13 of the creepiest ghost towns around the world

Amy DaireJul 26, 2020, 20:43 IST

Pripyat was left abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.Tatyana Vyc/Shutterstock

Entire towns that were once bustling and full of life are now uninhabited.
Whether natural disasters or radioactive threats forced residents to flee, these towns were left entirely empty — and are now a source of intrigue.

Nothing can quite intrigue and horrify us in equal parts like a town that was abandoned in its entirety.

Whether you're looking for a creepy, off-the-beaten-path way to spend a day or a backdrop for a chilling photo series, we've rounded up the 13 most photogenic and terrifying ghost towns around the world.

Craco, Italy, was founded in the 8th century but was emptied due to various natural disasters.

The old houses in Craco haven't had occupants in years. Stee/Shutterstock

Kennecott, Alaska, produced millions of dollars worth of copper between 1911 and 1938, but once the supply was depleted, the remote town had little to offer.

The buildings in Kennecott are pretty rickety. cybercrisi/Shutterstock

Kolmanskop, Namibia, was at its liveliest in the early 1900s, when German miners came to the area to hunt for diamonds.

Sand sweeps through houses in Kolmanskop. Romain Veillon

Hashima Island, Japan, hit its peak population in 1959, but now it's completely abandoned.

Hashima Island is crumbling. sangaku/Shutterstock

The population in Thurmond, West Virginia, has dwindled to only a handful of residents.

Thurmond's population in 2010 was five. Boyang Wang/Shutterstock

On Ross Island, India, members of the public can stroll through the old, abandoned architecture, which is entirely covered in roots and vines.

Trees have taken over Ross Island. Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

Terlingua, Texas, is home to abandoned churches and buildings, and very few residents.

Terlingua's buildings are nearly deteriorated. Barna Tanko/Shutterstock

The former mining town of Calico, California, was abandoned by the 1980s, but it's since been restored.

The ruins of Calico have become a popular tourist attraction. mariakraynova/Shutterstock

Pripyat, Ukraine, was home to almost 50,000 people before everyone was evacuated in April 1986, when part of the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Station exploded.

Pripyat became a ghost town after the Chernobyl disaster. Tatyana Vyc/Shutterstock

Garnet, Montana, is now known as Montana's best-preserved ghost town.

Garnet's log cabins are falling over. MISHELLA/Shutterstock

Virginia City, Montana, a former gold mining town, was founded in 1863 and once housed 10,000 residents.

The homes in Montana's Virginia City. magmarcz/Shutterstock

These days, Animas Forks, Colorado, is home to only nine rickety cabins and a small jail.

An abandoned house in Animas Forks. By Robert Bohrer/Shutterstock

Rhyolite, Nevada, is another mining town that was deserted.

Buildings and sculptures in Rhyolite. Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock

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