Have you ever wondered what happens to a town when its inhabitants leave, never to return? All around the world, there are places that were once thriving communities but now stand empty and forgotten. These ghost towns are a testament to the ever-changing nature of human civilization and the forces that shape our lives.
While there are plenty of isolated places where people still live, the places we’re exploring here are all long-abandoned. From ancient ruins to modern-day abandonments, each of these forsaken places has a unique story to tell. Join us on a journey across the globe as we explore 18 of the most fascinating ghost towns in history.
Pripyat, Ukraine
Pripyat was once a bustling city of 50,000 people, but it was quickly abandoned after the devastating Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. The abandoned city stands as a haunting reminder of the power of nuclear energy and the fragility of human life.
Visitors have explored Pripyat, but access is strictly controlled. Tours are only offered under the strictest of guidelines, due to high radiation levels.
Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop was a diamond mining town in the Namib Desert that flourished in the early 1900s. However, when the diamond reserves were depleted, the town was abandoned, leaving behind a surreal landscape of sand-filled houses and crumbling buildings.
Bodie, California
Bodie was a gold-mining town that thrived in the late 1800s, with a population of nearly 10,000 people at its peak. However, when the gold ran out and the mines closed, the town was abandoned.
Bodie is a state historic park and a popular tourist attraction, with visitors able to explore the preserved buildings and imagine what life was like in the Wild West.
Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima or “Battleship Island,” was once a thriving coal-mining community with a population of over 5,000 people. However, when the coal reserves were depleted in the 1970s, the island was abandoned.
Visitors can take guided tours of the island and explore the crumbling buildings and abandoned streets.
Oradour-sur-Glane, France
Oradour-sur-Glane was a small village in France that was destroyed by the Nazis in 1944. The entire population of the village, 642 men, women, and children, were massacred, and the village was left in ruins. The village stands as a memorial to the victims of the atrocity and a reminder of the horrors of war.
Kayaköy, Turkey
Kayaköy was once a thriving Greek village in Turkey, but it was abandoned in the 1920s following the Greek-Turkish population exchange. Visitors can explore the crumbling stone houses and churches and imagine what life was like in this once-vibrant community.
Centralia, Pennsylvania
Centralia was once a thriving coal-mining town, but a massive underground fire that started in 1962 forced the evacuation of the entire population. Now, the town is a smoldering wasteland, with smoke rising from cracks in the ground and abandoned buildings slowly being consumed by the fire.
Aghdam, Azerbaijan
Agdam was once a thriving city of 40,000 people in Azerbaijan, but it was abandoned during the Nagorno-Karabakh War in the 1990s. The city is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of war on communities and the long-lasting scars that conflict can leave behind.
Deception Island, Antarctica
Deception Island is a remote island off the coast of Antarctica that was once home to a thriving whaling station and scientific research base. However, a series of volcanic eruptions in the late 1960s forced the abandonment of the island.
Visitors can explore the abandoned buildings and rusting machinery, which stand in contrast to the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Varosha, Cyprus
Varosha was once a thriving resort town in Cyprus, but it was abandoned in 1974 following the Turkish invasion of the island. The town’s crumbling buildings and abandoned streets are slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico
Glenrio was once a thriving town on the border of Texas and New Mexico, but it was abandoned when Interstate 40 bypassed the town in the 1970s. Today, the town stands as a ghost town, with abandoned buildings and rusting cars slowly being reclaimed by the desert.
Craco, Italy
Craco is an ancient hilltop town in southern Italy that was abandoned in the 1960s due to recurring landslides and unstable terrain. The town dates back to the 8th century and was once a thriving agricultural community.
The abandoned buildings and streets of Craco serve as a haunting reminder of the power of nature and the impermanence of human settlements. The town has become a popular location for filmmakers and photographers, drawn to its eerie beauty and sense of history.
Humberstone and Santa Laura, Chile
Humberstone and Santa Laura are two abandoned nitrate mining towns in the Atacama Desert of Chile. The towns were founded in the late 19th century and thrived during the nitrate boom of the early 20th century. However, when synthetic nitrates were invented, the towns were abandoned, leaving behind a surreal landscape of ghost buildings and rusting machinery.
The towns are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serve as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the people who once lived and worked there.
Dhanushkodi, India
Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town on the southeastern tip of India, once a thriving port city and a popular pilgrimage site. In 1964, a devastating cyclone struck the town, destroying most of its buildings and killing over 1,800 people. The town was subsequently abandoned and left to the elements.
The ruins of Dhanushkodi serve as a haunting reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of human life. Despite its tragic history, the town remains a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims, drawn to its spiritual significance and stunning natural beauty.
Kennecott, Alaska
Kennecott was a thriving copper mining town in the early 20th century, located in the remote wilderness of Alaska. The town was built around the Kennecott Copper Corporation’s mines, which produced some of the purest copper ore in the world. However, when the mines were depleted in 1938, the town was abandoned, leaving behind a collection of stunning red buildings set against the backdrop of the Alaskan mountains.
Kennecott is a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into the rugged history of the American frontier.
Belchite, Spain
Belchite is a town in northeastern Spain that was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. The town was the site of a brutal battle between Republican and Nationalist forces, which left most of its buildings in ruins. After the war, the town was left abandoned, and a new town was built nearby.
The ruins of Belchite serve as a haunting memorial to the devastation of war and a reminder of the human cost of conflict. Visitors can explore the abandoned streets and buildings, which have been left largely untouched since the war.
Tyneham, England
Tyneham is a village in Dorset, England, that the British Army requisitioned during World War II to use as a training ground. The villagers were given just 28 days to leave their homes, with the understanding that they would be able to return after the war. However, the village was never returned to its original inhabitants and has remained abandoned ever since.
Tyneham is now a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of a traditional English village frozen in time. The abandoned buildings and streets serve as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by ordinary people during times of war.
Wittenoom, Australia
Wittenoom is a former asbestos mining town in Western Australia that was once home to over 20,000 people. The town was founded in the 1940s to support the nearby asbestos mines, which were among the largest in the world. However, when the dangers of asbestos became known in the 1960s, the town was gradually abandoned, leaving behind a toxic legacy of contaminated soil and buildings.
Today, Wittenoom is a ghost town and a cautionary tale about the dangers of industrial pollution and the importance of worker safety.
Ellen has been obsessed with logic puzzles, jigsaws, and cryptograms since she was a kid. After learning she was taught how to play chess wrong by a family friend (so they could win), she joined her school chess club and the rest is history.
