World Famous Ghost Towns-Part 1

I would like to start this hub off by explaining just exactly what a ghost town is. Well, the definition of ghost town refers to a town or city that has been completely abandoned by human inhabitants, usually because the economic activity that supported the town failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness or war.

Kolmanskop, Namibia

In 1908, the town of Luederitz was plunged into diamond fever and people rushed into the Namibia desert in hopes of finding diamonds and making an easy fortune. With a span of two years, a town was built in the barren sandy desert. This town included a school, hospital, casino and residential buildings. After the First World War, diamond sales dropped. The beginning of the end had started for this town. During the 1950's, the town was deserted and the sand dunes began to reclaim what had been theirs to begin with. It didn't take long for the entire town to be engulfed in sand. To this day, a couple of old building are still standing, but the rest are crumbling ruins demolished from grandeur to ghost houses.

PryPiat, Ukraine

PryPiat is an abandoned city in the Zone of Alienation located in the Northern part of Ukraine. At one time this location was home to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant workers. This location was abandoned in 1986, following the Chernobyl disaster. Before the accident occurred, the population of this location had been approximately 50,000.

Newly constructed apartment buildings, swimming pools, hospitals and other buildings were all abandoned. Everything inside of the buildings was left behind, including records, papers, TV's, furniture, children's toys, valuables and clothing. Basically, anything that a normal family would have in their home was left behind. The residents were only allowed to take a suitcase full of documents, books and clothes that were not contaminated.

When the residents were told they had to evacuate the location, they were only allowed to take away one suitcase full of documents, books or clothes that were not contaminated. Apartment buildings, hospitals, pools and other buildings were all abandoned and everything that was inside of the buildings was left behind, including records, papers, children's toys, furniture, valuables and TV's. Basically, anything that a typical family would have inside their home was left behind. Over the years, the buildings have started to deteriorate due to being constantly flooded by water in the spring.

San Zhi, Taiwan

In the northern part of Taiwan, San Zhi, a futuristic pod village was initially built as a luxury retreat for the wealthy people. However, due to numerous fatal accidents during construction, the production of the resort was halted. Work was permanently stopped on this project for two reasons: lack of money and lack of willingness to complete the work. The structure remains intact today as if in remembrance of those who lost their lives. It is rumored that this unfinished city is haunted by the ghosts of those who died during the construction phases.

Craco, Italy

Craco is located in the region of Basilicata and the province of Matera; approximately 25 miles inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy. This medieval town is typical of those in the area, built up with long undulating hills on all sides that allow for farming of wheat and other crops.Craco can be dated as far back as the year 1060 when the land was in the ownership of Archbishop Arnaldo.

In 1891, the population of Craco stood at well over 2,000 residents. However, between 1892-1922, over 1,300 people were moved from the town to North America. This was mostly due to poor farming, earthquakes, landslides and War. All of these things contributed to the mass migration. By the year 1963, the remaining 1,800 inhabitants were transferred to a nearby valley called Craco Peschiera. As of today's date, the original Craco remains in a state of crumbling decay and deterioration.

Oradour-sur-Glane, France

The tiny village of Oradour-sur-Glane, France is the setting of unspeakable horror. During World War II, approximately 642 residents were massacred by German soldiers as punishment for the French Resistance.

According to history, on June 10^th, 1944, the Germans made a mistake and destroyed the wrong village. They originally intended to target Oradour-sur-Vayres which was a neighboring village. There were only a few survivor's after this horrific killing spree and according to the recollection of one survivor, the men of the village were herded into barns where they were shot in the legs in order to die a slow death.

The women and children who had been held in a church, were all murdered when they tried to escape. The ruins of this small village still stand today as a memorial to the dead and to serve as a reminder of the events that took place.