Among all the mysterious and mysterious phenomena on our amazing planet, perhaps the most inexplicable is the emergence of ghost towns. Once blooming, noisy, full of life places become a white spot on the map.
Before we talk about the largest abandoned cities in the world, we note that there are many reasons for the appearance of ghost towns. This and technological disasters, the cessation of funding, military conflicts, technical miscalculations. Scientists cannot explain the reasons for the desolation of some places, but behind each such story is a human tragedy.
1
Iultin. Russia
We begin our journey with a village in the Chukotka Autonomous Region of Russia. Back in 1937, the largest polymetallic deposit in the world was discovered here.
Geologists from all over the Soviet Union gathered in the sprawling town. Tungsten, tin, and molybdenum, which the country so needed, were mined here. In the late 1950s, a mining and processing enterprise was opened, which became a city-forming enterprise.
After the collapse of the USSR, the plant was closed, and metal mining ceased. By 2000, Iultin, numbering at the time of dawn 5 thousand inhabitants, was completely empty.
2
San ji Taiwan
At the end of the 70s of the XX century, on the northern coast of the island of Taiwan, they decided to implement a grandiose project for the construction of a luxury resort town.
Unusual and stylish houses were intended for wealthy customers. But even in the process of construction, rumors began to spread about the curse of this place.
Nobody has acquired luxury real estate. Local residents believe that the souls of the dead have chosen in San Ji.
The luxury resort has become a ghost town, the streets of which are overgrown with weed, and among the houses only wind walks. TheBiggest.ru very much hopes that soon this place will turn into a popular open-air prejudice museum.
3
Chernobyl Ukraine
One of the worst places on the planet. The city of Chernobyl was empty after an explosion at a nuclear power plant in April 1986. The catastrophe in those days shocked the whole world.
Of the greatest pride of the Soviet Union, the atomic town and station became the biggest disappointment. But radiation made Chernobyl and Pripyat not only dangerous, but also popular.
Tourists, despite the radioactive danger, visit the reactor and the abandoned city itself. In addition, this place attracts adventurers and numerous adventurers who visit the ghost town informally.
4
Famagusta. Cyprus
The war between Turkey and Greece led to the appearance on the map of another abandoned city of Famagusta. Two states could not divide the territory, and the resort turned into a demarcation zone.
Once a flourishing and crowded city was deserted in an instant, and now only the winds roam here and trees sprout through the concrete.
The city was partially sacked. Now it continues to collapse under the influence of water and the sun. The territory closed to visitors still attracts a few extreme people who, risking their lives, visit an abandoned resort.
5
Kadykchan. Russia
During the Great Patriotic War, coal mining began at the Arkagalinsky deposit in the Magadan Region. A town was built near the mines.
In the 1990s, they came to the conclusion that coal mining was unprofitable, and the mines began to close. People began to leave Kadykchan, and after the explosion at the mine, which claimed the lives of several miners, production ceased altogether.
In 2000, the city was disconnected from electricity, but back in 2001, people continued to live in the city. Today the city of miners is completely empty.
6
Hashima. Japan
The island was inhabited at the beginning of the 19th century, and coal mining immediately began here. Japanese companies launched widespread production, and the island became one of the most populous places on earth.
In the early 70s of the last century, coal mining fell into decay, and Hashima in 1974 completely emptied, becoming the most famous ghost island in the world.
People left this place of their own accord when coal reserves ran out. Now tourists have access to the island and, as the Japanese call the island, "Gunkanjima" ("Cruiser") has become a popular tourist attraction.
7
Kolmanskop. Namibia
The same story that happened with coal towns in Africa, but the inhabitants of Kolmanskop mined diamonds.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a railway station employee discovered diamond deposits in the desert. In a few years, large houses, hospitals, schools and even a stadium were built at the extraction site. Kolmanskop has become a thriving place.
But the reserves of the gemstone quickly ran out, besides the lack of water and sandstorms made life here simply unbearable. Residents quickly left these places, and for many years the once-crowded Kolmanskop has been a ghost town in the middle of the desert.
8
Centralia. USA
Another town of miners, but already in the United States has also become an uninhabited and terrible place on the planet. And Centralia began its history in the middle of the 19th century with a small tavern.
Over time, the coal and anthracite industry became the main production. But in the 60s of the last century, most companies left the coal mining business, and the mining village began to empty.
In 1962, the mayor decided to clear the area of accumulated garbage and set fire to the landfill. As a result, anthracite, located near the surface, caught fire and continues to smolder to this day. Residents left these places, and part of the houses was demolished.
9
Namie. Japan
In September 2011, a terrible disaster off the coast of Japan shocked the whole world. The earthquake caused an explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Tragedy turned a flourishing, many-thousand city into an abandoned one.
After the accident, it was decided to evacuate residents, making this area, as in Ukraine, an exclusion zone.
The explosions in Chernobyl and Fukushima showed the whole of humanity how fragile the world created by man is, and what danger lies in the ill-considered handling of atomic energy.
10
Chaiten. Chile
Nature forced people to leave the town of Chaiten on the Pacific coast in Chile.
The town located in the foothills completely died out after the eruption of the volcano in May 2008. But it is worth noting that the authorities successfully conducted a rescue operation and all residents were evacuated on time.
In the period from May to September, streets and houses were covered with volcanic ash and now everything is covered with its thick layer. As in Pompeii, after the eruption of Vesuvius, time is preserved here. In order to avoid new tragedies, it was decided not to restore Chaiten.
11
Times Beach USA
The ill-conceived, and even criminal actions of man led to the desolation of Times Beach in Missouri. Residents decided to clean the roads of dust, and the contractor used deadly dioxin.
Authorities tried to hush up the case, but information leaked to the press. In 1985, the Time Beach government confirmed that the soil was poisoned and residents were evacuated. The city as an administrative unit ceased to exist, and now there are only empty houses and cracked asphalt.
Entrepreneurial Americans made a PR here, and for money they show tourists an example of the greatest engineering disaster in history.
12
Wittenum. Australia
We already know how many dangerous animals are in Australia, but this place is empty for another reason.
A home for almost 20 thousand people, Wittenum, as a result of environmental degradation, was empty in a matter of months. Mining flourished here in the mid-20th century, and asbestos mining was the main source of income.
In the 1960s, they began to notice that mortality among the population had increased significantly, and doctors could not pinpoint the causes of death. Over time, it was found that asbestos vapors adversely affect human health and cause fatal diseases.
The remaining residents left the unfortunate place, and the abandoned Wittenum is covered with a thick layer of asbestos.
13
Neftegorsk. Russia
The oil industry has made Neftegorsk successful and prosperous. High salaries and the availability of jobs attracted people from all over the Soviet Union, but a natural disaster changed everything in an instant.
On May 25, 1995, an earthquake of 10 points almost completely destroyed the huge city. About 2 thousand people were buried under the ruins of buildings.
The authorities decided not to rebuild the city. Several surviving houses and a monument in memory of the victims became a reminder to humanity of the terrible tragedy.
14
Villa Epecuen. Argentina
This tourist town has become another tragic example of the ill-conceived human impact on nature. Built on the shore of the lake, the resort was a popular holiday destination until a person decided to intervene in natural processes.
Local authorities decided to expand the lake, but after 10 years, the water gradually began to flood beaches and buildings. In order to contain the water, it was decided to build a dam, but once it could not stand it and flooded Villa Epecuen.
People, saving lives, left the town. Salt and the sun after the decline of water completed the destruction of the once beautiful place. In 2009, Pablo Novak, who lived here before the flood, settled in his dilapidated house.
By the way, there is an informative article about the largest lakes on the planet on thebiggest.ru.
15
Oradour-sur-Glan. France
Finish our journey in France. Oradour-sur-Glan reminder to descendants of the horrors of the most terrible war in the history of mankind.
On June 10, 1944, a German detachment broke into this small town and shot all its inhabitants, and the houses were partially destroyed. After the war, Oradour-sur-Glan decided not to rebuild. The ghost of war is a reminder to all of humanity about its ruthlessness, cruelty and uselessness.
There are many such settlements around the world. Khatyn in Belarus, Coventry in England, Cologne in Germany, and they all remind us of the terrible crimes against humanity.
Conclusion
There are many places on our planet that cause mixed feelings and excite the soul. Surprisingly, flourishing and developed cities can instantly become an exclusion zone, a scorched and lifeless place.
Many of these ghost towns stand as a warning to posterity. Some, as an example of ill-conceived interference in nature, others are monuments of technological disasters and tragic mistakes, others became a memory of human recklessness and military conflicts.
In conclusion, we note that ghost towns are widely represented in literature, cinema, and computer games. Many travelers and tourists, even in spite of the danger that these places are fraught with, visit the abandoned cities with pleasure, and some even settle in them.
Article author: Valery Skiba