We typically imagine palm trees swaying in warm breezes when we think about tropical islands. Yet remarkably, places worldwide create tropical microclimates despite being surrounded by frigid environments. These geological anomalies challenge our understanding of climate patterns and showcase nature’s remarkable adaptability.
Here is a list of 20 fascinating tropical islands in otherwise freezing climates, each offering its unique ecosystem and appeal.
Deception Island, Antarctica
Antarctica’s icy waters might surround Deception Island, but this horseshoe-shaped volcanic island harbors hot springs and geothermally heated beaches. Inside its flooded caldera, the natural harbor creates areas where visitors can swim comfortably while admiring the snow-covered peaks.
Volcanic activity beneath the surface maintains temperatures warm enough to support unique microbial life and vegetation not found elsewhere on the continent.
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
While not technically an island, the Blue Lagoon sits on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula and feels like a tropical oasis amid the Arctic climate. The geothermal seawater maintains temperatures between 98-104°F year-round, creating a steamy paradise even when surrounded by snow.
The mineral-rich waters form a striking blue contrast against the black lava field landscape and white snow, drawing visitors who float in warm waters while gazing at the Northern Lights.
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Kunashir Island, Russia
As part of the disputed Kuril Islands chain, Kunashir features dramatic volcanic landscapes with tropical microclimate pockets despite being in one of Russia’s coldest regions. Hot springs and fumaroles create areas where tropical plants thrive alongside snow-covered volcanic cones.
The island hosts bamboo forests and warm coastal areas that support species typically found much farther south, creating an ecological wonder in the North Pacific.
Uunartoq Island, Greenland
In southern Greenland, Uunartoq Island features natural hot springs warm enough to bathe in year-round, even when surrounded by icebergs. These geothermal pools maintain temperatures around 100°F, creating a surreal experience where bathers can relax in tropical warmth while watching icebergs drift by.
The contrast of steam rising from warm waters against the backdrop of Greenland’s ice fields makes for an otherworldly experience.
Hachijo-jima, Japan
Located in the Philippine Sea but officially part of Tokyo, Hachijo-jima maintains a subtropical climate despite being susceptible to snowfall in winter. The island benefits from the warm Kuroshio Current, which creates milder conditions than mainland Japan experiences at similar latitudes.
Palm trees and tropical flowers grow alongside occasional snow dustings, creating a fascinating climate contrast within Japanese territory.
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Sakhalin Hot Springs, Russia
Several hot spring areas on Russia’s largest island, Sakhalin, create tropical microclimates within an otherwise subarctic environment. The Daginsky hot springs maintain temperatures up to 104°F year-round, supporting lush vegetation and creating steamy oases even when the surrounding areas are deep in snow.
Local plants have adapted to these unique conditions, forming green islands within Sakhalin’s frozen winter landscape.
Rotorua Lakes, New Zealand
The volcanic lakes region around Rotorua creates tropical-like environments despite New Zealand’s South Island experiencing frigid alpine conditions nearby. Geothermal activity maintains warm water temperatures and humidity levels similar to tropical regions.
Steam vents, mud pools, and hot springs support unique ecosystems where heat-loving plants thrive alongside specialty adaptations to the sulfuric environment.
Wrangel Island Hotspots, Russia
Though famous as one of the last mammoth habitats, Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean contains several geothermal areas that create mini tropical zones. These warmer spots support plant species otherwise impossible at such northern latitudes and provide critical habitats for migratory birds.
The steam-filled valleys create bizarre scenes where lush greenery emerges from otherwise barren, frozen landscapes.
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Svalbard Greenhouse, Norway
While not naturally occurring, the Svalbard settlement of Longyearbyen maintains a large greenhouse that creates a controlled tropical environment just 650 miles from the North Pole. This human-made oasis produces fresh vegetables year-round despite exterior temperatures that can drop below -40°F.
The contrast between the palm-filled, humid interior and the Arctic landscape outside creates a striking juxtaposition of climates.
Unalaska Island, United States
Part of Alaska’s Aleutian chain, Unalaska Island features geothermal vents creating microclimate pockets that support surprising biodiversity. Despite being surrounded by the frigid Bering Sea, these warm areas maintain temperatures that support plants typically found in more temperate regions.
The island exists at the boundary of major ocean currents, creating unique climate conditions that alternate between surprisingly mild and brutally cold.
Onekotan Island, Russia
Within Russia’s Kuril Islands, Onekotan features a large caldera lake called Kaljcevoe that creates its microclimate despite the surrounding subarctic conditions. The volcanic activity beneath warms the soil enough to support vegetation, typically in warmer regions.
The contrast between steam-filled valleys and snow-covered peaks creates dramatic landscapes unlike elsewhere in northern Russia.
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Chinitna Bay, United States
Chinitna Bay is a hot spring area on the Alaskan coast that creates tropical-like conditions in small pockets. These warm zones provide essential winter habitat for certain species and support plant growth, which is typically impossible at such latitudes.
The springs maintain consistent temperatures year-round, creating oases where visitors can experience warm, humid conditions surrounded by Alaska’s famously cold environment.
Kamchatka Valley, Russia
The Valley of Geysers on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula creates tropical-like conditions despite being one of the coldest regions on Earth. This six-mile-long basin contains hundreds of geysers, hot springs, and steam vents that maintain temperatures supporting unique plant communities.
The valley forms a distinct ecosystem unlike anything else in Siberia, with specialized species adapted to the unusual heat and mineral content.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Iceland’s Snæfellsnes region contains several geothermal beaches where warm underwater springs create tropical swimming conditions despite the Arctic surroundings. These heated areas support unusual marine life and create fascinating temperature gradients where swimmers experience hot and cold water within feet of each other.
The steam rising from these beaches against Iceland’s dramatic volcanic backdrop creates surreal landscapes that feel otherworldly.
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Jan Mayen Island, Norway
This remote volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Norway contains several geothermal areas that create small tropical microclimates. The most notable is around the Beerenberg volcano, where fumaroles and hot springs maintain temperatures high enough to prevent snow accumulation even in winter.
These warm zones create stark vegetation boundaries visible from satellite imagery, showing clear green patches amid the otherwise white landscape.
Bogoslof Island, United States
This small Alaskan island in the Bering Sea is the tip of an active underwater volcano that periodically creates warm-water environments. The hydrothermal vents surrounding the island keep certain areas ice-free year-round and support unique marine ecosystems.
The volcanic activity constantly reshapes the island, creating new warm habitat zones even as others cool down.
Shiashkotan Island, Russia
Another of Russia’s Kuril Islands, Shiashkotan, features multiple hot lakes that maintain tropical temperatures despite being surrounded by subarctic conditions. The most famous, Kipyashchee Lake (meaning ‘boiling’), maintains temperatures near 200°F and creates a perpetual steam cloud visible for miles.
The surrounding areas support vegetation zones completely different from the rest of the island, creating bizarre ecological boundaries.
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Bouvet Island Hydrothermal Vents, Norway
The remote Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean features underwater hydrothermal vents that create tropical-temperature water zones despite being surrounded by near-freezing seas. While the island remains cold, these underwater hot spots support unique marine ecosystems that are more typical of tropical regions.
The extreme contrast between surface conditions and underwater environments makes this one of Earth’s most unusual climate boundaries.
Paramushir Island, Russia
The northernmost part of the major Kuril Islands, Paramushir, contains several calderas with hot lakes that create tropical conditions in small pockets. The most notable is the Ebeko volcano area, where acidic hot springs maintain temperatures high enough to support specialized heat-loving microorganisms.
The island experiences heavy snowfall but features green zones around thermal features even during the harshest winter months.
Akutan Island, United States
Part of Alaska’s Aleutian chain, Akutan Island features hot springs that maintain temperatures around 165°F year-round despite the surrounding arctic maritime climate. These thermal areas create small tropical zones where specialized plants thrive, and snow melts immediately upon contact.
The springs produce enough heat to create year-round fog banks that further modify the local climate, creating unique ecological niches.
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Nature’s Climate Paradoxes
These remarkable islands demonstrate Earth’s incredible capacity to create environmental contradictions. The geological forces that generate heat—primarily volcanic and tectonic activity—create these tropical pockets within otherwise forbidding climates. What makes these places special isn’t just their warmth but the unique ecosystems they foster, often containing species found nowhere else on Earth.
These islands remind us that our planet still holds countless marvels waiting to be explored and understood, where the impossible becomes possible through the power of geological wonders.
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