In the middle of the South Pacific Ocean lies Point Nemo, the most remote location on our planet. Known as the oceanic pole of inaccessibility, it is the point on Earth’s surface farthest from any land. Located at 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W, Point Nemo sits more than 2,600 kilometers away from the nearest islands—Ducie Island in the Pitcairn group to the north, Motunui near Easter Island to the northeast, and Mahuera Island off Antarctica to the south. Its remoteness is so extreme that the astronauts circling above on the International Space Station are often closer to it than any human being on Earth.
The site was calculated in 1992 by Croatian-Canadian engineer Hrvoje Lukatela, who gave it the name “Nemo.” In Latin, nemo means “no one,” and the name also nods to Captain Nemo of Jules Verne’s classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The emptiness of Point Nemo fits both meanings perfectly.
Because of its isolation, Point Nemo has become the world’s spacecraft cemetery. For decades, space agencies such as NASA, Roscosmos, and the European Space Agency have guided defunct satellites and large spacecraft toward this region to ensure that debris falls safely into the ocean, far away from people. Russia’s Mir space station, which re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in 2001, was one of the most famous structures laid to rest near this remote patch of sea.
Yet, despite its nickname as a “graveyard,” Point Nemo is not entirely lifeless. It lies within the South Pacific Gyre, a region where rotating currents prevent nutrient-rich waters from reaching the surface. As a result, marine life here is scarce compared with other oceans. Only hardy microorganisms and small plankton thrive in these waters, making it one of the least biologically active places on Earth. The eerie silence of this desert-like ocean has added to its mystery. In 1997, a powerful underwater sound known as the “Bloop” was recorded near Point Nemo, sparking speculation about giant sea creatures. Scientists later traced it to the cracking of icebergs, but the legend lingers.
In January 2025, Point Nemo was placed into the spotlight once again—this time by human endeavor. Two Indian naval officers, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. from Kozhikode, Kerala, and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A. from Puducherry, crossed Point Nemo during their circumnavigation mission aboard INSV Tarini. Their voyage, part of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition, became historic as they sailed through the planet’s most inaccessible waters, a place few humans have ever reached. For Dilna, who once faced repeated rejections before joining the Navy, the feat was a personal triumph. For India, it marked a proud moment of resilience, courage, and exploration.
Point Nemo thus stands at the crossroads of science, mystery, and the human spirit. It is a blank spot on the map where Earth and space meet—both an oceanic desert and a cosmic graveyard. Yet when sailors cross it, as Dilna and Roopa did, this lonely place transforms into a stage for extraordinary human achievement.