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01
Mitsubishi’s Gunkanjima Island, Japan
Gunkanjima Island is located 9 miles from the center of Nagasaki, and exploded into existence in the early 1900s by the Mitsubishi Corporation at the height of a new wave of industrialization. With under-sea coal mines that produced 400,000 tonnes of coal each year, the town's population swelled to 5,200 at its height, and built a city so dense that it was nicknamed the 'island without green'.
But the coal eventually ran out in the 70s, Mitsubishi closed the mine, and everyone left, leaving a ghost city to crumble alone.
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02
Suakin Island Ancient Ruins, Sudan
Suakin Island is located on the Red Sea in Northern Sudan, a strategic position that was important to many empires for over 3,000 years. The port was created during the 10th century B.C.E. and acted as a route to the Red Sea for exploration and trade. It eventually became an outlet for Muslims on pilgrimage to Mecca, and after transformed into an area of luxury for the rich island at the height of medieval affluence.
Sadly, the island became a center for slave trading from Eastern Africa in the 19th century. As slave trading lost popularity, the island became irrelevant and it fell into ruins.
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03
The Plague Island of Poveglia, Italy
At the beginning of the 18th century, when the black plague was killing millions, Poveglia island became an illegal plague quarantine station. Around 160,000 infected people lived out their last moments on this island. Later, it turned into a mental asylum for the mentally ill. The psychiatrist who ran the hospital was rumored to have been a psychopath who butchered and tortured his patients. Needless to say, it's no surprise that this island is considered to be haunted. Fishermen avoid the island for the fear of catching human bones in their nets, and there are rumors that 50 percent of the soil on the island is made of human remains. Not somewhere you want to visit at night.
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04
Disney’s Discovery Island, USA
In 1974, Disney opened an animal island off the coast of Florida. It was home to many exotic animals before it was closed in 1999, when the animals were moved to a new location. The island was left to nature, and its buildings slowly deteriorated and became part of the island. Occasionally, adventurous people would explore the island and document its decay, but Disney threatened to ban these adventurers from all Disney locations for setting foot on the island. Maybe there are some hidden secrets Disney doesn't want anyone to discover.
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05
Deception Island, Antarctica
Deception Island is a natural safe harbor located on the caldera of an active volcano in Antarctica. Due to its location, it was the perfect refuge from storms and icebergs, and the island was used - and deserted - by many nations as scientific research stations and a whaling station. However, in the 1960's the active volcano erupted twice in two years, demolishing all human activity and leaving behind shells of buildings and ships. Today, visitors can bathe in the natural hot springs among the skeletal remains of industry.
Abandoned Islands for the Unconventional Traveler
Let's face it: beach holidays don't really have anything new to offer. There are no surprises there anymore. Sand, sea, sunscreen, annoying children, expensive cocktails and sunburned Brits. If you're tired of going to the same old holiday destinations and yearn for something different, we have just the thing for you: abandoned islands. These five islands have very different histories, and some of their stories are not for the weak hearted.
This article originally appeared on Atlas Obscura.
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