Step Into The Past In These Ghost Towns Around The World

Deserted for a reason or their abandonment wrapped in mysterious tales, especially those with visible remains—such as buildings and roads—ghost towns always evoke a sense of awe. Sometimes, people have reported strange activities or visions, but the claims are never established beyond doubt. While they remain frozen in time, each ghost town has its own unique story. From a once bustling Italian town to a diamond-rich city and a place ravaged by disasters. Here is a list of ghost towns around the world that are sure to give you goosebumps.

Epecuen, Argentina

Remember the glamorous city of Atlantis in the movie Aquaman? Well, this abandoned Argentinian city looks like an Atlantis that has resurfaced. A thriving town in the 1920s with a population of 5,000, the story of its doom was written on the wall for decades. Heavy rain over the 1970s caused the nearby Lake Epecuen to swell. In 1985, it broke through the dam, eventually drowning the town. It was only in 2009 that a period of drought caused the water to recede, exposing the once-bustling town.

Herculaneum, Italy

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying Herculaneum's small but wealthy Roman seaside resort, housing 5,000 people under searing ash. Archaeological excavations have uncovered some fascinating structures from the bygone age. Houses with lavish use of marble cladding and ornate statues have been discovered. Preservation works are on-going with Herculaneum, while archaeologists expect to uncover more about the past of the great Roman empire and lifestyle.

Pripyat, Ukraine

The Chornobyl nuclear disaster left the world in utter shock. The Ukranian town of Pripyat lives in its desolation to tell the tale. Home to nearly 50,000 workers employed at the power plant, the area was evacuated when a part of Chornobyl went into meltdown. The locals left their non-essentials behind, and these items tell you the story of the disaster. The once-populated hospital, general stores, amusement parks, and cinemas are left in ruins. Walk through the eerily empty halls of the houses here and sit in the abandoned classrooms of schools to capture the true essence of Pripyat.

Kayakoy, Turkey

You might remember this town if you had watched Russell Crowe's 2014 venture, The Water Diviner. Kayakoy was abandoned almost a century ago due to the Greco-Turkish War and was home to a sizeable Greek population. In a population exchange between the two nations, 6,000 Greeks were expelled from their homes at the culmination of the war. Elegant Greek-styled houses and churches are particular highlights of the place.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

Once housing close to 1,300 workers who worked at a nearby diamond mine, this deserted town is located deep among the dunes of Namibia. Hospitals, ballrooms, and casinos inspired by German-styled architecture stand erect in the city. Overrun by the desert, the houses are consumed by sand. Tourists can often walk through its houses in knee-deep sand.

Hashima Island, Japan

Not too far from Nagasaki, Hashima Island was the site of a coal mining facility until the early 1970s. Seen as Raoul Silva's lair during Skyfall, over 5,000 people once stayed here. The island was abandoned once petroleum replaced coal throughout the country. An integral part of Japan's Meiji Revolution, the mines symbolise Japan's rise as a superpower.