The expansion of extreme sports into a full-fledged category ushered in a new era in sports and has been on the receiving end of conservative criticism ever since. Contrary to popular belief, our love for risky sports can be put down to reasons which are purely scientific and actually very easy to grasp. Meanwhile. few can deny that there are those that do like living on the edge solely for the thrill, but I like to think there’s a deeper connection with human biology than it looks on the surface. So, the subject of this post will be trying to explain why we like to push ourselves to the extreme and what we could possibly benefit from that.

Before Sports There Was Surviving

First, let’s get the record straight there are degrees and types stress that actually promotes and triggers intrinsic self-repair mechanisms in the body. In other words, the lack of resistance/stress is not something we should be striving towards. Competitiveness and the ability to survive against all odds were passed down to us by our forefathers who didn’t have the luxury of ordering food online or having well-developed local medical care. In a nutshell, extreme sports could be interpreted as something that’s to an extent emulating the severe conditions we are no longer exposed to due to our evolution as a species. It’s no wonder that overloading the body with weight in a controlled manner stimulates growth hormone (HGH) synthesis, which in term can repair damaged tissue and increase human lifespan.

So, what’s in it for you? Imagine getting away with taking rash decisions or the boost in confidence you get manhandling a fully loaded barbell at the gym. What this does to your body is it stimulates it to releases a cocktail of chemicals that ultimately make it feel good. Let’s not forget the increased heart-rate that delivers blood to every bit of your body, thus revitalizing your system and giving you increased strength, and better focus until the body turns back to a relaxed state. This primal instinct in our bodies is what extreme sports were founded on, and boy, do we love how it feels… Sadly, people mistake this for a substitute of living a healthy lifestyle and then go on to blindly blame all their woes on ‘irresponsible behaviour’. But don’t worry, extreme sports are just one of the many risky things you can do to get the blood pumping

Your Body Has the Recipe for Success, Extreme Sports Just Give it a Little Push

Hormones our body absolutely loves are endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Some of those are released during a proper workout and some – under pressure of any kind. We could then safely say that taking risks is in our DNA. Overcoming obstacles like managing to land in one piece after an insane motorcycle jump gives not only that rush of adrenaline but also a sense of achievement. Believe it or not, the latter too is a natural response of the body and can be explained with biochemistry. Simply put, our system is programmed to reward itself for its achievements, after all the initial drive for us pursuing new heights is success makes us feel good.

Those places may be potentially dangerous to your well-being and are not recommended for mass tourists, adventure travellers, not even thinking of the women backpackers. Learn what may be the reasons and potential harms in this short article of the top 5 risky destinations around the world.

Danakil Desert, Ethiopia

Commonly known as the Danakil Depression, this desert is a contestant for the warmest destination on the globe with average temperatures of approximately 35 °C. Now, you certainly know why they call it a ‘depression’. Joke aside, the real reason for this depression to form is that the area is where three tectonic plates gather together.

Let the climate alone but the ethnic group of Cushitic peoples, a nomadic tribe, actually lives there. Besides, the burning sun, the region gets between 100 and 200 mm of rain each year. Translated into cooking terms, 100mm is about 0.2 out of the teaspoon volume. Moreover, the area is under the sea level… if the Netherlands is only about 6.7 meters below sea level, the Ethiopian desert go as low as 118.3m below than the Netherlands. You could also find lava lakes at night and ‘extremophile’ microbes.

Boa Viagem Beach, Brazil

The Boa Viagem beach coast, spread in a city of Recife, is a well-known area but also one of the most hostile places for the sun-sea-sand practitioners. Well, only if you omit the sea in this formula. For the past 10 years, 56 shark attacks occurred, half of which had a mortal result. Despite the caution signs, a Brazilian girl from San Pao is the most recent catch of the sharks. The lifeguards though passed away later.

It seems like the shark issue is the end result of the Suape port in the city, built in the late ’90s. During the construction, the estuaries of the river were drained, and long docks created. The estuaries were the area where sharks hunted and bred. Therefore, the construction of the port, lead them straight to Recife beach.

Caracas, Venezuela

There is no wonder that Venezuela is on the list, as only 17% of people living there have actually stated that they feel safe walking around the neighbourhood at night. An activity that Europeans may sometimes take for granted. Compared to the UK’s respondents in the survey, 80% claimed that they felt protected when roaming at night. The most frequent issues relate to people being either mugged or assaulted, their property/money is stolen, or locals are mistrusting the police authorities. Due to the reasons above, major investors like Coca Cola and General Motors have factories shut down, and the economy seems to be on a constant deterioration cycle.

The Kokoda And Black Cat Trails, Papua New Guinea

This trek is definitely neither for the faint heart nor for brave souls. The climate is defined by hot and humid subtropical conditions. It takes six days of hiking, climbing and swimming to complete the Black Cat track. Peculiarities of the hike include, but not limited to, dehydration, broken bones, illnesses and possible death/ kidnap by a savage tribe roaming the forests with machetes.

Skellig Islands, Ireland

The cliffs became known after the footage of the most recent Star Wars movie. Also, the island is declared a cultural heritage following the UNESCO’s protection policies. Nonetheless, the landscape views from the top and the-grass-is-always-greener steep hills may require physically fit tourists, willing to take the risk.

The ocean waves can be extremely high around this portion of land which makes it difficult to reach. Boats often deny transportation due to the strong winds and being unable to get closer to the island as the sea is always rough. This trip is definitely not recommended for people with sea-sickness.

Still, if you consider any of those destinations to visit, learn here why we take risks in our already complex lives.