From the Nuclear Hecatomb to the Abandoned Island: The Fascination of Ghost Towns

Few things arouse more fascination than places built for people, but where there are not more people. Abandoned buildings, rusty structures and once populated streets are now reclaimed by vegetation. powerful symbol of pbading time, of our futility as a species and also a striking image of what could be a world in which the human race no longer exists.

They are known as ghost towns. But what is a ghost town? Is it, for example, the ruins of Pompeii? Not exactly: a place of this type this impacts us all the more so that it looks like the cities we know. The stone remains of an old town will look great, but watching a building like the one we can still occupy with objects from people who lived there and whom we recognize as everyday takes us into a familiar scene and therefore, much more impressive.

Often these places are museums of a recent historical moment: his signs, signs and temples have been frozen in time. A ghost town also amazes us because it is the closest thing to a trip back in time that we can now experience.

Ghost towns are an inspiration for fiction, a millionaire company of tourism agencies around the world and a source of inspiration for documentaries and books. After 33 years of the Chernobyl tragedy (which has left the largest and most famous ghost town in the world), we are looking at some of the most spectacular cases. In Spain, by the way, we had a ghost town caused by the bursting of the housing bubble: the town of Seseña, designed by Paco el Pocero, deserted for years. But today, there are waiting lists to live in there. The other cases we examined did not have the same fate.

– Prípiat, the city that Chernobyl empties forever

Where is he North of Ukraine, almost on the border with Belarus.

We can visit? Yes, almost every day, guided tours from Kiev include security protocols at the entrance and exit.

What happened? Prípiat was a town of about 50 000 inhabitants where lived primarily the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and their families. A modern city for the parameters of Soviet Russia, which included cinemas, libraries and even a small park of attractions about to open when the accident of the nuclear power plant took place on the night of April 26, 1986. The explosion of reactor 4 forced to evacuate the entire city because of the risk of radiation, in principle for a few days. Tens of thousands of neighbors from Pripyat and neighboring villages, left with the post, could never come back.

How is it today? Luis Lobo is one of the Spanish tourists who visited what is called the "exclusion zone". "We have embarked on an excursion to Kiev," he says. "The agency is busy with the paperwork with the military to cross the access." My first sensation was a wonder: I was expecting a sign of the ravages of radiation, like a barren land or the absence of animals. It was a pure state that traversed and resumed spaces that were once villages, houses or schools. Walking inside houses, schools, and other buildings was like taking a picture of when they were abandoned.Myrases where we could see a story We were able to get close to the perimeter of the factory, make a macabre selfie and be amazed by the enormous size of the new sarcophagus that was built just meters away. [una gigantesca estructura que intentará evitar nuevas fugas radiactivas]. Back in Kiev, we had to go through another military checkpoint. This time, there was a machine to alert and prevent the exit in case someone would be contaminated. "Some neighbors have, despite the warnings of the authorities, decided not to At present, it is estimated that about 150 people live in this area, while other workers are still carrying out maintenance work in the area. While controlling their time so as not to expose themselves to too high radiation levels.

Where did I see it? Prípiat is inspired by shocking books such as Chernobyl Voices, Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, for horror of popcorn movies such as Chernobyl Diaries.

Centralia, the abandoned city that lives on fire

Where is he In the state of Pennsylvania, USA.

We can visit? There are no scheduled tours as such, but can be reached by road. The nearest major city is Philadelphia, about two hours away.

What happened? Centralia was never a very big city, but it was dynamic: thanks to the quality of its basement, it became a prosperous mining community in the middle of the last century. In 1962, a fire broke out in one of the mine pbadages, which, like underground tunnels, crossed the entire city below the surface. Abundant coal reserves began to burn, creating a hell of 700 degrees of temperature. The closure of the mines was not an economic tragedy for the city: with the arrival of gas and oil, the coal was already being abandoned. The real drama would come later: after years thinking that the fire in the mines would be extinguished alone, in the late seventies, holes dug into the ground began to appear. In 1981, a child nearly died when a huge burn hole opened under his feet while he was playing in his yard. Life in the village proved impossible: 1,200 people had to leave.

How is it today? In 2019, there are almost no more houses left. The buildings were demolished by the authorities to avoid the dangers. Some neighbors refused to leave: they are less than ten today. And the church stays upright too. The others are forests that have sprung up where there used to be bustle and streets and roads full of graffiti that are visited by curious hikers.

Where did I see it? If you have played the game or seen the film, located in an abandoned city where there is only fog and ashes, the story sounds. He is obviously inspired by Centralia.

– Hashima, the island populated with buildings where no one lives anymore

Where is he About fifteen kilometers from the coast of Nagasaki, southern Japan.

We can visit? Yes, several operators offer tours of the island for about three hours, for about thirty euros.

What happened? A layer of coal in the depths of the sea has brought this small island near the coast to become a mine (literally and economically). In 1890, the company Mitsubishi buys it to exploit it. Due to strong waves and typhoons, the island was walled up, giving it a mysterious armored appearance. Inside, in the early 20th century, buildings were built to house all miners and their families. The land was so small and had to accommodate so many workers (5,000 people lived on land 480 meters long and 180 meters wide) that the first concrete buildings and the tallest buildings in Japan were built. . There were all kinds of services: according to the chronicles of the time, even a brothel. Its architecture, made up of huge blocks of concrete glued together, continues to fascinate today, while the island was empty for more than 40 years: when coal fell into disuse in the 1970s, workers and their families have left the island to look for another job. Today, it is empty, even though it welcomes hikers from around the world.

How is it today? In his day, Hashima had the highest population density in the world. Huge concrete blocks, with balconies that almost touch the very narrow streets, all located on an island that looks like a fortress. "It's one of those experiences in which the photographs do not reflect the whole story," said an Australian tourist who visited the island, to TripAdvisor. He adds: "It is a very strange feeling to walk on this abandoned island.For obvious reasons, the excursion takes place only in limited areas: I imagine that the rest of the city is dangerous, it is interesting to see how the vegetation started to cover everything, I imagine that in 20 years, it will cover almost the buildings ".

Where did I see it? In the popular documentary series Dark Tourist, Netflix, an episode is dedicated.

– Varosha, the vacation paradise empty for 40 years

Where is he On the east coast of Cyprus, just on the border between Cyprus and northern Cyprus, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is known. that is, the part of the island controlled by Turkey and not internationally recognized.

We can visit? No, the pbadage is totally forbidden and there is a military surveillance.

What happened? In the sixties, Varosha was one of the most prestigious tourist destinations in the world. Hollywood stars such as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot have flocked to the Cypriot coastline in search of its magnificent hotels and sandy beaches. In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern third of the island and the people of Varosha fled with the post waiting to return when the situation calmed down. He never did. The city is fenced, controlled by the army and deserted since. But why was not it reoccupied by the Turks? Because a 1984 United Nations resolution prevents anyone who is not their former inhabitants from getting a foothold there. The situation has been stagnant for decades, in a state of negotiation.

How is it today? A sort of post-apocalyptic Benidorm that can only be seen through fences, with the danger that, if pbaded through, it can be pulled by the Turkish army guarding the area. It is said that the 1974 models are still on display in the luxury automobile dealerships that were in place, and that one can see the city at a distance from the bustling beaches of the city of Famagusta. Although these buildings are full of life, the buildings a few kilometers above remain ruinous and in absolute silence.

Fukushima, where grbad already covers old video libraries

Where is he Several cities and agglomerations in the Fukushima region of Japan, such as Namie, Ukedo or Okuma, were evacuated due to radiation risk in 2011, as they were too close to the Fukushima I nuclear power plant.

What happened? In 2011, a strong tsunami followed by an earthquake killed more than fifteen thousand people in Japan. In addition, it affected a nuclear power plant and caused the world to fear a repeat of the Chernobyl tragedy. This happened in part: three explosions at the Fukushima I nuclear power plant released a large quantity of radioactive material and forced thousands of people to evacuate nearby towns.

How is it today? María, a Spanish woman who lives in Japan and works in a tourist agency, went to the region last summer. "There are three zones," he explains. "Zone one, the nuclear power plant and its surroundings, which can not be accessed, zone two, which can be entered without authorization, but where it is forbidden to spend the night and is understood as pbading, and zone three He was evacuated from his time and is slowly trying to repopulate himself There is a step from one area to the other There are survey meters all the way through the north to the south, posters indicating that you spend as little time as possible, all the detours are sealed for the houses in zone one, but if you go through the open roads, you can see houses uninhabited, dealers filled with abandoned cars, looted lounges, large plots of land to be decontaminated, and pits of huge, overflowing black garbage bags that contain contaminated land and waste. "

Where did I see it? He is preparing Fukushima 50, a film about the tragedy starring Ken Watanabe, but anyone who saw the 2014 version of Godzilla will have repaired between the parallels of the tragedy of Fukushima and the zero point in Japan that appears at the beginning of the film.