Some abandoned ghost towns are now tourist attractions, while others might be dangerous or illegal to visit. Meet some of the most fascinating ghost towns from around the world.
#1 KOLMANSKOP (Namibia): Buried in sand
Kolmanskop is a ghost town in southern Namibia, a few kilometers inland from
the port of Lüderitz. In 1908, Luederitz was plunged into diamond fever and
people rushed into the Namib desert hoping to make an easy fortune.
Within two years, a town, complete with a casino, school, hospital and exclusive
residential buildings, was established in the barren sandy desert.
A couple of old buildings are still standing and some interiors like the theater
is still in very good condition, but the rest are crumbling ruins demolished from
grandeur to ghost houses.
the port of Lüderitz. In 1908, Luederitz was plunged into diamond fever and
people rushed into the Namib desert hoping to make an easy fortune.
Within two years, a town, complete with a casino, school, hospital and exclusive
residential buildings, was established in the barren sandy desert.
A couple of old buildings are still standing and some interiors like the theater
is still in very good condition, but the rest are crumbling ruins demolished from
grandeur to ghost houses.
#2 PRYPIAT (Ukraine): Chernobyl workers' home
Prypiat is an abandoned city in the "zone of alienation" in northern Ukraine. It was
home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers, abandoned in 1986 following
the Chernobyl disaster. Its population had been around 50,000 prior to the accident.
The buildings are not maintained, the roofs leak, and in the spring the rooms are
flooded with water. It is not unusual to find trees growing on roofs and even inside buildings.
This hastens deterioration, and due to this, a 4-story school partially collapsed in July of 2005.
home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers, abandoned in 1986 following
the Chernobyl disaster. Its population had been around 50,000 prior to the accident.
The buildings are not maintained, the roofs leak, and in the spring the rooms are
flooded with water. It is not unusual to find trees growing on roofs and even inside buildings.
This hastens deterioration, and due to this, a 4-story school partially collapsed in July of 2005.
#3 SAN ZHI (Taiwan): a futuristic resort
In the North of Taiwan, this futuristic pod village was initially built as a luxury vacation
retreat for the rich. However, after numerous fatal accidents during construction, production
was halted. A combination of lack of money and lack of willingness meant that work
was stopped permanently, and the alien-like structures remain as if in remembrance
of those lost. Indeed, rumors in the surrounding area suggest that the City is now haunted
by the ghosts of those who died.
retreat for the rich. However, after numerous fatal accidents during construction, production
was halted. A combination of lack of money and lack of willingness meant that work
was stopped permanently, and the alien-like structures remain as if in remembrance
of those lost. Indeed, rumors in the surrounding area suggest that the City is now haunted
by the ghosts of those who died.
#4 CRACO (Italy): a fascinating medieval town
Craco is located in the Region of Basilicata and the Province of Matera. About 25 miles
inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy.
In 1891, the population of Craco stood at well over 2,000 people. Though there had
been many problems, with poor agricultural conditions creating desperate times.
Between 1892 and 1922 over 1,300 people moved from the town to North America.
Poor farming was added to by earthquakes, landslides, and War - all of which contributed to
this mass migration. Between 1959 and 1972 Craco was plagued by these landslides
and quakes. In 1963 the remaining 1,800 inhabitants were transferred to a nearby valley
called Craco Peschiera, and the original Craco remains in a state of crumbling decay to this day.
inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy.
In 1891, the population of Craco stood at well over 2,000 people. Though there had
been many problems, with poor agricultural conditions creating desperate times.
Between 1892 and 1922 over 1,300 people moved from the town to North America.
Poor farming was added to by earthquakes, landslides, and War - all of which contributed to
this mass migration. Between 1959 and 1972 Craco was plagued by these landslides
and quakes. In 1963 the remaining 1,800 inhabitants were transferred to a nearby valley
called Craco Peschiera, and the original Craco remains in a state of crumbling decay to this day.
#5 ORADOUR-SUR-GLANE (France): the horror of WWII
The small village of Oradour-sur-Glane, France, is the setting of unspeakable horror.
During World War II, 642 residents were massacred by German soldiers as punishment
for the French Resistance. The Germans had initially intended to target nearby
Oradour-sur-Vayres and mistakenly invaded Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10th 1944.
According to a survivor’s account, the men were herded into barns where they were
shot in the legs so they would die more slowly. The women and children, who had been
held in a church, all perished when their attempt to escape was met by machine-gun fire.
The village was razed by the Germans afterward. Its ruins still stand today as a memorial
to the dead and a reminder of the events that took place.
During World War II, 642 residents were massacred by German soldiers as punishment
for the French Resistance. The Germans had initially intended to target nearby
Oradour-sur-Vayres and mistakenly invaded Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10th 1944.
According to a survivor’s account, the men were herded into barns where they were
shot in the legs so they would die more slowly. The women and children, who had been
held in a church, all perished when their attempt to escape was met by machine-gun fire.
The village was razed by the Germans afterward. Its ruins still stand today as a memorial
to the dead and a reminder of the events that took place.
#6 GUNKANJIMA (Japan): the forbidden island
This island is one among 505 uninhabited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture of
Japan about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki itself. It is also known as "Gunkan-jima" or
Battleship Island thanks to its high sea walls. It began in 1890 when a company called
Mitsubishi bought the island and began a project to retrieve coal from the bottom of the sea.
In 1974 Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine, and today it is empty
and bare, with travel currently prohibited. The island was the location for the 2003 film
‘Battle Royale II’ and inspired the final level of popular Asian videogame "Killer7".
Japan about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki itself. It is also known as "Gunkan-jima" or
Battleship Island thanks to its high sea walls. It began in 1890 when a company called
Mitsubishi bought the island and began a project to retrieve coal from the bottom of the sea.
In 1974 Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine, and today it is empty
and bare, with travel currently prohibited. The island was the location for the 2003 film
‘Battle Royale II’ and inspired the final level of popular Asian videogame "Killer7".
#7 KADYKCHAN (Russia): memories of the Soviet Union
Kadykchan was one of many small Russian cities that fell into ruin when the Soviet Union
collapsed. Residents were forced to move to gain access to services like running water,
schools and medical care. The state moved them out over a period of two weeks,
and they were taken to other towns and provided with new housing. Once a tin mining
town of 12,000 people, the city is now desolate. In their hurry to leave, residents left their
belongings behind in their homes, so you can now find aging toys, books, clothing and
other objects throughout the empty city.
collapsed. Residents were forced to move to gain access to services like running water,
schools and medical care. The state moved them out over a period of two weeks,
and they were taken to other towns and provided with new housing. Once a tin mining
town of 12,000 people, the city is now desolate. In their hurry to leave, residents left their
belongings behind in their homes, so you can now find aging toys, books, clothing and
other objects throughout the empty city.
#8 KOWLOON WALLED CITY (China): A lawless city
The Kowloon Walled City was located just outside Hong Kong, China during British rule.
A former watchpost to protect the area against pirates, it was occupied by Japan during
World War II and subsequently taken over by squatters after Japan’s surrender.
Neither Britain nor China wanted responsibility for it, so it became its own lawless city.
It was finally torn down in 1993 after a mutual decision was made by British and
Chinese authorities, who had finally grown wary of the unsanitary, anarchic city and its
out-of-control population.
A former watchpost to protect the area against pirates, it was occupied by Japan during
World War II and subsequently taken over by squatters after Japan’s surrender.
Neither Britain nor China wanted responsibility for it, so it became its own lawless city.
It was finally torn down in 1993 after a mutual decision was made by British and
Chinese authorities, who had finally grown wary of the unsanitary, anarchic city and its
out-of-control population.
#9 FAMAGUSTA (Cyprus): once a top tourist destination, now a ghost town.
Varosha is a settlement in the unrecognized Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prior to the
1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, it was the modern tourist area of the city of Famagusta.
For the last three decades, it has been left as a ghost town. In the 1970s, the city was the
number one tourist destination in Cyprus. To cater to the increasing number of tourists,
many new high-rise buildings and hotels were constructed.
By 2010, the Turkish Cypriot administration of the de-facto Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus plan to reopen Varosha to tourism and the city will be populated as one of the
most influential cities in the north of the island.
1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, it was the modern tourist area of the city of Famagusta.
For the last three decades, it has been left as a ghost town. In the 1970s, the city was the
number one tourist destination in Cyprus. To cater to the increasing number of tourists,
many new high-rise buildings and hotels were constructed.
By 2010, the Turkish Cypriot administration of the de-facto Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus plan to reopen Varosha to tourism and the city will be populated as one of the
most influential cities in the north of the island.
#10 AGDAM (Azerbaijan): once a 150,000 city of people, now lost
The eerie city of Agdam, Azerbaijan was once a thriving city of 150,000 people. It was
lost in 1993 during the Nagorno-Karabakh war; though the city was never the setting of combat,
it fell victim to vandalism while occupied by Armenians. The buildings are gutted and empty,
with only the graffiti-covered mosque remaining intact. Agdam residents have moved to other
areas of Azerbaijan, as well as into Iran.
lost in 1993 during the Nagorno-Karabakh war; though the city was never the setting of combat,
it fell victim to vandalism while occupied by Armenians. The buildings are gutted and empty,
with only the graffiti-covered mosque remaining intact. Agdam residents have moved to other
areas of Azerbaijan, as well as into Iran.
0 comments:
Post a Comment