Posted : April 2014
Author : sonic07
Deserted towns are scattered all around the world. Their
mute streets, wrecked buildings and remains of old houses, adversely affected by
time, are witnesses and victims of history. Standing so quiet and motionless,
these towns resemble great works of art. In recent years certain ‘ghost towns’
have experienced their rebirth by becoming popular tourist attractions. Here
are top 10 deserted towns around the world.
Bhangarh, a local capital of the northwest India, was
conquered by Raj Jaipur in 1720. Soon after that, it was abandoned very
quickly. Since the 17th century, and even earlier than that, the ruins,
including pavilions, temples, fortresses and medieval bazaar have been believed
to be cursed. If you start a journey to this city get ready for a number of
stories about ghosts and mythical creatures that lurk at every turn.
9 Kayaköy, Anatolia,
Turkey
In 1923 Greco-Turkish war was over. Around one million
people who lived in Greece
went through the process of population exchange, while Kayaköy – a Greek
village in the West Turkey, was abandoned. The
remains of the village and two Orthodox churches are preserved as historical
artifacts. Turkish authorities keep them as a village-museum.
8 Herculaneum, Naples, Italy
In the summer of 79 AD the eruption of Mt.
Vesuvius covered Herculaneum, a small, rich Roman settlement,
with lava and ash. Archaeological researches discovered private villas, shops,
bathrooms and a fascinating number and diversity of everyday objects.
7 Pyramiden, Svalbard,
Norway
This Arctic town, famous for its coal mines, was a property
of the USSR.
It used to be a perfect Soviet settlement with shacks, sport centers, and a
bust of Lenin. After the mine had been used up, the workers deserted the town
in 1998, leaving all the buildings behind. There is the library full of books,
the theatre, and the concert hall with one of the most beautiful pianos in the
world.
6 Humberstone and Santa Laura, the Atacama desert, Chile
These two towns, placed in the northern Chile, used to
be a main source of potassium nitrate, a crucial part of any pyrotechnic set.
Both of them were abandoned in 1958. Well preserved buildings, houses, a
swimming pool made of the bottom of an old ship, the hotel, shops with
pricelists, as well as the theatre with the original seats can still be seen in
these places.
5 Kolmanskop, Namibia
This town is placed among the sand dunes of Namib Desert. It was built to accommodate the miners who
dug in the nearby diamond mine. The town has been empty since the mid fifties,
and, since then, the desert has been swallowing it piece by piece by filling
its, once noble, houses with sand. However the interiors of a couple of houses
is very well preserved.
4 Belchite, Zaragoza,
Spain
Belchite was a setting of one of the cruelest battles of
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). In 1937 it was occupied by Franco’s army and
attacked by the republican forces. During the siege the town was demolished,
and its remains remind us of this terrible violence.
3 Bodie, California
A long time ago, in 1879, Bodie was a prosperous
gold-digging town. It was also a home to 8.500 residents famous for their love
of beer and guns. After only a decade the mines got used up, causing the decline
of the population. One day, they just packed up and left the town. Today, 150
buildings witness of its existence.
2 Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Chaco civilization was on
its peak from 800 to 1100 BC. During this period the canyon was a ceremonial,
civic and commercial center. Its residents built brick houses, and circular
ceremonial structures called ‘kivas’. They used to make brick out of mud and
sand. Many buildings made in this way are still standing untouched.
1 St. Elmo,
Colorado
Once a mining town on the rise, with developed trading
center and a post office, located along major rail routes which passed along
the central Colorado,
this town was deserted in 1922 when the railway stopped working. A lot of buildings-houses,
church and shops remained intact, still containing belongings of the former
owners.
~Blog Admin~
Interesting thoughhts
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