Have you ever come across a secret, abandoned place where humans no longer walk? The planet is full of these magical places and here are 10 of the most amazing ones.
The City of Pripyat, Ukraine
Why would 49,000 people go and leave their home city behind? In the case of Pripyat in Ukraine the answer is found in its proximity to the Chernobyl plant. When the nuclear disaster happened there in 1986 the locals hot footed it away. Over the years since then Pripyat has deteriorated through natural causes as well as through vandalism and ransacking.
Hotel del Salto, Columbia
This spooky looking abandoned hotel overlooks the Tequendama Falls in Colombia. It was closed in the 90s and is said to be haunted. It was abandoned for over 2 decades before being opened up again as a museum fairly recently.
Gulliver’s Travels Park, Japan
Japan is a bit of a hotspot for abandoned amusement parks and I especially like this one. When you think about it, a park based on Gulliver’s Travels with Mt Fuji overlooking it is a rather grand idea. Sadly, it was closed after being open for only a few years and has now been demolished.
Craco, Italy
You’ve probably never met anyone from Craco in Italy. Unless you’re pretty old, that is. This historic town in Italy was built on a steep slope and people lived there happily for centuries. Well, I say happily but I have no idea if they were happy or completely miserable. Anyway, recurring landslides meant that the old place was finally abandoned in 1963.
Six Flags Jazzland, USA
Is there anything creepier on the planet than an abandoned amusement park? This one was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and so far redevelopment plans have come to nothing. You’ll get arrested if you decide to do a spot of trespassing in here. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Chateau Miranda, Belgium
Have you ever seen a building which looks more like the classic haunted castle than this one? You won’t ever find me setting foot in this spooky abandoned place.
Holy Land, USA
Actually, if there is one thing scarier than an abandoned amusement park it has to be an abandoned biblical theme park. This one used to get up to 40,000 fun loving religious visitors every year. It has been closed since 1984, proving that God really does work in mysterious ways.
Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
The immensity of the desert and the world’s biggest salt flat in Uyuni is only broken up by, well, a bunch of abandoned trains. Bolivia’s plans for a modern train system were ruined by the collapse of the mining industry and many of the trains came here to die. Some travellers passing through here scribble messages on the old, rusting trains while others take advantage of the chance for a funny photo or three.
Winter Olympics Site, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Do you remember the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo? Believe it or not, this photo is of the bobsleigh track. It was used as a field artillery position during the war here and has fallen into a state of abandon since then. All the snow seems to have disappeared as well.
Old Mill, Italy
I don’t know anything about this old, abandoned mill in Sorrento but that makes it seem somehow stranger and more charming, doesn’t it?
