Though apocalyptic, there’s something beautiful about abandoned places. The clocks have stopped ticking and there’s not a soul in sight, but the shell of what used to be remains. There is something both eerie and striking about abandoned places. Abandoned places show us what happens without consistent human upkeep and perhaps what could even happen to the places we love and frequent.
These spots are haunting, and there is a mysterious beauty in neglect. From discarded hotels to ghost towns and flooded villages, these are actually 5 abandoned places in the world that are so cool to look and enjoy, perfect for intrepid travelers with a macabre sense of adventure.
1) Maunsell Army Sea Forts in England
These forts on stilt off England’s east coast were originally World War II gun towers to defend against German aircraft. Now rusted out and decaying, they were decommissioned in the 1950s and have not been used since. They hark back to some of the darkest days of the war, and what is left of them can still be viewed today from passing boats.
2) Star Wars Sets in Tozeur Desert, Tunisia
The majority of filming for the planet of Tatooine took place in Tunisia, and several sets were abandoned deep in the Sahara Desert after production, including Luke Skywalker’s iconic childhood home from Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope. Now, some of the sets are deteriorating and becoming buried beneath the sand.
3) Gunkanjima Island in Nagasaki, Japan
Less than one square kilometer of rock sits on top of a massive, 1950s undersea coal mine. The miners needed a place to live, so an entire city arose on the tiny island. Nearly 6,000 people lived there, the world’s highest population density. But when the coal ran out, the micro-city was deserted.
4) City Hall Station in New York
This beautiful subway station was in use until 1945, but it closed down because the curve of the platform was too sharp for newer, longer trains. Decorated with stained glass skylights, colorful tile and brickwork and chandeliers, this work of art is sadly no longer accessible to commuters and passersby, but the New York Transit Museum does offer tours to this underground treasure box.
5) Wanli UFO Village in Taiwan
These pod-shaped rooms, originally designed as ski chalets, were once destined to be part of a cheerful beachside vacation resort. However, after financial struggles, the project made of lightweight fiberglass Futuro houses was abandoned. Today, rather than a relaxing vacation destination, the combination of whimsical architecture, pastel coloring and decades of decay is unsettling.
Sources: Newsweek.