The world is filled with abandoned places worth exploring. These locations have been left behind by the former residents. Here are a few of those locations.
Can a place that’s been left behind be both beautiful and abandoned? Not all locations are left to time, and the elements are awful and disgusting. Some have transformed into incredible locations where people can explore and see what used to be about an area. You’ll see how the elements have taken over many of these locations and enjoy the thrill of what used to be and a little bit of danger at the same time.
Bodie, California
Nearly 10,000 people used to call Bodie home during the gold rush of the 1870s and 1880s. The hills surrounding Mono Lake were filled with gold at the time, but that didn’t keep people in the area. Bodie is now a ghost town, as many towns became after the movement westward. This area is now a State Historic Park, which means the state takes care of it. Some areas of the town are preserved with place settings and shops full of supplies for visitors to enjoy.
Power Plant IM, Belgium
Power Plant IM is one of the most interesting abandoned places worth exploring when you’re in the area. Its located in Charleroi and was built in 1921 to be one of the largest coal-burning power plants in the country. The large cooling tower was capable of cooling 480,000 gallons of water per minute when it was running properly. This massive power plant was responsible for 10 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the country. The site was shut down in 2007 when Greenpeace protested.
The Maunsell Sea Forts, England
England had to defend itself against German air raids during WWII. These large metal towers were constructed in the Thames estuary to protect England during this war. The forts were decommissioned and are now one of the abandoned places that some people want to explore. You can see these forts from the shores of Shoebury East Beach, or you can go out to them and get close to them by boat. These forts look strange and interesting and could be great to take photos of when you’re in the area.
Haludovo Palace Hotel, Croatia
This massive hotel was once a popular place for actors and world leaders to stay when visiting former Yugoslavia. After the war in the 1990s, tourism ended and this structure from the 1970s went into disrepair. The last guest stayed at this hotel in 2001 before the hotel closed down for good. You can visit the location and see the amazing place it used to be with casinos, saunas, and tennis courts. Spend a day on the island of Krk and enjoy this amazing hotel.
Fordlandia, Brazil
Some business moguls build locations to expand their empires into other areas of the world. In the 1920s, Henry Ford built Fordlandia in the Amazon rainforest. He purchased a large plot of land and built a small city surrounding his new auto plant in the area. The downfall of Fordlandia came with the onset of malaria, unproductive plants, and rioting workers. The land was eventually sold back to Brazil in 1945. Today, some tours in the Amazon still go to this city in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.
Houtouwan, China
Houtouwan is a former fishing village that is now one of the most beautiful abandoned places in China. This is a town that’s worth exploring for its amazing vegetation that has nearly swallowed the town. The village is located 87 miles southeast of Shanghai on Shengshan Island and has been uninhabited for decades. Most of the town’s people moved inland in the 1990s, and a few people still live on the island and spend their time selling water to island visitors.
Great Train Graveyard, Bolivia
Even items that can roll along on tracks are sometimes abandoned and left rotting in various locations. The area of Uyuni is known for red lakes and salt flats, but it’s also where you’ll find the Great Train Graveyard. There were plans to extend the area’s transportation network in the 19th century, but that was canceled due to issues with the local people. Once the minerals ran out in the 1940s, the trains were left to rot in the desert, which resulted in the graveyard, which is one of the abandoned locations that you can visit and explore.
These are only seven of the abandoned places that could be interesting to you when you travel the world looking for places that can be fun and give you a glimpse into the history of the area.
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