The 10 most-abandoned-places-of-the-world
1. Pripyat, Ukraine - This city was evacuated after the Chernobyl disaster in
1986 and has been abandoned ever since.
2. Hashima Island, Japan - This island was once a bustling coal mining community, but was abandoned in the 1970s and is now known as
"Battleship Island" due to its shape.
3. Kolmanskop, Namibia - This diamond mining town was
abandoned in the 1950s after the diamond rush died down.
4. Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA - A coal mine fire has been
burning beneath this town since 1962, causing the evacuation and abandonment of
the area.
5.Humberstone, Chile - This former saltpeter mining town was abandoned in
the 1960s after the industry collapsed.
6 Oradour-sur-Glane, France - This village was destroyed by Nazis during
World War II and has been preserved as a memorial to the atrocity.
7 Bodie, California, USA - This former gold rush town was abandoned in the
early 20th century and is now a state historic park.
8.Gunkanjima Island, Japan - Similar to Hashima Island, this island was a
th riving coal mining community until the 1970s when it was abandoned.
9.
Craco, Italy - This medieval town was abandoned in the
1960s due to a series of landslides and earthquakes.
1 Varosha, Cyprus - Once a popular tourist destination,
this resort town has been abandoned since 1974 when it was sealed off by the
Turkish military.
Pripyat,
Ukraine
Pripyat is
a city located in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. It was
founded in 1970 to house workers of the nearby Chernobyl nuclear power plant,
which was one of the largest and most advanced nuclear power plants in the
Soviet Union. Pripyat was a model city, designed to showcase the achievements
of Soviet communism. It had modern amenities such as schools, hospitals, sports
facilities, and amusement parks.
However, on April 26, 1986, disaster
struck. A catastrophic explosion and meltdown occurred at the Chernobyl power
plant, which released a large amount of radioactive material into the
atmosphere. Pripyat was only a few kilometers away from the power plant, and
the city was severely affected by the radiation. The Soviet authorities
evacuated the city and the surrounding area, and it has been abandoned ever
since.
Today, Pripyat is a ghost town,
frozen in time. The abandoned buildings, schools, and amusement parks are a
haunting reminder of the disaster that occurred. The area around Pripyat is
still highly contaminated and unsafe to visit without proper protective
equipment. However, in recent years, the Ukrainian government has allowed
limited access to the area for guided tours, and it has become a popular
destination for tourists interested in the history of the disaster and the
aftermath.
Hashima
Island, Japan
Hashima
Island, also known as Gunkanjima or "Battleship Island," is a small
island located about 15 kilometers off the coast of Nagasaki in Japan. The
island is a former coal mining community that was established in 1887 by the
Mitsubishi Corporation. The island's population peaked in the 1950s with over
5,000 residents, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth.
However, as Japan shifted from coal
to petroleum as its primary energy source in the 1960s, the demand for coal
decreased, and the mine was shut down in 1974. The island was abandoned, and it
remained closed off to the public for several decades.
Today, Hashima Island is a popular
tourist attraction and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the abandoned buildings, including
apartment blocks, a hospital, a school, and a cinema. The island has been
featured in several films and video games, including the James Bond movie
"Skyfall."
However, despite its popularity as a
tourist destination, access to certain parts of the island is restricted due to
safety concerns. Some of the buildings are in a state of disrepair, and there
is a risk of collapse. Visitors are required to wear protective gear and follow
strict safety guidelines during their visit.
Kolmanskop,
Namibia
Kolmanskop
is a ghost town located in the Namib Desert in southern Namibia. It was
established in the early 1900s by German colonizers who discovered diamonds in
the area. The town grew rapidly, and at its peak in the 1920s, it had a
hospital, a school, a casino, and the first tram in Africa.
However, as the diamond fields began
to be depleted in the 1950s, the town's population began to decline. By the
1960s, the town had been completely abandoned, and the desert began to reclaim
the buildings. Today, the town is a popular tourist attraction and a
fascinating example of urban decay in the middle of the desert.
Visitors can explore the abandoned
buildings, including the hospital, the casino, and the school, which are filled
with sand dunes and have been preserved in their abandoned state. The town has
been used as a location for several films and photo shoots and is a popular
spot for photographers and filmmakers.
However, due to the harsh desert
environment, the buildings are in a state of decay, and some are unsafe to
enter. Visitors are advised to take care when exploring the town and to wear
sturdy shoes and protective clothing.
Centralia,
Pennsylvania, USA
Centralia
is a small borough located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, USA. It was a
thriving coal-mining town in the mid-20th century, with a population of over
1,000 people. However, in 1962, a fire ignited in the town's underground coal
mines, and it has been burning ever since.
The fire created a series of
sinkholes, which caused damage to buildings and made the town unsafe. Most of
the residents were forced to evacuate, and today, only a handful of people
remain.
Centralia is often referred to as a
"ghost town" due to the abandoned buildings and streets. The fire
still burns underground, and smoke and steam can be seen rising from the
ground. The town has become a popular tourist attraction and has been featured
in several documentaries and books.
However, visitors are warned to be
cautious when visiting Centralia, as the ground is unstable, and toxic gases
can be released from the burning coal seams. The town is also private property,
and visitors are not allowed to enter any of the abandoned buildings.
Humberstone,
Chile
Humberstone
is a ghost town located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It was
established in the late 19th century as a mining town, with a focus on nitrate
extraction. The town grew rapidly, and at its peak in the 1940s, it had a
population of over 3,500 people.
However, as synthetic alternatives
to nitrate were developed in the mid-20th century, the demand for nitrate
declined, and the town began to decline. The last residents left in the 1960s,
and the town was abandoned.
Today, Humberstone is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction. The town has been preserved as
a museum, and visitors can explore the abandoned buildings, including the
church, the theater, and the swimming pool. The town's streets are lined with
abandoned houses and shops, providing a glimpse into the daily lives of the
former residents.
The town has been well-preserved due
to the dry desert climate, and the buildings are largely intact. Visitors can
learn about the history of the town and the process of nitrate extraction,
which was a significant industry in the region.
However, visitors are advised to
wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen, as the Atacama Desert is one of the
driest places on Earth, and temperatures can be extreme.
Oradour-sur-Glane,
France
Oradour-sur-Glane
is a small village located in the Limousin region of France. It was the site of
a massacre by German troops during World War II, which resulted in the deaths
of 642 residents, including women and children.
On June 10, 1944, a
German Waffen-SS unit entered the village and rounded up the residents,
accusing them of harboring members of the French Resistance. The villagers were
separated by gender and taken to different locations in the village. The men
were shot, and their bodies were burned, while the women and children were
locked in the church, which was then set on fire.
After the war, the
French government decided to leave the village as a memorial to the victims,
and it remains untouched to this day. Visitors can walk through the abandoned
streets and buildings, which have been preserved as they were on the day of the
massacre. The church and its burnt-out interior serve as a sobering reminder of
the tragedy that occurred.
Visitors are advised to
be respectful when visiting the village and to remember that it is a site of
mourning and remembrance. The village serves as a powerful reminder of the
atrocities committed during World War II and the importance of remembering and
honoring the victims.
Bodie,
California, USA
Bodie is a
ghost town located in Mono County, California, USA. It was established in 1859
as a gold-mining town and quickly grew to become one of the largest towns in
California. At its peak in the late 19th century, the town had a population of
over 10,000 people.
However, as the gold-mining industry
declined in the early 20th century, the town began to decline as well. The last
residents left in the 1940s, and the town was abandoned.
Today, Bodie is a California State
Historic Park and a popular tourist attraction. The town has been preserved as
it was on the day it was abandoned, with many of the buildings still containing
furniture, clothing, and other personal items left behind by the former
residents. Visitors can explore the abandoned buildings, including the school,
the jail, and the saloon, which provide a glimpse into life in the Old West.
The town has been well-preserved due
to the dry desert climate, and many of the buildings are in excellent
condition. Visitors can take guided tours or explore the town on their own, and
there are several campgrounds nearby for those who want to spend more time in
the area.
However, visitors are advised to be
respectful when visiting the town and to follow the rules and regulations set
by the park authorities. The town is remote, and visitors should come prepared
with appropriate clothing, water, and other supplies.
Gunkanjima
Island, Japan
Gunkanjima
Island, also known as Hashima Island, is an abandoned island located off the
coast of Nagasaki, Japan. The island was originally developed in the late 19th
century as a coal mining facility and became one of the most densely populated
places in the world during its peak in the 1950s.
However, as Japan began to shift
towards alternative forms of energy, the island's coal mines became
unprofitable and were eventually shut down. The island was abandoned in 1974,
and it has remained empty since then.
Today, Gunkanjima Island is a
popular tourist destination, and visitors can take guided tours to explore the
abandoned buildings and streets. The island is known for its distinctive
concrete buildings, which were built to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. The
buildings are in a state of decay, and many are overgrown with vegetation,
making for a haunting and surreal atmosphere.
Despite its popularity as a tourist
attraction, visitors are only allowed to explore a small portion of the island
due to safety concerns. The island is prone to collapse due to its unstable
structure and weather conditions, and visitors are advised to stay on the
designated paths and follow the rules and regulations set by the authorities.
Gunkanjima Island is a unique and
eerie reminder of Japan's industrial past and provides a fascinating insight
into a bygone era.
Craco,
Italy
Craco is
an abandoned medieval village located in the Basilicata region of southern
Italy. The village is perched atop a hill and was originally founded in the 8th
century. Over the centuries, the town grew and prospered, with a population of
around 2,500 at its peak in the 16th century.
However, as the population grew, the
village became overcrowded and suffered from a lack of water and sanitation
facilities. In addition, the town was situated in an area prone to earthquakes,
which led to several devastating earthquakes in the 17th and 18th centuries.
After the Second World War, many of
the town's inhabitants left to seek better living conditions in the cities. The
town was further depopulated in 1963 when a landslide caused significant damage
to the town's buildings, and the remaining residents were forced to evacuate.
Today, Craco is a popular tourist
destination, with visitors coming to explore the abandoned streets and
buildings. The town's winding streets and ruined buildings provide a glimpse
into the past and offer a fascinating insight into medieval Italian life.
Several films and TV shows have been filmed in the town, including The Passion
of the Christ and Quantum of Solace.
Visitors are advised to be careful
when exploring the town, as many of the buildings are in a state of disrepair
and are structurally unstable. The town is also situated on a hill, which can
make it challenging to navigate, and visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes
and be prepared for uneven terrain.
Varosha,
Cyprus
Varosha is
a district in the city of Famagusta, located on the eastern coast of the island
of Cyprus. Once a popular tourist destination and the playground of the rich
and famous, Varosha is now an abandoned ghost town.
In 1974, following the Turkish
invasion of Cyprus, the area was evacuated and has been under the control of
the Turkish military ever since. The district has remained untouched and
abandoned ever since, with the streets and buildings left to decay and crumble
over the years.
Despite being a no-go zone, Varosha
has become a popular site for tourists and photographers seeking to explore the
abandoned buildings and streets. The town remains fenced off and inaccessible
to the public, with only the surrounding areas open for visitors to catch a
glimpse of the abandoned buildings.
There have been several plans and
proposals to redevelop the area, including proposals to return the area to
Greek Cypriot control or to redevelop it as a tourist destination. However,
these proposals have been met with significant opposition and controversy, and the
future of the area remains uncertain.
The abandoned buildings and streets
of Varosha serve as a stark reminder of the impact of conflict and the human
cost of war. Despite its haunting beauty and potential as a tourist
destination, the future of Varosha remains uncertain.