By: Hollie Mantle
Our
landscapes are littered with once-bustling towns where now nought but
tumbleweeds rolls through the deserted streets. Where are these architectural
mausoleums, and why were the left behind by those who once lived there?
Pripyat
Ukraine
The
aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster still haunts newspapers, textbooks and
those who suffered tremendously because of it. As the closest town to nuclear
reactor No.4, Pripyat, in Ukraine, was the most vulnerable, and its 50,000
residents were forced to uproot instantly en masse to avoid contamination from
radiation. To this day, the levels of radiation in the vegetation and away from
the sides of the roads makes it too dangerous for people to live there. For
dark-tourism travellers or photographers wanting to capture snapshots of this
haunting memory book of a town, the best way to get there is by tour operator
(of which Tourkiev is one of the best,
most
highly recommended).
Gilman,
Colorado
In
America’s Wild, Wild West it’s not a struggle to seek out abandoned ghost towns
where the tools of bygone mining days are still assembled in sheds, or cars
still parked in the driveway. Gilman in Colorado is one of those time-frozen towns
– and has been a no-go land for the public since it was abandoned in 1984. Poisonous
substances in the ground make it impossible for people to live there nowadays,
and whilst the buildings remain intact almost every glass window or item has
been smashed, making it look like the manifested version of a bull in a china
shop.
Varosha
Cyprus
If you search for Varosha on Google
maps you’ll see a dark grey, apparently barren space. Not all of the world is
detectable or accessible for the public, of course, but what makes this
location particularly surprising is that it was once a buzzing resort (and not
the Magaluf kind). Bridget Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton; in the 60s
and 70s it was more of a big deal who wasn’t
coming here than who did fly over for the beaches and year-round sun.
In
1984, however, the UN seized control of the area, removing it from the hands of
either side during the political struggles after the Turkish invasion. The closest
you can get now to experience what drove the stars here in their hundreds is
the next door town of Magosa, an equally lovely area (check out closest hotels
to Varosha here).
Oradour-sur-Glane,
France
During
WW2 the Nazi invaders took charge of this small town, using the inhabitants as
vessels for horror-inflicting punishments in order to signify their distaste
for the French resistance. When the Germans finally surrendered, and France was
back under the leadership of its people, Charles de Gaulle ordered that, though
it was possible to rebuild the town of Oradour-sur-Glane, it be kept as a
memory to those who suffered there. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture to go
into the details, but the poor French inhabitants and their suffering are not
forgotten thanks to this tribute-town. For
travellers who want to visit, the closest city is Limoges, or it’s a five hour
drive south of France.
Wittenoon,
Australia
Now
often referred to as ‘the valley of death’, the crime of this abandoned town
was asbestos – which was mined in spite of the fact that the evils of asbestos
damage were well known at the time. The mines of Wittenoom produced 150,000
tonnes of asbestos between 1943 and 1946 – particularly blue asbestos, which is
by far the most deadly variety. People today are still suffering in the
aftermath of diseases associated with the dangerous chemicals, and this town
lays largely abandoned, though is still possible to visit – the stunning gorges are still an attraction
for travellers around the globe.
Namie, Fukushima
People often discuss the
earthquake which rocked Japan in 2011 - yet the death toll and damage from the
earthquake itself was nothing shocking. It was the devastating tsunami which
followed that pummelled the coast line and caused the meltdown of nuclear
reactors in Fukushima. Namie, the closest town to the reactors, had to be
deserted, and residents were only allowed back for a brief 10 minute trip to
grab precious belongings since leaving. Google
has since mapped the current state of the town, allowing people to get a
glimpse of the state of ruin it lies in – for
who knows how long.