This article explores 10 of the most eerie and creepy abandoned places around the world. From the abandoned city of Pripyat, Ukraine, which was evacuated after the tragic Chernobyl disaster in 1986, to the deserted mining town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, where an underground coal seam ignited and has been burning for decades. The article also features gems like the ghost town of Kolmanskop in Namibia, and the abandoned Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium in Germany. The eerie and unsettling atmosphere created by these abandoned sites is a stark reminder of our transience and serves as a glimpse into our past. However, visitors are reminded to respect and leave these sites untouched as they are all a part of history.
10 Eerie Abandoned Places That Will Make Your Skin Crawl
There’s something enthralling about stepping foot into an abandoned place where nature has reclaimed what humans have left behind. From forgotten towns to abandoned asylums, the world is filled with eerie and chilling places. Some places have tragic histories, while others have been neglected for years. Regardless of the reason, these abandoned places have a spooky allure that can give you goosebumps. Here are ten abandoned places around the world that will make your skin crawl.
1. Pripyat, Ukraine
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred in Ukraine. The city of Pripyat, which was home to nearly 50,000 people, was evacuated entirely within 36 hours. Today, the city is a ghost town that serves as a reminder of the disaster. Pripyat still houses many artifacts, such as a decaying Ferris wheel and abandoned toys, in its derelict buildings. Visitors to Pripyat can witness the devastating effects of nuclear energy firsthand and learn about the disastrous events of 1986.
2. Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima, is an abandoned island located off the coast of Nagasaki prefecture, Japan. The island operated as a coal mine in the early 20th century, and the population boomed to over 5,000 people. After the mine’s closure in the 1970s, the island was left to deteriorate. The stacks of deserted apartments are now a shadow of the island’s former self. Hashima Island is eerily beautiful and has been featured in several movies, including the James Bond film Skyfall.
3. Oradour-sur-Glane, France
Oradour-sur-Glane is a small village in central France that was destroyed during World War II. On June 10, 1944, a German army unit invaded the village and massacred 642 people. The village was left as it was after the attack, and the French government has preserved it as a memorial. Visitors can walk through Oradour-sur-Glane’s streets and learn about the horrors of war in a powerful way.
4. Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium, Germany
The Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium, located near Berlin, was a hospital that opened in 1898 to treat tuberculosis patients. During World War I, the sanatorium became a military hospital, and during World War II, it was a Soviet military hospital. Today, it has been abandoned for years. The hospital’s decaying wards and crumbling operating rooms provide a creepy and unsettling atmosphere that is worth visiting. The sanatorium has been the shooting location for several movies, including The Pianist.
5. Centralia, Pennsylvania
Centralia, Pennsylvania, is a ghost town that was once home to over 1,000 people. In 1962, a landfill fire ignited a portion of the town’s underground coal seam, which would continue to burn for decades. The fire’s smoke filled the town with toxic gases, and residents evacuated the town. Today, the town is abandoned, and the only reminder of its past is a few graffitied buildings and the smoke still rising from the ground. Centralia has inspired several films, such as Silent Hill.
6. Mirny Diamond Mine, Russia
The Mirny Diamond Mine, located in Siberia, Russia, is one of the largest man-made holes in the world. The mine opened in 1955 and was in operation until 2004. The workers built an entire city around the mine, which was home to over 10,000 residents at its peak. Today, the mine is a gaping hole in the ground that’s 1,200 meters wide and 525 meters deep. The abandoned mining vehicles, deteriorating buildings, and the ever-expanding hole give the place an eerie feeling.
7. Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop is a ghost town located in the Namib desert of southern Namibia. During the early 20th century, it was a thriving and prosperous diamond mining town. However, when diamonds were discovered elsewhere in the country, the town was slowly abandoned. The buildings have now been engulfed by the sand, giving it an otherworldly feel. Kolmanskop’s photogenic ruins have made it a favorite spot for photographers and filmmakers.
8. Bodie, California
Bodie, California, is a ghost town located in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range. The town boomed during the California Gold Rush in the 1800s but was abandoned after the gold rush fizzled out. The preserved town now serves as a California State Historic Park and has been left untouched for several decades. The town is filled with dilapidated buildings and rusty equipment with a chilling feeling that will transport you back in time.
9. Prypiat amusement park, Ukraine
The amusement park in Prypiat, Ukraine, was set to open on May 1, 1986, but the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred just days before. The funfair was built to celebrate International Labor Day, and it never saw a single visitor. Today, the park’s abandoned Ferris wheel and other attractions are still standing but have become rusted and overgrown. The dilapidated amusement park is an eerie reminder of the nuclear disaster.
10. Christ of the Abyss, Italy
Christ of the Abyss is a statue located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. The statue was submerged in 1954 as a tribute to Italian divers who had died in the area. The statue’s location provides a unique and eerie diving experience, but at the same time, it has a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere.
In Conclusion
The abandoned places listed above will evoke a range of emotions from awe to sadness, from intrigue to fear. Exploring these abandoned places isn’t for the faint of heart, but they give us a glimpse of our past and remind us of our transience. While some of these places are accessible to tourists, others are not. It’s important to respect these abandoned places and to leave them untouched, as they are all a part of our history.