Explore 12 Abandoned Ghost Towns Around the World
For anyone who has watched apocalyptic movies such as The Road (2009) or Children of Men (2006), the neo-futuristic world produced is almost always filled with dangerous creatures that carnivorously roam through abandoned towns. But don't allow popular culture to deceive you. When viewed in the right light, these abandoned ghost towns can be eerily beautiful (even if the term doesn't suggest as much). And a new book by photographer Chris McNab entitled Ghost Towns (Amber Books, March 2018, $28) allows us to experience from the comfort of our homes the sublime solitude of these lost worlds. Below, from Jahaz Mahal near New Delhi to the Fortress of Shali in Egypt, AD rounds up the beauty of 12 deserted villages left behind after the world has forgotten them.
Photo: Dreamstime/Igor Dymov1/13Agdam, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/Azerbaijan
Founded in the early 19th century, Agdam (a region some 230 miles west of Baku) saw a surge in its population during the Soviet era of the mid-to-late 20th century. Yet, after the fall of Communism, and several wars in the region, the town was eventually vacated by nearly all inhabitants.
Photo: Dreamstime/Brizardh2/13Al- ‘Ula, Saudi Arabia
Located roughly 450 miles north of Mecca, Saudi Arabia's Al- ‘Ula was the capital of the ancient Lihyanites (an Arabian kingdom from before the time of Christ). Historians even noted that Muhammad once passed through the city. In the 13th century, the foundations of the "modern" city were built. They remained in use until the 1980s, when a new town was built nearby, which meant all inhabitants of the old town left for good.
Photo: Dreamstime/Tinieder3/13Balestrino, Liguria, Italy
Balestrino, which is tucked into the northwest corner of Italy, has a current population of fewer than 1,000 residents. Yet, none of them live in the old town (pictured). That part of the village was abandoned in the mid-20th century due to the land's hydrogeological instability.
Photo: Dreamstime/Tupatu4/13Chaitén, Los Lagos Region, Chile
Chaitén is a small town located in southern Chile in Patagonia, which means it is prone to intense weather patterns and natural disasters. Among the most recent was a massive flood that occurred in 2008, which forced local residents to completely abandon the town.
Photo: Dreamstime/Witr5/13Church of the Redeemer, Ani, Turkey
Turkey's Church of the Redeemer (which is part of the World Monuments Fund) dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries. As a structure that came to symbolize the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia (roughly 880 through 1045), the church "is often cited as a particularly noteworthy example of the origins of ecclesiastical architecture in Armenia," according to the World Monuments Fund. After the Bagratid Kingdom came to an end and church was abandoned, the building began to fall apart. So much so that lightning struck the church in 1930, splitting the structure in half.
Photo: Dreamstime/Kelsey Martineau6/13Glenrio, New Mexico & Texas
Located on the border of New Mexico and Texas, Glenrio was a roadside stop along the original U.S. Route 66. Since the town straddled two state lines, gas could be pumped on either side, depending on which state had a lower gas tax. During the mid-20th century, U.S. Route 66 was realigned, making stops such as Glenrio obsolete. In 2007 the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Dreamstime/Adonis19697/13Kayaköy, Turkey
Located along Turkey's southwest coast (next to the Mediterranean), Kayaköy was inhabited by Ottoman Greeks until the Ottoman Empire fell in 1921. Though the town is completely abandoned, tourists still file through as Kayaköy has turned into a museum for visitors to enjoy.
Photo: Dreamstime/Vladimir Zapletin8/13Polyana, Abkhazia
Abkhazia, an area just north of Georgia, was once populated with over 15,000 residents. That was until the Abkhaz–Georgian conflict (which was an ethnic fight between the people of Abkhazia and Georgians that began in 1989). Since the war, the population has decreased to roughly 200 people who live in what is now considered a ghost town. Many of the cities look similar to Polyana (pictured), which was once a mining town.
Photo: Dreamstime/Amreshm9/13Jahaz Mahal, Delhi
Located just south of New Delhi, Jahaz Mahal was once a resort during the Lodi dynasty (1452–1526). Since it was just outside of the bustling city of Delhi, many wealthy residents (and foreigners visiting) would retreat to the palace. Today the space is used primarily for cultural celebrations.
Photo: Dreamstime/Jesus Eloy Ramos Lara10/13San Juan Parangaricutiro, Michoacán, Mexico
Situated near the Parícutin volcano along the western coast of Mexico, San Juan Parangaricutiro was covered in lava and ash after the volcano erupted in 1943. Some of the original structures still protrude above the debris, including the pictured church.
Photo: Dreamstime/Vladimir Zapletin11/13Tkvarcheli Power Plant, Abkhazia
The power plant in the town of Tkvarcheli, Abkhazia, was a causality of the war between Georgia and Abkhazia in the late 20th century. The structure was put under siege for nearly the entire duration of the conflict. Since the power plant is no longer in use, vegetation has begun to grow in and atop the building.
Photo: Depositphotos/Ivenks12/13Fortress of Shali, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Built of mud and brick in the 13th century, Egypt's Fortress of Shali had been difficult to penetrate for centuries. That was, of course, until several days of intense rain ruined many of the structures. As a result, many residents began to abandon the area, opting for newer, more modern homes in the surrounding area.
13/13Ghost Towns (Amber Books, March 2018, $28).
