Point Nemo, located in the South Pacific Ocean, is the point on Earth farthest from any land, so remote that astronauts aboard the International Space Station are frequently closer to it than any human on the surface.
Location and definition
Point Nemo, the Pacific Pole of Inaccessibility, lies at approximately 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W in the South Pacific Gyre; it is defined as the spot with the greatest distance to the nearest landmasses, roughly 2,688 kilometres from the closest islands.
Environment and oceanography
The region around Point Nemo is characterised by vast, nutrient‑poor waters, weak currents and low biological productivity compared with coastal zones; its remoteness and the surrounding ocean circulation make it one of the planet’s most isolated marine environments.
Human connections and cultural notes
Because of its isolation, Point Nemo has been used as a designated spacecraft cemetery for de‑orbited satellites and space debris, and it has entered popular culture as a symbol of emptiness and the limits of human reach, inspiring explorers, writers and curious travellers.
Visiting and significance
Reaching Point Nemo requires long ocean voyages and is rarely done for tourism; its significance is more conceptual and scientific, highlighting questions about oceanic isolation, marine ecosystems and how humanity manages remote parts of the planet.
Quick related facts
- Coordinates: ~48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W.
- Distance to land: ~2,688 km to nearest islands.
- Nickname: Pacific Pole of Inaccessibility.
- Notable use: designated area for deorbited spacecraft and debris.