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.

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