17 abandoned islands around the world and the eerie stories behind them

Gabbi ShawFeb 23, 2023, 01:04 IST

Holland Island, off the coast of Maryland.ASTRID RIECKEN For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Many abandoned islands around the world have fascinating back stories.
Residents were forced to flee due to volcanic eruptions, erosion, political turmoil, and more.

Shelby Slauer contributed to a previous version of this article.

Hashima Island in Japan had 5,000 inhabitants at its peak, but it was left abandoned after its coal deposit ran out in the '70s.

Hashima Island in Japan.Michel Godimus / Shutterstock

Residents of St. Kilda in Scotland were evacuated in 1930 and never returned.

St. Kilda.Martin Payne/Shutterstock

Suakin is an ancient port city on an island that once brought wealth and prosperity to Sudan.

Suakin's ancient ruins in Sudan.Hopeful Realist/Shutterstock

Deception Island, an island in the Antarctic, was fought over by many different nations for many years until its volcano erupted twice, destroying almost everything in its vicinity.

A general view of Spanish-Antarctic Base on Deception Island.REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Deception Island, an island in the Antarctic, was fought over by many different nations for many years until its volcano erupted twice, destroying almost everything in its vicinity.

Holland Island in Maryland simply disappeared over time due to erosion.

Holland Island, off the coast of Maryland.ASTRID RIECKEN For The Washington Post via Getty Images

McNab's Island in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was abandoned after World War II.

McNab's Island in Nova Scotia.Charles Plant/Shutterstock

Brentford Ait in London, England, used to house the Three Swans Pub, a notorious institution so rowdy it was shut down.

Brentford Ait (center) on the River Thames in London in 1964.Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Getty Images

Ross Island in South Andaman, India, acted as a British penal colony for many years.

Remaining residential structures on Ross Island in India.Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

Dry Tortugas in Key West, Florida, was once a thriving shipping corridor, and the nation's gateway to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Dry Tortugas in Florida.T-Anderson Photography/Shutterstock

The village of Ukivok on King Island in Alaska still stands after 50 years of abandonment.

A village on King Island pictured in 1929.Buyenlarge/Getty Images

Cumberland Island is Georgia's largest barrier island, and it has a varied history.

Green walls in Cumberland Island.PaytonB/Shutterstock

San Giorgio in Alga, off the coast of Venice, Italy, was left uninhabited after World War II.

San Giorgio in Alga, Italy.Steve Boyko/Shutterstock

Poveglia in Venice, Italy, is considered one of the most haunted places in the world — it's where Black Plague sufferers were taken to die.

Poveglia in Italy.Kagan Kaya/Shutterstock

Disney World's Discovery Island in Bay Lake, Florida, was abandoned after conditions became too dangerous for tourists.

Disney World's Discovery Island.rustycanuck/Shutterstock

Ōkunoshima off the coast of Japan used to produce poison gas — now it's full of friendly rabbits.

Ōkunoshima.Amy Sheehan/Shutterstock

Palmyra Atoll outside of Hawaii was the site of a double murder in the '70s.

Palmyra Atoll is located in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

North Brother Island in New York City is said to be haunted by the hospital patients who were once mistreated there.

The now abandoned quarantine facility on North Brother Island in New York.Dave Mosher/Business Insider

One of the world's largest cruise lines unveiled a new $13,200 116-day around the world cruise in 2025— see what it'll be like

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

17 abandoned islands around the world and the eerie stories behind them

Hashima Island in Japan had 5,000 inhabitants at its peak, but it was left abandoned after its coal deposit ran out in the '70s.

Residents of St. Kilda in Scotland were evacuated in 1930 and never returned.

Suakin is an ancient port city on an island that once brought wealth and prosperity to Sudan.

Deception Island, an island in the Antarctic, was fought over by many different nations for many years until its volcano erupted twice, destroying almost everything in its vicinity.

Holland Island in Maryland simply disappeared over time due to erosion.

McNab's Island in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was abandoned after World War II.

Brentford Ait in London, England, used to house the Three Swans Pub, a notorious institution so rowdy it was shut down.

Ross Island in South Andaman, India, acted as a British penal colony for many years.

Dry Tortugas in Key West, Florida, was once a thriving shipping corridor, and the nation's gateway to the Gulf of Mexico.

The village of Ukivok on King Island in Alaska still stands after 50 years of abandonment.

Cumberland Island is Georgia's largest barrier island, and it has a varied history.

San Giorgio in Alga, off the coast of Venice, Italy, was left uninhabited after World War II.

Poveglia in Venice, Italy, is considered one of the most haunted places in the world — it's where Black Plague sufferers were taken to die.

Disney World's Discovery Island in Bay Lake, Florida, was abandoned after conditions became too dangerous for tourists.

Ōkunoshima off the coast of Japan used to produce poison gas — now it's full of friendly rabbits.

Palmyra Atoll outside of Hawaii was the site of a double murder in the '70s.

North Brother Island in New York City is said to be haunted by the hospital patients who were once mistreated there.