Ghost towns are abandoned villages, towns, or cities, usually containing remains of buildings and infrastructure such as roads. The reason behind a ghost town is generally a failed economy or a disaster such as floods, prolonged droughts, extreme heat/ cold, war, pollution, or nuclear disasters.
Here are some of the most amazing ghost towns from around the world.
Ghost Town of Craco in Italy
The history of Craco goes back to the 8th century BC. However, it turned into a ghost town towards the end of the 20th century due to a series of landslides resulting from faulty pipework. Today, it is a tourist attraction as well as a filming location for several movies such as the Passion of the Christ and Quantum of Solace.
Hashima Island in Nagasaki, Japan
Hashima island was known for its undersea coal mines founded in 1887. Its population peaked in 1959 (more than 5000 people). However, the mines were closed in 1974 due to the depletion of the reserves, and the island was abandoned in a short time.
Aghdam in Azerbaijan
Before turning into a ghost town, Aghdam was a vivacious place with functioning wine, brandy, machine, and silk factories as well as an airport and two railways. However, during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenian forces captured the town in 1993, and they forced the city’s population (around 30.000 people) to flee eastwards. Moreover, they almost entirely ruined the city until 2020. Finally, the town and its surrounding district came under the control of Azerbaijan government with the agreement that ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
Bannack in Montana, the US
Bannack was an important gold discovery site in 1862 and briefly served as the capital of Montana Territory in 1864. It stayed as a mining town, and its last residents left in the 1970s.
Al’Ula in Saudi Arabia
The history of Al’Ula city goes back to the 6th century BC, and it was an important trade center due to its location on the incense route. It turned into a ghost town during the 1980s when its residents moved into the new town nearby.
