Ghost towns are scattered all over the planet and silently keep their secrets. The creations of human hands, abandoned by people, stand deserted and silent for decades. They are not destroyed, they are simply abandoned - at one point people left them due to insurmountable reasons. This could be due to the threat of a natural disaster, technological disaster, war or economic crisis.
This list contains the most famous ghost towns in the world!
1 Pripyat, Ukraine
Perhaps the most famous ghost town is Pripyat. This city in Ukraine is relatively young - it was built in 1970. In 1986, about 50 thousand people lived there, the first park was opened, and the infrastructure was actively developing. And one day - April 26, 1986, the city was evacuated due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This city is still full of radiation, so excursions and groups of stalkers enter its territory only occasionally.
2 Gunkanjima, Japan
Hashima Island in the East China Sea, nicknamed Gunkanjima (cruiser), was an ordinary rock near Nagasaki in the early 19th century. Coal was discovered there, so the Japanese artificially built an island and began to develop the deposit. The city was the most densely populated place on the entire planet - with an area of 0.063 square meters. m. lived more than 5 thousand people! The peak of activity was reached in the middle of the 20th century, and in 1974 the mines were completely closed, and the city became a ghost.
3 Kolmanskop, Namibia
The history of this city began in 1908, when one of the railway workers discovered diamonds in the southern part of the Namib Desert. The field was transferred to August Strauch, who built a German town on this site with a hospital, schools and a stadium. But the diamond reserves dried up after a couple of years, and people faced terrible conditions. The city was constantly bombarded by sandstorms; there was no water or communication with the world. In 1954, the last inhabitants left the city, and it was left standing in the middle of the desert.
4 Famagusta, Cyprus
In the 1970s, the city of Famagusta was tourist center Cyprus. It was especially famous; it housed many hotels and hotels that were visited by celebrities from all over the world. In 1975, Famagusta was invaded by the Turkish army and expelled the Greeks from their homes. The Varosha quarter has become a ghost town, because according to a UN resolution of 1984, only its residents can return to it. On this moment this huge tourist area of the city is slowly being swallowed up by nature.
5 Kilamba, Angola
Cities do not always become ghosts because they have been abandoned. Some cities were never settled, such as the huge city of Nova Cidid de Kilamba near the capital of Angola. It is designed for 500 thousand people, and more than $3 billion was spent on construction. In 2012, the city slowly began to be populated, but in fact it still remains a ghost. There are few middle class residents of Angola who could afford such expensive housing. At the moment, there is only one school there, to which people take their children from afar.
6 Tawarga, Libya
Libya's ghost town has been abandoned local residents in 2011 due to genocide. The rebels began a real persecution of the indigenous peoples of Tawarga, which was once founded by the descendants of black slaves. In addition, this city was under the protection of the Gaddafi regime, so the rebels mercilessly destroyed the population - 1,300 people are still considered missing. Almost 30 thousand people left the city and still cannot return to their homes. The Libyan government cannot provide them with safety and protection from abuse.
7 Kayakoy, Türkiye
The Turkish village of Kayakoy has a rich history, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming a ghost. It was founded in the 19th century by the Greek community and had a developed infrastructure. But in the 1920s, the Greeks were forced to leave the areas belonging to the Turks, so the villagers simply left overnight. In addition, in 1957, a powerful earthquake destroyed the last islands of civilization in Kayakoy.
8 Sanzhi, Taiwan
This city can hardly be called a ghost, since in 2008 a decision was made to demolish it. Unfortunately, it belongs to those buildings where people have never settled. In 1975, it was decided to build an unusual complex of houses in the shape of UFO saucers. They were built from fiberglass and concrete, taking into account the latest technology. However, in the 1980s, when the complex was almost completed, a crisis began in Asia, which led to a freeze in construction. The alien houses were abandoned, and Taiwan decided to demolish them to build a park on the site.
9 Oradour-sur-Glane, France
This village in France received the title of martyr city. Today it still stands as a silent reminder of the atrocities of the war, and a new town of the same name has been built nearby. Oradour in 1944 was inhabited by French partisans who captured a German officer. In retaliation, the SS killed all the inhabitants of the village - 205 children, 240 women and 197 men. Since then the city has been a memorial center.
10 Kadykchan, Russia
One of the most famous abandoned cities in Russia is Kadykchan. It is located in the Magadan region, and was completely abandoned by people in the early 2000s. The city was built in the mid-20th century near a coal deposit, but after an explosion in 1996 the mine was closed. Residents of the village began to be slowly resettled, and in 2001 the houses were completely cut off from electricity.
Paris exists not only in France, but also in China, although it is very small. Construction of the city of Tianducheng began in 2007, when there was a fashion in China for copies of European landmarks. There is the Eiffel Tower, three times smaller than the original, the Arc de Triomphe and the Park of Versailles. However, housing here is so expensive that the city has practically remained a ghost - despite its splendor, no one lives in Tianducheng.
All these cities are completely deserted, so they gradually fall into disrepair, and nature wins its territory back, covering the gray buildings with lush greenery.
Lycia is a wonderful country that has given the modern world almost completely destroyed cities with magnificent structures created by famous masters of that time. Much was lost thousands of years ago, but some creations of architectural art have reached us. They look, of course, not the same as then, but they still amaze people from all over the Earth with their unusualness.
Numerous huge amphitheatres, aqueducts and sacred places still preserving the rich history of the amazing country of Lycia.
But all these beauties are not as numerous and interesting as the famous Lycian tombs - graves on the island of Teke, which appeared long before the beginning of our era.
You can find them throughout the country. Archaeologists have found a huge number of burials that have come down to us in an unchanged condition. They arouse great interest with their unusual shape and decorations, created according to all the canons of Lycian culture.
All tombs are divided into four main types: Kaya, Tapinak, Dakhit and “Houses”.
Kaya city of the dead
In Lycia you can find tombs carved directly into the rock. These are one of the very first Lycian burials. A large number of burials can be found in the city of Mira, which is located a few kilometers from modern city Demre. Kaya tombs are collected in entire complexes and from afar can resemble entire empty settlements.
They are very difficult to reach, so these burials are better preserved than others. Particularly impressionable tourists, arriving in Lycia, do not immediately understand that they are visiting burial grounds, and not an abandoned city.
The tombs consist of a square-shaped foundation and are decorated with carved columns. Above them is a burial chamber. The facade and columns are decorated with carvings and Lycian ornaments. Currently, some burials are not in the best condition, but this does not make them any less beautiful.
Tapinak temples of the dead
You can meet them almost throughout the territory. But most of the graves are in ancient city Kavn. The most popular burial place was the tomb of Amyntas, which is located in Fethiye.
All tombs are created in the form of temples with two columns. They are similar in appearance to Kaya, but the internal architecture is different. The entrance to the tomb is flanked by a small portico, which is an empty space. Immediately behind it is a burial room.
Homes for the dead
These tombs are very similar to the national Lycian houses. They have several floors and a decorated entrance in the form of a rectangle.
The entire area of the tombs is covered with icons and drawings in the Gothic style. Hidden inside them is a burial chamber similar to Tapinak.
Unusual sarcophagi
The tombs are scattered all over the world; you won’t surprise anyone with them anymore. But Lycia is famous for its sarcophagi, which, due to their layered structure have the shape of a tower. All sarcophagi have three levels.
The first level is represented by the base of the tomb, the second is the burial, and the third is the roof, reminiscent of the roof of an ordinary house.
Servants and slaves were kept on the lower level. The upper ones were intended for gentlemen and the elite and were decorated with frescoes.
The most famous sarcophagus was found in Xanthos. The frescoes that decorated it are kept in.
Sign of respect
All the tombs were made very elegantly and refined. It can be concluded that the Lycians respected and worshiped death.
They even created a defense system against robberies. A note with a curse was placed near each tomb, warning of what could befall the infidels in the event of robbery. Entire families guarded the graves. Fines were imposed for looting.
The amount was determined either by the closest relatives, or by the deceased himself while still alive.
Turkish Lycia – amazing ancient country, which left behind traces of its former greatness - cities dilapidated by time and people, filled with beautiful buildings. Many magnificent creations of ancient architects were destroyed or disappeared under buildings erected during the era of the Roman Empire, but some of them have been preserved almost in their original form and still continue to amaze archaeologists and tourists from all over the world with their beauty. The thousands of amphitheatres, aqueducts and temples of Lycia still retain the atmosphere of bygone times, but they are not as numerous as the famous Lycian tombs - the oldest burial sites built on the Teke Peninsula long before the beginning of our era.
Lycian tombs can be seen throughout Lycia. Archaeologists have found more than a thousand Lycian burials, most of which are quite well preserved and attract attention with their unusual shape and decoration - various symbols and carvings characteristic of Lycian culture.
Types of Lycian tombs
The oldest Lycian burials are usually divided into four main types:
- Kaya (Kaua) - tombs carved into the rocks.
- Tapinak – tombs in the form of temples.
- Dahit – sarcophagus tombs.
- “Houses” are tombs that look like Lycian houses.
Kaya - cities of the dead
The tombs, carved directly into the cliffs, are some of the most ancient burials in Lycia, so they are often associated with Lycian culture. Most of these tombs can be seen in the western part of the state, especially in the ancient city located near the modern Turkish city Demre (Antalya province).
Kaya are real rock complexes and from a distance they resemble “ cave cities", whose inhabitants long ago left their stone dwellings. Due to their inaccessibility, these tombs have been preserved quite well and can amaze impressionable tourists with their unusualness.
Each of these tombs has a square-shaped foundation and several (2-4) relief columns decorating the entrance. Above them, protected by large stone slabs, is the main part of the tomb - a small burial room. The façade of the tomb is decorated with carvings imitating the roof of a house. Today, the entrance slabs of the Kaya tombs, which once served as doors, have been destroyed, many rock graves have gaping holes, but this fact does not detract from their beauty.
Tapinak - temples of the dead
This type of burial is found throughout the Anatolian Peninsula. There are especially many grave-temples located in ancient city Kavnos (Western Lycia), which is located near Dalyan. Most famous grave This type is the tomb of Amyntas, located in the ancient city of Fethiye.
The facade of each tapinaka is made in the Ionic style - in the form of a temple, decorated with two columns, and looks like Kaya rock tombs. The top and bottom of each column have raised borders. In front of the entrance to the tomb, a portico was cut out - a small empty space, behind which the burial room is visible. Inside, along the walls of the tapinaka there are stone benches for the dead.
Lycian "houses" for the dead
Such burials externally resemble ancient Lycian houses. House-shaped tombs can be two or even three stories high, have a quadrangular entrance and decoration that imitates the edges of wooden beams - round or square. Over time, the entrance bas-reliefs on such “houses” were replaced by frescoes and a relief border made in the Gothic style. Inside the tomb house is a burial room (the same as in tomb temples), decorated with various designs. A striking example of this type of tomb is the Boyali Mezar grave, located in the ancient city of Mira.
Unusual sarcophagus tombs
Dahit tombs are found in many parts of the world, but only in Lycia can you see tall, multi-level sarcophagi resembling stone towers. Each of these “sarcophagi” has three main parts. The lower one serves as a foundation, the middle one as a sarcophagus, and the upper one as a lid. The roofs of the dahits are gable and resemble the roofs of residential buildings. During the reign of the Romans they began to be made more rounded.
The lower part of the tomb often served as a grave for a servant, slave, or nurse of the deceased person. The upper part of the dakhit and its sides were decorated with frescoes and drawings. Some Lycian sarcophagi are painted with frescoes on the inside.
The most famous tomb of this type is the "Tomb of the Harpy" in Xanthos - an eight-meter sarcophagus dating from the 5th century BC. The elegant stone bas-reliefs that once adorned its façade are now kept in the British Museum.
Lycian tombs - a sign of respect for ancestors
The Lycian tombs, executed with such grace, speak of a high degree of reverence for the dead. To preserve the memory of their ancestors, the Lycians created a community for the protection of burials called “Mindis”, and in every possible way protected them from destruction and exposure to natural elements. For example, in order to protect the burial from looters, a note with a curse was placed next to the grave, which could fall on the heads of defilers if they dared to enter the burial room. All relatives of the deceased had to participate in guarding the grave; a fine was levied for its desecration; the amount of the fine was set by the owner of the grave during his lifetime, or by one of his relatives. Even before his death, the owner of the tomb could transfer it to the ownership of "Mindis", the community taking responsibility for the protection and care of the tomb, charging a fairly large fee for their services.
If you want to touch the culture of ancient Lycia, see the legendary Lycian tombs with your own eyes, you are welcome to join the fascinating “Unknown World” Club! One of the most scenic routes in the world awaits you, revealing the amazing sights of Southern Turkey.
Lycian tombs in Myra (Rock-cut tombs in Myra) can be seen in ancient capital Lycia, which is located 5 kilometers from Mediterranean Sea, on the Andrak River, at the mouth of which there was once the harbor of Andriake, according to legend, the Apostle Paul landed in this place before his departure to Rome. On the mountainside facing the sea, which frames the Demre plain, to the north-west you can see the ruins of an ancient acropolis. The wall is two hundred meters high, built on a foundation of cyclopean stones. During excavations, records were discovered in the Lycian language, characterizing the area with the name "Thermilia", thus indicating that the history of Myra goes back several thousand years BC.
There are several versions about how the name of the city arose, the first: from the word “myrrh” - the resin from which incense was made for the church. Second: the name of the city “Maura” is of Etruscan origin and means “place of the Mother Goddess”, in phonetic pronunciation the name changed first to “Mura” and later to “Mira”. In the third version, in the ancient Lycian language, Mira means the city of the Sun.
In ancient times, Myra was the capital of Lycia and existed long before the advent of our era. At one time, it was part of the Lycian Union and was even awarded the right to mint its own coins. The decline of the city is directly related to the increasing frequency of Arab raids in the 7th century, as well as the flooding of the local river with mud. In the Christian world, the former capital of the great ancient state, known thanks to the acts of Nicholas the Wonderworker, who in 300 AD, studied in Xanth and soon became the bishop of Myra. After his death, miraculous healings began to occur in the city among believers who came to the Church of St. Nicholas to worship his ashes, and over time, Mira became a place of pilgrimage for adherents of the holy faith.
Repin, “Nicholas of Myra saves three innocently convicted people from death”
Saint Nicholas (Nicholas the Pleasant; Nicholas the Wonderworker - ca. 270-ca. 345)) is one of the most beloved saints in Rus'; many churches were erected in his honor. He is revered as a miracle worker and considered the patron saint of sailors, merchants and children. In European folklore, the prototype of Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas also became famous as a pacifier of warring parties, a defender of the unjustly condemned, and a deliverer from needless death. The worldly mayor Eustathius, bribed by the envious people of certain three men, condemned them to death. Having learned about the unjust act of the worldly mayor, Saint Nicholas immediately hastened to help. He appeared at the execution site when the sword was already raised over the heads of the innocently condemned. Having removed the guards, the saint stopped the executioner's hand. No one dared to stop him. The mayor, menacingly denounced by Saint Nicholas, confessed to his sin and asked to accept his repentance. This story inspired I. Repin and he expressed his feelings in this picture.
IN Western Europe The saint is still perceived today as the patron of children, to whom, according to ancient writings, he brought gifts on Christmas night throughout the years that he lived here. During the time of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was surrounded by a fortress wall in order to preserve the shrine from the encroachments of the Arabs. In the spring of 1087, the remains of St. Nicholas were transported to Italy, where they are kept to this day. Today, thousands of pilgrims come to Mira (Demre) from different countries world, especially to visit the church of the great saint.
In Latin, Saint Nicholas sounds like Santa Nikolaus, can you guess what this name turned into over time? Certainly Santa Claus! Demre (Mira) is the birthplace of Santa Claus, his prototype is a real person - the famous Nikolai Ugodnik.
Not far from the tombs is the ancient theater of the city of Mira. I will explain why this theater is considered Greco-Roman. Lycia was conquered by the Greeks and it is thanks to the Greeks that the theater in Myra has the appearance of a classical theater building. The main difference between the Greek theater is its semicircular structure with a stage in the center, on which performances took place. There are spectator seats adjacent to the stage. During its history, the theater was repeatedly destroyed, subjected to earthquakes, and flooded, but was always restored. After some time, Lycia ceded to the Roman Empire. The Romans completed the construction of the theater and added some touches to its design and decoration. That is why the theater is considered Greco-Roman.
The differences between the Roman amphitheater and the Greek theater are obvious: the amphitheater, for example the most popular - the Colosseum, has a circular structure like a circus, and the audience seats completely surround the stage on all sides. Thanks to its semicircular structure, the theater in Mir has excellent acoustics, such that even a whisper from the stage can be heard in the very last row.
Climate. On weather of this region largely influenced by the Mediterranean climate. In winter, the air temperature here rarely drops below +10 degrees, and in summer it often exceeds +30. Tourist interest in these places is highest in the period from May to September, when numerous vacationers travel here from the Antalya coast along the route Demre-Mira-Kekova, in order to diversify their holiday as much as possible. beach holiday. Majority excursion routes starts at 7 am, and they last until the evening, so tourists return from the trip tired but happy.
How to get there. Transport. The city of Demre, with the archaeological complex of Mira, is located several tens of kilometers from Antalya, and 45 km from Kas. Kalkan, Finike and Olympos are nearby. Solo travel from Antalya airport it is possible by rented car or taxi. It is strongly recommended to use the services of a local driver, as the road is at times very difficult and sometimes unsafe.
In the Middle Ages, Myra (Demre) became one of the centers of pilgrimage for Christians. Subsequently, a monastery was built in Mir (Demre) near the temple of St. Nicholas the Pleasant.
In the 10th century AD, the relics of the saint were taken from Myra (Demre) to Italy. According to one version, they were stolen, according to another, they tried to save the sarcophagus with relics from looting and voluntarily allowed it to be transported. However, miracles in Demre (Mira) did not stop, and then a legend arose that the monks indicated the wrong grave, and in fact, the relics of the saint are still in Demre (Mira).
Temple of St. Nicholas the Pleasant is the main attraction of Demre (Mira).
Cuisine and shopping. There are few culinary establishments in Demre, although the choice of dishes allows you to appreciate all the delights of the national Turkish cuisine. Of course not here for shopping the best place in Turkey, but it is quite possible to buy various icons, healing oils, crosses with a chain and all sorts of talismans. Their prices are quite high, but the real value of these things cannot be overestimated. Icons and healing oils, sold in special bottles, are in high demand, so their cost is inflated initially, however, this is precisely what you should not save on.
Demre-Mira-Kekova is one of the most popular and interesting excursions in Antalya. Among tourists who have ever been to Turkey, there are few who have not seen the ancient Lycian city of Myra, touched the sarcophagus of St. Nicholas or sat on the steps of the local amphitheater. Fullness of impressions and a lot of pleasant emotions certainly accompany this trip, making a vacation on the Mediterranean coast much more eventful and educational.
