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Güven
09-23-2008, 09:45 PM
:sl: :skeleton:



Ghost Towns of the American West are what come to mind for many when they think of abandoned settlements. However, there are fascinating abandonments all over the world. Some of these have a clear historical reason for being deserted, while the abandonment of others remains a mystery. Here are six more amazing examples of urban deserts from around the globe.




San Zhi, Taiwan is an abandoned settlement on the outskirts of Taipei, Taiwan. A mysterious series of accidents led this would-be tourist town to go unused upon its completion. Further, regional beliefs also kept the abandoned settlement from demolished - for fear of angering spirits dwelling in the complex



Near Genoa, Italy is a small abandoned village. What would cause people to leave such a beautiful place? To be fair, though, the ruins left behind are aesthetically compelling in their own right. The structures are remarkably intact and provocative.




Promyshlennyi, Russia was abandoned with the fall of the Soviet Union, cut off from communication with and support from the government. When utilities and electricity stopped working, people simply left to find a home an work elsewhere, leaving buildings behind and many belongings in the wreckage.




New York, USA has a surprising number of abandoned airfields - directly in and around the city. Given the relative density of the city and its surroundings it seems unusual that these have been left unused for so long. Each of these anomolous airfields has its own story.



Tere-Hole, Siberia is a lake with a recently dicovered treasure in the middle: a ruin dating back 1500 years. Located in a vast wilderness of lakes, this long-abandoned stronghold is 600 by 450 feet. Excavations this year may reveal ancient artifacts.





Pripyat, Ukraine was once a thriving city of 50,000, but was abandoned following the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. For a long time the amazingly preserved city - rapidly abandoned by the populace - was a virtual museum, a snapshot of the times. Pripyat has since been looted and only images and architecture remain. The site will be unfit for human habitation for hundreds of years due to nuclear fallout
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Güven
09-23-2008, 09:46 PM


Gunkanjima, Japan: Once known for having one of the highest populatioin densities in the world (1.4 people per square meter) “Battleship Island” is now completely deserted. Known today as “Ghost Island,” this strange place stands out from other hundreds of abandoned Japanese islands for its massive concrete sea walls and omnipresent and ominous concrete architecture. Some people have snuck onto the island to take photographs and explore.






Varosha, Cyprus: Photographing this city, fenced off by the Turkish military in 1974, is forbidden. These images show a rare glimpse inside of this eerie ghost town. The area was once home to thousands of Greek Cypriots who have been denied for decades the right to return to their homes. The photographer who took these images nearly lost his camera to a military patrol, and the slanted angles are a result of shooting from his side when he could.



Verona, New Jersey: The Essex Mountain Sanatorium is an amazing example of a prevalent type of abandonment. Mental hospitals were largely abandoned in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, being widely considered no better than prisons for the mentally ill. In the wake of this movement, many such building complexes were simply left to decay over time. Of course, breaking into these and taking photographs often yields interesting stories.





Bangkok, Thailand: This former Russian Embassy, including the century-old Luang Sathorn Mansion, is remarkably preserved despite being long abandoned. Sound-proofed and metal-lined walls tell the story of what was once a Russian intelligence stronghold during the Cold War. Pieces of intelligence and communications equipment are strewn about, but much of the architecture and decor remain intact.




Pyongyang, North Korea: Once slated to be the largest hotel structure in the world, the Ryugyung Hotel building remains incomplete, a towering but hollow concrete shell. At over 1,000 feet high, this building represents a political response to the South Korean company’s equivalent. It is unclear whether the structure will ever be finished. For now, it remains an empty giant on the skyline.




Detroit, Michigan: The population of detroit has decreased by half over the past fifty years. Vast areas of land have been cleared in an effort to rid the city of its abandonments, but many structures still remain. Even landmark buildings of historical and architectural value have been demolished. People tend to think that all urban areas grow over time, but Detroit provides a striking counterexample.



Centralia, Pennsylvania: Fourty years later, this abandoned town is still burning from below, due to a coal mine fire that never went out, bringing underworld metaphors to life. Carbon monoxide rose to dangerous levels (and sink holes opened up beneath unsuspecting residents) before many left the area for good. Today, a few people still live in or around Centralia, though smoke continues to curl up out of the ground and through gaping cracks in highways. Some try to comprehend it through fascinating videos of the town. Others just pass through, documenting their experience of this surreal place.
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Güven
09-23-2008, 09:46 PM




Berlin, Germany has been at the center of European history in many regards, most recently as the divided core of Germany before East and West reunification. This abandoned complex located in Beelitz (just outside of Berlin) dates back to the 19th century and was used by the Germans as a military hospital through the second World War. From the 1940s on it was continuously occupied and used as a military hospital by the Russians complete with a surgery, psychiatric ward and rifle range before being abandoned in the 1990s. During its years of operation, famous (or infamous) patients included Adolf Hitler and former East German leader Erich Honecker.








Mesen, Belgium is the smallest town in Belgium with fewer than 1,000 residents. However, it is the home of one of the most beautiful abandoned castles one could imagine, built, rebuilt, modified and expanded from the 1500s onward. This gorgeous structure evolved from a defensive fortress to a boarding school over time before being abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. It has has decayed by natural means with very little outside interference or vandalism and conjures picturesque images of beautiful deserted buildings. Nonetheless, it is under threat of destruction. It seems that only in Europe, where such buildings are more abundant, could such a lovely structure be considered common enough to not necessarily warrant rehabilitation.





Copenhagen, Denmark has developed a rich tradition of industrial production in part due to its geography. Flanked on virtually all sides by water, it is no wonder this country has spawned many facilities like the refrigeration factory. These pictures show the internal story of desertion, fire and other internal tales as well as the future plans for redevelopment on the site. Adjacent condos (shown in the last image) represent the likely direction of this abandoned property as waterfront real estate continues to replace old industrial uses.




Ryhope, England is home to an abandoned water pumping station that almost seems like a retrofuturistic structure straight out of a cyberpunk novel. This deserted structure is a monument to the Victorian era of industrialization, dating back to the middle of the 19th Century. It was an important step in the modernization of clean water distribution in an era where urban densification and disease went hand in hand. Though the station is no longer in active use all of the machinery still works, a true testament to the capabilities of Victorian English engineers.





Tempere, Finland is one of many places that saw considerable growth and prosperity during the industrial revolution. With a thriving Finnish timber industry came the matchstick factory featured above. Built between world wars, the factory was in continuous use until the mid-1970s at which point it switched industries with the times, become (among other things) an automobile plant for a period of time. Since being entirely abandoned the main building and surrounding structures have become hangouts for local teens.







Warsaw, Poland has had a long and trying history of war and strife. It is perhaps no wonder that even in the heart of a relatively prosperous Polish city one can still find a vast abandoned factory complex. This series of deserted structures began as an electric lamp production facility in the 1920s before being converted to construct radios for submarines by the Germans during World War II. It reverted to its old function after the war but was poorly managed and eventually abandoned altogether, with remnant containers of chemicals and other assorted scientific equipment left behind as a testament to its earlier uses.




Paris, France is notorious of late-running Metro trains due to frequent worker strikes - but perhaps less well known for its numerous abandoned Metro stations. Urban explorers manage to find their ways into some of these abandoned subway tunnels while others have been converted to new uses including (appropriately enough) official homeless shelters. Some of the tunnels can even be visited privately late at night in groups led by sanctioned rail-expert tour guides.

:wasalamex
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truemuslim
09-23-2008, 09:47 PM


Detroit, Michigan: The population of detroit has decreased by half over the past fifty years. Vast areas of land have been cleared in an effort to rid the city of its abandonments, but many structures still remain. Even landmark buildings of historical and architectural value have been demolished. People tend to think that all urban areas grow over time, but Detroit provides a striking counterexample.

^^ actually its more alive than u think. u should go ther and hear all the gunshots, soooooo tiight but ghosty!!
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Güven
09-23-2008, 09:49 PM
^No Thanks Its Already Noisy Here :D
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truemuslim
09-23-2008, 09:52 PM
^ lol

are u done? coz u forgot another abandoned city...


Somewhere, Ohio: This is an abandoned "city" somewhere in ohio. Nobody left in here but one muslim family. and sum animals. :D
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Güven
09-23-2008, 09:55 PM
Abandoned City??? It realy Loooks Like A graveyard To me :skeleton:
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Re.TiReD
09-23-2008, 10:02 PM
SubhanAllah! Some of them look very fake but mysterious at the same time...they're beautiful. JazakAllah khayr :thumbs_up
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truemuslim
09-23-2008, 10:04 PM
lol thats coz they never really left. they just under ground in hibernation along with the other animals...i call it MIGRATION :D or u can call it hibernation...all thats important is that i got the whole city to my selff


heres som more.
Hashima Island

Hashima, or Gunkanjima Island, is an abandoned coal mining community 15km outside of Nagsaki, Japan. In 1959, the island had the highest population in the world with a density of 1.391 people per km^2. The island was abruptly abandoned in 1974 when the coal resources ran out an the workers living there were no longer needed. Travel to the island is prohibited.
The literal translation of the island means “Battleship Island” because of it’s silhouette.


Everything literally falls apart, in a relatively short period of time.


The abandoned school:






scary...


Kowloon Walled City

The Kowloon walled city had a long history with political and territorial disputes. After Japan’s WWII surrender in 1948 the area became a part of British Hong Kong. Squatters began to build, and when the city became part of the People Republic of China, even more were added. The city was a lawless haven, British government didn’t want to deal with it, and Hong Kong Police were not allowed to enter. The Kowloon walled city was an “in-between zone” ruled by nobody but the fearsome triads that ran the city.
View of the city shortly before demolition.


Inside the city’s alleys. In some areas, daylight was completely blocked out.


Shabby makeshift power lines littered the city and it’s rooftop.




Pripyat

The infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant failure left this entire city abandoned. Because the residents were only allowed to take a single suitcase of items with them during the evacuation, almost everything was left behind. This gives the city the appearance that it’s inhabitants simply vanished - children’s toys, documents, photos, can all still be found withing thousands of abandoned apartments.
View of the city’s ferris wheel. Those of you who play Call of Duty 4 will recognize this.


Although radiation still exists, its possible to visit for a short amount of time without getting sick.


The swimming pool





Subhanallah, how places that were once so full can become empty so quickly...sad sometimes......................xcept for the movie makers, they use these places to shoot ther movies! kwl
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Güven
09-23-2008, 10:06 PM
WOW Thanks For sharing They Look Awesome But At The Same time Scary as Hell , I cant imagine To walk There all By Myself :skeleton::skeleton:
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WomanOfJihad
09-23-2008, 10:10 PM
wow some do look scarry.
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Nájlá
09-23-2008, 10:10 PM
some of these are scary.

jazakumallah khair for sharing
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truemuslim
09-23-2008, 10:10 PM
these are the type of places they say jinn are. "Abandoned, empty, dirty" places.

so i really would consider this "ghosty" lol
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Güven
09-23-2008, 10:12 PM
lol Yeah It can be Possible That They Are Full Of Djinns out there uhh :scared:
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Re.TiReD
09-23-2008, 10:14 PM




^^ awesome :ooh:
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WomanOfJihad
09-23-2008, 10:14 PM
format_quote Originally Posted by truemuslim
these are the type of places they say jinn are. "Abandoned, empty, dirty" places.

so i really would consider this "ghosty" lol
ur ryt sis.. i guess this towns n cities belong to jinns.

Welcome to jinnat's towns n cities!!!!
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faizan786
09-23-2008, 10:16 PM
Assalamoalaikum Everyone,
yeah, those pictures are scary:skeleton:....

Very nice, though. Thanks for posting!:)
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Na7lah
09-24-2008, 05:50 AM
some of these are scary. :ooh:
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north_malaysian
09-24-2008, 06:36 AM
abandoned houses are normal....but cities and towns...that's scary....
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north_malaysian
09-24-2008, 07:33 AM
Pulau Bidong, Malaysia



On August 8th, 1978, Bidong was officially open to house refugees. From 1978 until 1991, the island was mostly home to Vietnamese refugee Boat People, who escaped Vietnam to flee Communists. In the late 70s, Pulau Bidong was also home to Cambodians, who tried to flee the Khmer Rouge regime, Chinese-Vietnamese, who tried to escape Vietnamese Government.

Between 1978 - 1991, more than 250,000 Boat People lived on Pulau Bidong. Over 240,000 Vietnamese refugees resettled in third countries. On October 30th, 1991, Pulau Bidong was closed.





Abandoned Vietnamese Church in Pulau Bidong.



Abandoned Vietnamese houses at Pulau Bidong.



Old Signboard at Pulau Bidong.



These stone tablets on Pulau Bidong honouring those who died at sea before reaching Malaysian shores are a poignant reminder of the plight of Vietnamese boat people.

http://www.pulaubidong.org/
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Danah
09-24-2008, 09:05 AM
many of them are scary...but unique

I think they are perfect place to take photos ......*ahem* *where is crayon?*
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Sahabiyaat
09-24-2008, 09:57 AM
wow amazing

i think the spookiest one is the sanatoriun, imagine walking through an abandoned mad hospital:skeleton:

How about abandoned cities of people destroyed by Allahs punishment,mentioned in the quran and hadith, they still exist.
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AabiruSabeel
03-04-2009, 06:55 PM
:sl:

All this reminds me of:
وكلُّ دار وإن طالت سلامتها
يوماً ستدركها النكباء والحوب

And every house, despite how long it remains intact
shall one day face ruin and desertion
These couplets were said by Utba bin Rabee'ah. Read the following:

The Hijrah of Hadhrat Abd bin Jahash (RA)

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas (RA) narrates that Hadhrat Abd bin Jahash (RA) (brother of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Jahash (RA)) was the last person to migrate to Madinah and had become blind. When he resolved to migrate, his wife who was the daughter of Abu Sufyaan bin Harb bin Umayyah disliked it. She advised him to rather migrate to someone else other than Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). (Disregarding her advice) He took his family and wealth and secretly left the Quraysh and came to Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) to Madinah. (His brother-in-law) Abu Sufyan (became very angry and) immediately sold his house in Makkah. Afterwards leather was kept in the house to cure (causing it to stink). When Abu Jahal bin Hishaam, Utba bin Rabee'ah, Shaybah bin Rabee'ah, Abbaas bin Abdil Muttalib and Huwaytib bin Abdil Uzza passed by the house, Utba's eyes flowed with tears as he recited the following couplets:
وكلُّ دار وإن طالت سلامتها
يوماً ستدركها النكباء والحوب
"Despite how long it remains intact, every house
shall one day face ruin and desertion"

Abu Jahal then turned to Hadhrat Abbaas (RA) and said, "You people (the family of Rasulullaah (SAwS)) have caused these problems for us." When Rasulullaah (SAwS) conquered Makkah and entered, Hadhrat Abu Ahmad (Abd bin Jahash) stood up to ask for his house. On the instruction of Rasulullaah (SAwS), Hadhrat Uthmaan (RA) stood up and took Abu Ahmad (RA) aside. (After speaking to him) Hadhrat Abu Ahmad stopped asking for his house.

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas (RA) says that as Rasulullaah (SAwS) was sitting with his body taking support on one hand, Hadhrat Abu Ahmad (RA) recited the following couplets:
حبذا مكة من وادي
بها أمشي بلا هادي
بها يكثر عُوَّادي
بها تركز أوتادي
"How beloved a valley is Makkah
where I can walk without a guide
It is there (in Makkah) that my visitors are many
And it is there where my pegs are securely fixed"
[Tabarani and Ibn Ishaaq, as quoted in Al Bidayah wan Nihayah]

Copied from the book Hayatus Sahabah, Vol. 1
:w:
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Whatsthepoint
03-04-2009, 07:02 PM
format_quote Originally Posted by Güven


Gunkanjima, Japan: Once known for having one of the highest populatioin densities in the world (1.4 people per square meter) “Battleship Island” is now completely deserted. Known today as “Ghost Island,” this strange place stands out from other hundreds of abandoned Japanese islands for its massive concrete sea walls and omnipresent and ominous concrete architecture. Some people have snuck onto the island to take photographs and explore.
This is incredible!!
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Güven
03-04-2009, 07:10 PM
format_quote Originally Posted by Alpha Dude
Some of these places are really interesting. Would love to go exploring them. At night. Taking along with me some night vision goggles and a load of weapons. :><:
Innit , That would be awesome!!
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Mikayeel
03-04-2009, 07:24 PM
:sl:

I would like to know why all of them were abandoned see that would b more interesting to know.
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north_malaysian
03-05-2009, 02:45 AM
format_quote Originally Posted by Mikayeel
:sl:

I would like to know why all of them were abandoned see that would b more interesting to know.
in regards to Pulau Bidong, most of the Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees (240,000 out of 250,000) were resettled in the 3rd countries (ie. USA, Canada, Australia)... and the remaining 10,000 were returned home voluntarily.
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north_malaysian
03-05-2009, 02:49 AM
format_quote Originally Posted by Alpha Dude
Some of these places are really interesting. Would love to go exploring them. At night. Taking along with me some night vision goggles and a load of weapons. :><:
Ghost Hunter eh...:D
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Al-Zaara
03-05-2009, 06:29 AM
Mesen, Belgium looks incredible!! I love castles. I'd love to go there.
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Dawud_uk
03-05-2009, 07:38 AM
:sl:

reminds me of a book i read a few months back (its in st barnabus library for those of you who live in leicester) called englands abandoned villages.

it was showing a few examples of the thousands of such settlements, abandoned in past centuries or even sometimes quite recently, usually it is just because there is a more easy life elsewhere.

for example my brother lives on a former settlement in southern france, it was several small peasant farms but was abandoned gradually over the early 20th century as people moved to cities and towns to escape the grinding poverty so most of the building shells are still there and can be mined for stone or rebuilt later.

here is his blog for those interested in such things, and how they are getting things up and running again as an eco-farm, but certainly helps only three of them living on land that used to support a few big families.

http://simple-lodge.blogspot.com/

:sl:
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crayon
03-05-2009, 09:06 AM
Oh God, places like these are like a gold mine for photography... I would love to go to so many of them..
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crayon
03-05-2009, 09:08 AM
format_quote Originally Posted by SAYA
I think they are perfect place to take photos ......*ahem* *where is crayon?*
Lol, I just saw this. :p

This thread reminds me of a National Geo article I once read, it was great, especially the photography. You can read it here, and look at the photos here. (Don't miss it, it's awesome!)
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