federal territories. It is sparsely populated and these days the economy is heavily dependent on government and tourism. But if things fall apart, the area is certainly capable of sustaining small, thriving communities. There is plenty of wildlife for hunting and trapping, which will be very important in the early years following a global catastrophe when farming is not really a viable option.

As civilization rebuilds itself, the area's rare metal mining will be a boon. Lots of rivers mean you'll be able to get around easily.

The weather is harsh, especially in winter. So bring a warm coat. And if you are on your own in the wilderness, you'll have to be especially careful of bears.

No matter what happens to the USA, Kansas City will probably be okay. It's not on either one of the coasts, so you don't have to worry much about security, a foreign invasion, or rising sea levels. It is surrounded by plenty of farmland (suitable for raising grain and livestock), and it's also at the intersection of several rail lines, so transportation shouldn't ever be problem, even if things get really bad — in fact, the city should thrive as a hub of activity.

Located in the north Atlantic ocean, at least three hours by boat from the mainland of Scotland, the Isle of Lewis is ideally positioned to avoid any wars or zombie apocalypses. Also take into account that no-one has successfully invaded anywhere in the UK for 950 years!

The island has got plenty of natural resources too, with great food, and all the whisky you could ever want, making Lewis a perfect place to hideout come the end of the world.

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