Point Nemo, officially known as the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, is the most remote location on Earth’s ocean surface. This designation is given to the spot on the planet that is farthest from any landmass. The concept of a “pole of inaccessibility” describes a geographical point difficult to reach due to its distance from a physical boundary. Point Nemo’s extreme isolation is found deep within the vast South Pacific Ocean.
The Specifics of Point Nemo’s Location
The distance from Point Nemo to the nearest coastlines is precisely 2,688 kilometers (1,670 miles). This extreme distance means that the closest humans are often the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, which orbits approximately 415 kilometers (258 miles) overhead. The exact geographic coordinates for this remote spot are 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W, placing it deep within the South Pacific.
Point Nemo is equidistant from three tiny, uninhabited islands. To the north lies Ducie Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands. To the northeast is Motu Nui, an islet belonging to the Easter Island chain. To the south, the nearest land is Maher Island, a small island off the coast of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica.
How the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility is Defined
Point Nemo is not a natural geographic feature but a calculated point derived from specialized geospatial analysis. The location was first calculated in 1992 by Croatian-Canadian survey engineer Hrvoje Lukatela. He utilized a computer program to determine the point on the ocean’s surface maximally distant from all surrounding coastlines.
The technical definition requires the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility to be equidistant from three separate points on the closest coastlines. This geometric necessity ensures the point is the absolute farthest possible from any land. If the point were closer to only one or two landmasses, it could be moved farther away until a third landmass became equally distant.
The calculation method involves complex geodesy, which accounts for the planet’s ellipsoid shape, not just a flat-plane map. Lukatela’s software analyzed the entire global coastline data to find the single location where the distance to the three nearest proximity vertices was maximized and precisely equal.
Point Nemo as a Spacecraft Graveyard
The profound isolation of Point Nemo has given it a modern purpose as a controlled disposal zone for space agencies worldwide. The vast area surrounding the point is officially known as the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (SPOUA). This region is strategically used as a “spacecraft cemetery” for de-orbiting vessels.
When satellites and space stations reach the end of their operational lives, they are intentionally guided to re-enter the atmosphere over this uninhabited part of the ocean. This controlled re-entry ensures that any surviving debris falls into a location where it poses the least risk to human life, shipping lanes, and inhabited landmasses. The Russian Mir space station and many uncrewed cargo vehicles have already found their final resting place here.
The region’s low biological productivity, due to its location within the South Pacific Gyre, enhances its suitability as a disposal zone. This circulating current system limits the flow of nutrient-rich water, resulting in low biodiversity and minimal marine life. This environmental factor minimizes the ecological impact of sinking space debris. The International Space Station is currently slated to be decommissioned and disposed of in the SPOUA in 2031, making it the largest object added to the cemetery.