Humanity has as one of its virtues, and paradoxically one of its problems, transforming everything around it. Historically, there have been countless transformations that we have made and still make to the environment so that it adapts to our needs. But it doesn't always go as planned.
Natural forces often revolt against human creations, taking back for themselves what was taken from them. It is proof that life can emerge even in the most unexpected places and that nature will always find a way to take what is rightfully its own. I'm Donato de Paula, narrator of Mistérios do Mundo, and you will discover 10 abandoned places that have been taken over by nature.
If you like the video, don't forget to like, subscribe to the Mistérios do Mundo channel and turn on notifications. SS Airfield – Australia In Homebush Bay in Sydney, you can find the SS Airfield, over 107 years old, floating in the shallow, peaceful waters. Protected by the so-called historic shipwrecks law, the ship cannot be removed or destroyed and, therefore, ended up becoming a major Australian tourist attraction.
Having been adrift for so long, the vessel now boasts a gigantic flora. The SS Airfield was sent to Homebush Bay with the intention of being destroyed after the Second World War, but when it arrived there, the demolition company had already been closed and the ship was abandoned there. Ross Island – Indian Ocean Ross Island was occupied by the British during the 19th century and served as a penal colony.
The Indians who were sent there had the task of clearing vast forest areas. The site was abandoned in 1942 due to fear of invasion by Japanese troops, as well as the incidence of water-borne diseases. Today, the buildings from that time remain abandoned, without human disturbance.
Tree roots were able to grow around the remaining buildings and reclaim their land. Plants wrap every inch of the structures, growing in breathtaking shapes around what were once the homes of the island's inhabitants. Ta Prohn – Cambodia This temple, which in its best days was the capital of the Khmer empire, appears timidly between the huge roots of ancient trees.
Built between the 12th and 13th century, Ta Prohn Temple is not the only one of its kind, but what makes it special is the way it was left to the mercy of nature, creating a picturesque and unmistakable appearance. Around 80,000 people were involved in its maintenance. The site held more than 500 kg of gold, 35 diamonds and thousands of precious stones.
The richness of the temple is also perceived by its size; With 39 towers, it is one of the largest complexes in Quemer. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cambodia, largely due to the vegetation that hugs the statues and sticks into the facades of the temples, as if wanting to make them disappear or swallow them. Gouqi Island – China Naturally stunning, with towering peaks and a beautiful coastline, Gouqi Island is on a journey to eliminate all evidence of civilization from its land.
Since the population began to disperse in the 1990s, people no longer supplied their small bay with the needs of the growing number of fishing boats. The landscape that now dominates the island is lush, with vast vegetation climbing over the buildings left behind. Here, aeons and mosses can be seen climbing walls, dominating buildings and hiding them from view.
It is true that Gouqi is not completely abandoned, as in addition to tourists attracted by the exuberance and eccentricity present there, it receives visits from some fishermen throughout the year. Church of Saint Nicholas – Macedonia This church served to serve the faithful of several villages around Lake Mavrovo, in Macedonia, but in 1953 it was flooded in an attempt to create an artificial lake. What no one expected was that the roof of the building would collapse, creating a kind of island where vegetation could grow freely.
Without a doubt, it is a landscape unlike anything you have ever seen. Shopping Novo Mundo – Thailand This shopping mall, located in the Thai capital, Bangkok, is one of the most unusual and amazing things you can find in the country. Closed in 1997 due to problems involving its structure, the shopping center has since been taken over by the forces of nature.
As the building was not completely demolished, its interior was completely flooded. Eventually, local residents decided to put fish to live inside the mall in order to deal with a mosquito infestation. Over the years, the fish multiplied and today the place is a kind of giant aquarium.
An abandoned railway - France This French railway was heavily used by the military until it was damaged during the Prussian war in 1870. More than 60 years later, the railway was partially closed, and its tracks were left aside for nature to take over. account, creating breathtaking greenish tunnels.
Centralia – United States Centralia, Pennsylvania, is home to just 10 people and a fire that has been raging for 58 years. The city, which was the inspiration for Silent Hill, suffered several fire problems in mid -1962, with an uncontrollable fire spreading from a landfill and ending up in a huge network of abandoned tunnels that were part of coal mines. People were evacuated from the city because of the fire and its toxic gases.
More than 600 buildings have been demolished since the 1960s, and to this day the fire continues to burn underground in what was once a city that was home to more than 1,000 people. Estimates say the fire, fueled by coal from the mines, is expected to last at least another 200 years. San Juan Parangaricutiro – Mexico This Mexican church was hit hard by the eruption of a volcano in 1943, which spread lava throughout the region.
Fortunately, no local residents were injured in the event, but the villages around the church were completely evacuated and then abandoned. Miraculously, the church resisted the adversities caused by the volcano and remains standing to this day, even though it is completely surrounded by solidified magma. The lava is rich in nutrients and helped plants grow faster, transforming the fields around the church into dense gardens.
The temple is a major tourist attraction, with people coming from all over the world to see the only structure that refused to drown in molten rock. Kolmanskop – Namibia Kolmanskop was a prosperous city in Namibia, largely due to the diamond mining industry at the beginning of the last century. But between the 50s and 60s, the city was abandoned by its residents after World War II, when a richer deposit of diamonds was discovered south of the site, forcing everyone to leave their homes.
Nowadays, it is possible to see the desert sand taking over the old houses and buildings, many of which are already buried, along with the stories of the past of a once prosperous city. Which of these abandoned places caught your attention the most? Tell us in the comments until next time.
