14 eerie ghost towns around the world - PHOTO

20:20 | 08.05.2014
14 eerie ghost towns around the world - PHOTO

14 eerie ghost towns around the world - PHOTO

So, as it turns out, there’s actually hundreds of ghost towns dotted around the globe.

From UK shores to remote parts of the African deserts, it seems us humans are really good at upping and leaving our settlements.So we’ve rounded up the weirdest ghost towns around the world…1. Capel Celyn, WalesIf you’re old enough to remember Capel Celyn, you’ll know that it was a village purposely flooded in 1965 to help develop a reservoir. Among the things lost in the flood included a chapel, school, post office and 12 houses and farms – it was widely controversial, not just because it meant many lost their homes, but because it was one of the last Welsh-speaking settlements.2. Grand-Bassam, Ivory CoastIt was the French colonial capital during the 19th century until a heavy bout of yellow fever hit the city. For years it has been inhabited only by squatters, as companies moved their businesses elsewhere following the outbreak.3. Grytviken, South GeorgiaThis British settlement looks like it could be anywhere, but in fact this little unused town is just east of the Falkland Islands – the most southern territory in the world. Now it serves as a tourist stop for travellers on cruises around Antarctica, while its original purpose was as a whaling station.4. Agdam, AzerbaijanDuring a war in 1993, the entire population of Agdam was forced to flee eastwards – the enemy then destroyed much of the remaining town. One of the only remaining pieces from the ghost town is the mosque, which, although damaged, it still mostly in one piece.5. Varosha, CyprusVarosha is part of the Cypriot city of Famagusta, which, during the 70s, was one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations – welcoming celebrity guests such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. During the Turkish invasion in 1974, all its inhabitants were forced to flee and nobody has ever returned since.6. Pyramiden, RussiaThis coal-mining community based on an island just off of Norway was originally owned by Sweden but later sold to the Soviet Union. In 1998 the 1,000 residents quickly fled, leaving much of the settlement exactly as it was – which, judging by this picture, makes it feel even creepier.7. Chaiten, ChileThe town was evacuated in 2008, when, after 9,000 years dormant, the volcano on which the town is situated erupted. As a result, the local river burst its banks and even now, six years on, the extent of the damage is unknown – much of the population relocated to other nearby settlements.8. Spinalonga, CreteOriginally Spinalonga was not an island, it was attached to nearby Crete. During Venetian rule in the 16th century, the island was carved out and used for defense purposes. During the 1900s it was used as a leper colony, and was one of the final colonies to close – its last inhabitant departed in 1965. Now it’s a must-see for tourists visiting Crete.9. Oradour sur Glane, FranceThe entire population of this French village was wiped out in 1944 by the German SS. Although a new village has been built, it has been kept as a preservation site in memory of the 642 men, women and children massacred during the war.10. Sesena, SpainLocated 35km south of Madrid, this town had plans for a huge development in the middle of the Spanish property boom, with an array of high rise blocks and holiday properties built, but never completed. To this day the buildings still stand, completely derelict and unsold, rendering the huge estate a ghost town.11. Plymouth, West IndiesBased on Montserrat, a British territory in the Caribbean, Plymouth was buried under ash and mud in 1995 when Soufrière Hills volcano erupted for the first time in hundreds of years. Half the population fled the island, with more leaving following further eruptions that occurred during the 1990s. Due to the disaster, all inhabitants were granted occupancy in the UK if they wished to migrate.12. Villa Epecuen, ArgentinaDuring the mid 1900s the village became a tourist hotspot, thanks to its ‘healing waters’ and transport links to Buenos Aires. Following a freak weather pattern, the local damn and dike broke, both of which had protected the village against water levels. The settlement was quickly rendered inhabitable, as water rose by 10 metres at points, and all residents quickly fled.13. Argentiera, ItalyA former mining town based in Sardinia, Argentiera dates back as far as the Romans, and was named after the Italian word for silver. After a rich period in the 1940s, the mine quickly went downhill and was closed in 1963 – leaving much of the settlement uninhabited.14. Pompeii, ItalyNo ghost town list is complete without the infamous Pompeii. When the city was destroyed more than 2,000 years ago, it had more than 20,000 inhabitants – making it one of the largest in the area. Pompeii and many of the surrounding communes were coated in six metres of ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius erupted.Walks into the middle of London Victoria station at rush hour to feel close to people and civilization(metro.co.uk)Bakudaily.az

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