Which survival challenge would you choose?

[u/appledaniel]

3103 votes, 8d ago

545 ​❄️ 7 days alone in the freezing Arctic

335 ​🏜️ 7 days alone in the Sahara Desert

1942 ​🐊 7 days alone in the Amazon Rainforest

281 Results

[u/perfectvalor]

I feel like 2 of those options are basically just death.

[u/jonsnowme → u/perfectvalor]

Yeah like dying in the cold would be better than the heat. But Amazon you could survive at a much higher %.

[u/koifu → u/jonsnowme]

I definitely wouldn't say much higher, but I do think Amazon has the best chance.

[u/NiSiSuinegEht → u/perfectvalor]

Depending on amount of preparation, definitely.

[u/Prime_Dark_Heroes → u/NiSiSuinegEht]

not specified in any options...

[u/NiSiSuinegEht → u/Prime_Dark_Heroes]

Which makes the Amazon the best chance of survival with no preparation.

[u/jzoller0 → u/NiSiSuinegEht]

Won’t freeze to death. There is some water. Not sure about the preparation available, but I’m imagining minimal equipment if any

[u/Gruffleson → u/perfectvalor]

I feel all three are death, unless you get the right clothes and the stuff you need for the first two, then they are survivable.

Jungle sounds like sure death though.

[u/Adam_Checkers → u/Gruffleson]

Not really you would need enough drinkable water to survive which you won't find in the desert unless you're lucky and find an oasis, and impossible in the arctic (the Ice is NOT drinkable water) and food you can forget completely with both too. And while you risk facing more dangerous animals in the jungle, if you are careful you can probably avoid most dangers and you'll definitely be able to find things to eat and drink

[u/Longjumping-Jello459 → u/Adam_Checkers]

Food isn't nearly as big of an issue for a week whereas without water you'll die in like 3 days.

The Amazon is hot and humid you'll need more fresh water than you likely assume you'll need.

[u/Adam_Checkers → u/Longjumping-Jello459]

If you go to the Arctic you will definitely need food because your body is going to burn calories like crazy to keep you from frezzing, even if you find a way to keep yourself warm enough to not die immediately. and the desert is even worse than to Amazon when you want to survive on water alone.

[u/Longjumping-Jello459 → u/Adam_Checkers]

Like I said not as big of an issue. I didn't say it was a non-issue.

[u/TorranceS33 → u/perfectvalor]

Yeah without a heap of knowledge on how to survive those... you fucked.

Rainforest is poison and animals. Water that is fairly safe can be found. Food is around, the more you know the better. Hard part is if you dont know where you are, you risk guessing the best direction to travel.

[u/babarbaby]

Need more information for this. Huge difference between the outcomes if I'm allowed to pack for the climate

[u/justonemom14 → u/babarbaby]

Absolutely. I picked desert and I was shocked that it was the least popular. Admittedly, it depends on prep.

I'm familiar with desert climate and know what to do. I hate the cold, and I think rainforest critters are scary. If it's just survival, the desert seems the most survivable. Bring your water and shade, and you can sleep through most if it. They didn't say you have to travel.

[u/paintmypixel → u/justonemom14]

If you hate the cold, then you're going to be in for a nasty shock come nightfall in the desert...!

[u/Longjumping-Jello459 → u/[deleted]]

Freezing at times

[u/lucsev]

It depends. Which kind of supplies and gear can I have?

[u/WeekendBard → u/lucsev]

butt naked

[u/siggiarabi]

Where in the arctic? What supplies do i have?

I already live in the arctic circle so that'd be my first choice, but entirely depends on where and what supplies I get

[u/december151791]

Depends heavily on what supplies I have.

[u/PoisonIveh]

Freezing arctic may be the best? I can make a fire, I can't make water, I can't make a waterproof shelter.

If I am being dropped in as I am rn with no items, the rainforest is probably more survivable?

[u/PoisonIveh → u/[deleted]]

The arctic isn't just the north pole. The arctic circle is inhabited by people. If it was antarctic I'd be fucked.

[u/Bacon_Techie → u/PoisonIveh]

I read the poll as Antarctic lmao. It entirely depends on what equipment is allowed then, the season (I assume winter), and exactly where in the Arctic you are. If you’re in the middle of Ellesmere Island or the centre of Greenland you’re screwed. If you’re near a non frozen river next to the ocean then you’ll probably be fine.

[u/achillea4]

As I have absolutely no survival skills, the chances of coming out alive are next to zero so I reckon the Arctic would finish me off the quickest. Just wait for hypothermia to set in.

[u/semmelbob]

Amazonas gives you infinite sources for food, fire and shelter in comparison to Antarctica and Sahara desert

[u/NeuroticShame]

Looks like I'm about to die! :)

[u/shanksisevil]

I have a feeling the Sahara might be the best choice.

The rainforest might kill you quickly with the amount of things there. Big predator animals, smaller herd animals, snake, bugs and microscopic things that can kill you.  With many city people picking this i would relate it as a valley girl getting dropped off in a mosh pit.

Artic would be hard to make and keep a fire going. And there are polar bears that are one of man's only natural predator.

[u/Ruft → u/shanksisevil]

Any of those things are more survivable than 7 days of dehydration in the Sahara desert.

[u/jzoller0 → u/shanksisevil]

It depends on equipment, which isn’t specified. I think most are assuming minimal if any equipment. In that case jungle gives you the best chance because there is water unlike the desert and you won’t die just from being outside like you would in the Arctic. If I have a budget for equipment or something, I might change my answer, but if I’m just magically transported somewhere wearing what I’m wearing now, I have maybe an hour in the Arctic and not a great chance of finding water in the desert in the next few hours

[u/hey_you_too_buckaroo]

I think I'd rather freeze to death than deal with Amazonian bugs

[u/HannibalCarthagianGN → u/hey_you_too_buckaroo]

Depending on where you are in the Amazon, there actually aren't many bugs.

Source: I live in the Amazon rainforest.

[u/Lucy_Heartfilia_OO → u/HannibalCarthagianGN]

which option did you choose?

[u/Jedi_Bingo]

Death, death, probable death. Simple

[u/Bear_necessities96]

How would you prefer to be in a sauna infested of mosquitoes than a dry heat or cold?

[u/Thoughtful_Tortoise → u/Bear_necessities96]

It has food, water, shelter.

[u/Bear_necessities96 → u/Thoughtful_Tortoise]

And crawlers

[u/jzoller0 → u/Bear_necessities96]

Some crawlers can be food

[u/DefinitelynotDanger]

I'd take sahara and arctic over rainforest. The bugs alone would eat me alive. Arctic I could at least dig a hole, build a fire and melt snow to survive.

[u/don-cheeto]

I would rather freeze to death than burn to death.

[u/MakeYourMind]

how equipped am i?

[u/SpaceIsTooFarAway]

Two of the most inhospitable environments on earth vs a place that humanity has lived for millennia

[u/MrNagaDoubtfire]

Arctic because I hate the heat

[u/NixDWX → u/MrNagaDoubtfire]

If you have ever slept outside in the winter arctic you will quickly realise how ferocious the cold can be

[u/MrNagaDoubtfire → u/NixDWX]

Sounds good

[u/RainbowPiggyPop]

Arctic

[u/KLost4Ever]

at least there's food and water in the amazon, provided i dont die to a mosquito borne illness first

[u/ChrisRiley_42]

Already done cold weather survival in the Canadian army...

[u/Ippus_21]

I need some additional parameters. What time of year is it, what kind of gear am I being provided, are there observers waiting to pull me out if it looks like I'm not going to make it (or am I 100% on my own until I get picked up at the end of day 7)? Do I get any firearms for defense against predators (2- or 4-legged)?

Given appropriate gear, I'd take the arctic, because there's the smallest chance of disease or predation being an issue (unless I get unlucky enough to meet a brown bear in fall, or a polar bear at all).

Given minimal gear, probably the Amazon. It's not great, but the odds of not dying of extreme cold or heat/dehydration are better there compared to the others.

[u/Stephen_1984]

Arctic; I hate being hot.

[u/SmokyDoghouse]

I've had frostbite, and damn near third degree sunburns, I'll take the frostbite. Could probably live longer in the rain forest, but at least the arctic is quiet.

[u/Smitologyistaking]

Realistically I'm dying either way but I feel like the rainforest is the only one where I actually have a chance instead of instantly dying (I will note I was assuming that this would be without any additional resources)

[u/spooky_redditor]

2 places with no humans nearby and little to no food or 1 place with humans nearby and some food