Abandoned Places: Where Time Has Stopped

This book explores 60 beautiful and eerie abandoned places from around the world, including Hurricane Katrina-damaged Six Flags Jazzland, underwater Shicheng, Chernobyl, and Poveglia, and the remote Scottish Island of St Kilda. Nature has taken over these places due to natural disasters, war, or economic reasons.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Ghost towns, empty streets, crumbling ruins, and lost empires are just a few of the eerie and abandoned places that are explored in this captivating book. Many of the places featured were once bustling with life, but now stand desolate and in decay, serving as a haunting reminder of the passage of time.

Stories, facts, and photographs accompany each entry, providing a glimpse into the history and mystery of these forgotten places. From the devastated aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to the flooded city of Shicheng in China, these abandoned sites offer a glimpse into the devastating effects of natural disasters, war, and economic downturns.

Some of the most striking examples include Six Flags Jazzland, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina but still stands as a testament to the resilience of New Orleans. Shicheng, founded over 1,300 years ago, has been underwater for 53 years, a haunting reminder of the power of nature. Chernobyl, the site of a nearby nuclear disaster in 1986, remains untouched by human hands due to the extreme radiation levels, creating a landscape that resembles an apocalyptic movie.

Poveglia, an island in the Venetian Lagoon, was once a dumping ground for plague victims and later an asylum for the mentally ill. Under Napoleon Bonaparte's rule, it became a place of horror and suffering, but now stands as a haunting reminder of the darker side of human history. Plymouth, the capital of the island of Montserrat, was overwhelmed by volcanic eruptions starting in 1995, leaving it abandoned and in ruins.

St Kilda, a remote Scottish Island, may have been permanently inhabited for at least two millennia, but was evacuated in 1930 due to economic hardships. The entire population was forced to leave, leaving behind a ghost town that still captivates and mystifies visitors today.

These abandoned places serve as a reminder of the transient nature of human existence and the power of nature to reclaim what is once human-made. They invite us to reflect on the choices we make and the impact they have on the world around us, and to appreciate the beauty and mystery that still exists in the world, even in the most desolate of places.

Weight: 882g
Dimension: 190 x 245 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008333331