War scenarios, shut down industries and even reports of spooks arouse people’s interest. Regardless of the reason, it seems frightening to imagine that a place that was once inhabited is now empty, devoid of noise, shops, and signs of movement. If demand for these destinations continues to grow, perhaps a new segment of tourism will emerge among the travel options in the countries.
Also see: Find out which cities created the most jobs in 2022
Discover the most interesting ghost towns
Kayakoy (Turkey)
Photo: Grinchenkova Anzhela/Shutterstock
Greeks and Turks inhabited the city in 1920, but the war between these two peoples left ruins. There are still 500 houses and two empty orthodox churches that can be visited by guided tourists.
Centralia (USA)
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Located in Pennsylvania, Centralia was incorporated in 1875 and reached a concentration of 5,000 residents in 1960. When they set fires to burn the garbage, the soil, being rich in coal, overheated, forcing people to flee. The frightening scenario inspired the production of the game and the film of the same name, Silent Hill.
Varosha (Cyprus)
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The neighborhood belongs to Famagusta and was a busy tourist center in the 70’s, but the Turkish invasion forced the population to flee. The hotels on the water still attract attention, but unfortunately nothing works.
Pyramids (Norway)
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A Norwegian region that belongs to Russia and was emptied after the end of the Soviet Union. The point was made famous by the Russian phrase “Peace to the world” engraved on the carbon stone. The environment is anything but friendly and still points to current conflicts between Russians and Ukrainians.
Hashima Island (Japan)
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Nagasaki Island was active from 1887 to 1974 and was an important military base for coal mining. Although empty, curious people still visit the room trying to describe the activities that took place there.
Kolmanskop (Namibia)
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In 1908 the Germans decided to build Kolmanskop for diamond exploitation, which was abandoned after the deposits were exhausted. The most impressive thing is that the constructions were covered with sand.
Pompeii (Italy)
Photo: Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock
Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 70 and wiped out the city, covering the city with remnants of pumice and ash. One of the most frightening figures is the image of petrified people.
Cover photo: Roberts Vicups/Shutterstock