An important question in the minds of many people is whether there is any place on earth where cockroaches do not exist. Cockroaches, which have existed on Earth for millions and billions of years, have an extraordinary ability to survive in all conditions and harsh conditions. These creatures have also been found 3-4 km below the earth, where they live comfortably. So, the question still stands, is there any place where there are no cockroaches? So the answer is, yes. We will tell you where cockroaches are not found.
In the 1980s and 1990s, when miners reached the Tau Tona gold mine in South Africa, which is 1,050 meters below ground, cockroaches were observed giving birth. Thousands of cockroaches were found 2.5 km below the now closed Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) mine in India. They were found in the Moneng gold mine in South Africa, which reaches a depth of 4 km, where temperatures range from 55-60 degrees Celsius. Although they usually come with humans, they make a strong home there.
When the cockroaches were transported into space, they lived happily and even gave birth to babies. In 2007, Russia sent cockroaches into space in its capsule. They stayed there for 33 days. It was a male and female pair. Cockroaches were conceived in microgravity. After returning to Earth, the female gave birth to 33 healthy cubs.
In 2014, Russia again sent cockroaches on the Photon-M4 spacecraft. This time, the scientists noticed that without gravity, their babies were born round, whereas on Earth, they were flat. Everything else was normal.
Cockroaches were also found alive and roaming in the rubble after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear explosions. They survive in space because they easily tolerate space radiation. They can survive in very low oxygen levels. They can also reproduce in low gravity. They can survive for weeks without food and water. That being said, maybe in 100-200 years, when we set up a colony on Mars, there will be the most cockroaches there.
But you will be surprised to know that there are many places on earth where there is not a single cockroach. Here are those places:
1. Antarctica
There is not a single cockroach on the entire continent of Antarctica. Temperatures here range from -50°C to -89°C, making it impossible for cockroaches to survive. There are strict biosecurity regulations at research stations. Everything is inspected to ensure that cockroaches or other vermin are not present. In 2015, a German cockroach was found at a station in New Zealand. It was killed immediately. To date, no cockroaches have been bred there.
2. Some of the coldest regions of Siberia
In Siberian regions such as Omiyakon and Verkhoyansk, winter temperatures can reach -60°C to -70°C. Cockroaches are not found there.
3. The highest peaks of the Himalayas
At peaks above 6,000 meters in the Himalayas, oxygen levels are low, and temperatures are constantly below freezing. Therefore, it is impossible for cockroaches to survive there. Even at base camp at 5,300 meters, no cockroaches are found.
4. Remote Pacific Islands
Remote Pacific islands such as Palmyra Atoll, Jarvis Island and Howland Island have little human presence and cockroaches have not yet arrived there. The US Fish and Wildlife Service strictly manages these islands.
5. Greenland’s icy interior
Cockroaches have been unable to reach there due to extreme temperatures and thick snow cover. They can be found in some houses in coastal towns, but they are completely absent in 99% of the interior. Even on some arctic islands, where the ice lasts for 10 months, it is almost impossible to find cockroaches.