21 of the world's most incredible abandoned sites
Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke
The INSIDER Summary:
- Abandoned sites all over the world have a unique story to tell.
- Houtouwan on Shengshan Island in China, for example, is an abandoned village in which nearly all the former homes and buildings are entirely covered in vegetation.
- Bodie, California, is a classic American ghost town that dates back to the gold rush of the 1800s.
From once-thriving hotels that have fallen into a state of decay to defunct hospitals that are said to be haunted, there is always a fascinating story behind anything that's been abandoned.
There are many ghost towns in the US, for example, that were built during the gold rush of the 19th century and deserted soon after. Throughout Europe, there are forsaken castles and villages that shed light onto what life was like centuries ago.
From amusement parks to entire to entire villages, abandoned for reasons ranging from natural disasters to economic crises, these sites have become objects of fascination for travelers looking for a more unique way to explore a destination.
Keep reading for 21 of the most fascinating abandoned sites around the world.
Houtouwan, Shengshan Island, China
Tourists love to visit the small village of Houtouwan on Shengshan Island for its unique buildings that are completely covered in vines.
In part due to complications related to its isolated location, the village has been abandoned since the 1990s. A tiny population of locals remains, who often welcome the mass of tourists who flock to the island. If visitors peer into the windows of the vine-covered homes, they can see remnants of furniture, clothing, and other belongings that previous tenants left behind.
Train Graveyard, Uyuni, Bolivia
The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world, coming in at just over 4,000 square miles. Part of the flat has been unofficially designated as a train graveyard, housing tons of rusty, decayed locomotives.
The trains, many of which are now covered in graffiti, are mostly from Britain and date back to the 20th century. They decayed quickly, however, due to harsh salt winds. Visitors can now freely explore the odd attraction when visiting the remote salt flat.
Pripyat, Ukraine
On April 26, 1986, a radioactive release 10 times bigger than the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Around 350,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes, leaving in such a haste that the city looks like it's frozen in time.
Some of the most haunting images of the abandoned city come from an amusement park that was set to open right after the nuclear disaster. Bumper cars, roller coasters, and carousels are rusted and graffitied, but still remain in place as they did 30 years ago. Radiation levels in the city are still too high for people to live there, so it remains untouched.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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