Journalist Kieron Connolly tells the stories behind beautiful forgotten destinations in a new book.
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| After Bolivia's mining industry collapsed, the railways that served it fell into disrepair. But today, many people return to the Uyuni train graveyard to gaze at the rusting trains. |
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| Before Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Jet Star roller coaster in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, was a popular attraction. Unfortunately, the storm caused the structure to collapse and become submerged in seawater. |
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| Located in Warsaw, Poland, this large building was once the Wola gas plant, which began operating in 1888. The plant closed in the 1970s after the city stopped using natural gas. Today, part of the building is used as a museum, while the rest remains abandoned. |
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| An ancient tree grows on the ancient temple of Ta Prohm at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia (left). This creepy destination is featured in the new book Abandoned Places, by author Kieron Connolly (right). |
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| The bizarre hotel with a human face is located near the ghost city of Fengdu, on the banks of the Yangtze River, China. The building is still unfinished and abandoned. |
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| A ruined Protestant church in the village of Zeliszow, Poland. The roof has a large hole, while paint is peeling and pieces of wood are scattered across the floor. |
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| The lake, red from cyanide and other chemical pollution, engulfs the Romanian village of Geamana to service a nearby copper mine. All you can see is the spire of the church above the water. |
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| An unfinished castle stands alone in the Wonderland amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China. The project was abandoned after the investor and residents failed to agree on land compensation. |
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| Built in the early 1980s in Cape Romano, Florida, the solar homes were inhabited for about 10 years. But Hurricane Andrew caused severe damage to the area in 1992, and the homes were further devastated by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. |
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| When gold was discovered in Bodie, California, in 1859, it became a bustling town, but was soon decimated by new gold rushes. Today, Bodie remains in a dilapidated state and is a popular tourist destination. |
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| Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital in Brandenburg, built to serve the military during World War I and World War II, was abandoned after the Russian army withdrew in 1994. |
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| A military vehicle graveyard at the Kabul military training center, Afghanistan. Tanks and armored personnel carriers rusted over the years after Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989. |
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| The Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse in Denmark was built in 1900 but ceased operations in 1968. With the current state of erosion on the cliff, the lighthouse is expected to fall into the sea by 2023. |
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| The diamond mine near the town of Mirny in Siberia, Russia, was abandoned after closing in 2004. It is the second largest man-made hole in the world. |
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| The capital of the Caribbean island of Montserrat was buried in volcanic ash in 1997 and its residents have yet to return. |
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| These steel fortresses, which look like they belong in a science fiction movie, were built during World War II on the Thames Estuary in England. |
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| The volcanic island of Hachijojima was once known as the Hawaii of Japan, with the luxurious Hachijo Royal Hotel opening in 1963. However, the building has been closed since 2003. |
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| More than 5,000 people once lived and worked in the mines on Hashima Island, Japan. But the island was abandoned after the mines closed in 1974. It became famous after appearing in the James Bond blockbuster series. |
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| The 1,500-seat Orpheum Theatre opened in 1912 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was later used as a movie theater before closing in 1959 and has been abandoned ever since. |
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| The village of Oradour-sur-Glane in France was destroyed in 1944 and became a memorial site after World War II. |
According to Dan Viet
