With humanity taking over so much of the planet, it's rare to find a place we've willingly vacated. But even within humanity's relentless push for growth and profit, there are little pockets we've left behind.
From empty cities to haunted islands, here are 25 abandoned places that are still looking pretty good.
1
“16 mile hike to an abandoned train track bridge in California.”
2
The abandoned town of Burj Al Babas, Turkey, with its Disney-like castles.
3
The abandoned Star Wars movie set in the Tunisian Desert.
6
Russian space shuttles, left abandoned for over 30 years.
7
Power Plant IM in Belgium.
8
Bethlehem Steel factory in Pennsylvania.
9
“Found this beautiful tree growing inside an abandoned silo while I was exploring.”
10
Detroit’s Mark Twain Library, which was closed in 1996 for renovations and never reopened.
11
The Maunsell Sea Forts, England.
12
Haludovo Palace Hotel, Croatia.
13
The eerie yellow brick road of abandoned "Land of Oz" theme park in North Carolina.
14
Houtouwan is a former Chinese fishing village on an island.
15
Abandoned castle in Ireland.
16
Abandoned church turned into Skate Liborious skate park in St. Louis.
17
The Galaxy is a former cruise ship turned theme park hotel in Thailand that is now abandoned, and slowly being reclaimed by nature.
18
Poveglia Island near Venice used to house a mental asylum, but is now abandoned, and illegal to visit.
19
Abandoned Gothic church in Portugal.
20
China’s Tianducheng district attempted to create a miniature Paris. While the construction succeeded, the population didn’t.
21
The Kennecott, Alaska mining town.
22
Forest City in Malaysia, built with help from China, was supposed to be Malaysia’s next big city. Unfortunately, it was never adequately populated.
24
The Constanța, a former Romanian casino.
25
Once the most densely populated island in the world, Hashima Island in Japan was abandoned when its coal mines ran dry, rendering the land useless.
