5 hauntingly beautiful ghost towns worth visiting

Posted by Anita Froneman on 21 February 2020

There’s something about old, abandoned places that can make them seem eerie and beautiful at the same time. As the world advances, seemingly at the speed of light through ever-evolving technology, infrastructure and agriculture, it’s hard to imagine that there are towns where time has stood still.

Here are five ghost towns across the world where you can step into a bygone era:

Hashima Island, Japan

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by umeneco0705 (@umeneco0705) on

This abandoned mining facility, also known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island, comprises only six hectares, but formed part of the set for the James Bond film, Skyfall. Visitors can take a tour to its overgrown industrial sites, concrete workers’ quarters, and a Shinto (ancient Japanese religion) shrine that faces the East China Sea.

Al Madam, United Arab Emirates

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Emma | Dubai 🛫🌍☀️🌅 (@bonjoursunset) on

Close to Dubai, this little village is half buried under sand in the desert. While it’s uncertain why the inhabitants of Al Madam left, legend has it that ‘djinn’ – evil supernatural beings – chased the residents away and won’t allow anyone to settle there. There are only two rows of houses and a mosque.

Bodie, United States

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Andrew Dodson (@andrewjwd_art) on

This Californian ghost town has a typical haunting atmosphere. Booming during the Gold Rush in the 1850s, it’s now a California Historic Landmark.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nadine Wagner (@nadinecgn3112) on

Diamonds were discovered in this area in the early 1900s and attracted German miners. However, once the rush subsided, the town was abandoned around 1956 and has remained untouched ever since. The De Beers mining corporation currently runs the town as a tourist attraction.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by William deliu (@williamdeliu) on

Wittenoom in the Australian outback was a hub for mining asbestos in the 1950s. It was still inhabited until recently, and only officially closed down in 2013 when Wittenoom’s population was down to its last three residents.

Also read: 6 paranormal pitstops in SA

6 paranormal pitstops in SA

Featured image: Unsplash

 






yoast-primary - 1004449
tcat - Destinations
tcat_slug - destinations-2
tcat2 - Destinations
tcat2_slug - destinations-2
tcat_final -