Photos Of Abandoned Places Around The World That Reveal The Beauty And Eeriness Of Nature's Reclamation

In the grand cycle of life, there's a mesmerizing phenomenon where nature steps forward to reclaim abandoned places once inhabited by humans. Picture forgotten corners of the world where lush greenery drapes over neglected structures, and wildlife takes residence in areas that were once bustling with human activity.

Just like any gardener understands, nature can flourish in even the tiniest spaces – offer her an inch, and she'll conquer an entire mile. Leave your allotment untended for a few days, and it will seem like you've been gone for ages, with weeds taking over the beds in no time.

In today's post, we'll explore places from around the globe that offer a glimpse into this captivating phenomenon—a peculiar beauty where civilization fades into the background, and nature paints a new masterpiece. It's a timeless tale of resilience and transformation, where the passage of time blurs the lines between past and present.

As nature slowly but surely erases the footprints of human existence, it offers a glimpse into a possible future where the Earth reclaims its own. It's both eerie and enchanting, inviting us to ponder—the things we build don't last forever, but nature always finds a way to keep going strong.

We have curated various photos showcasing the strange beauty of nature taking over abandoned places. It's a bit freaky, sure, but also undeniably fascinating—like flipping through the pages of a novel where the ending remains unwritten, and nature holds the pen.

An abandoned shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand

via dailymail.co.uk

The New World Shopping Mall, left deserted since 1999, was closed down following condemnation by local authorities.

After a few years, a destructive fire ravaged its roof. Shortly after, monsoon rains inundated the lower levels.

via dailymail.co.uk

To tackle the proliferation of mosquitoes and other insects in the stagnant water, residents introduced koi and catfish to the abandoned mall.

Not only did the fish effectively address the pest issue, but they also flourished, transforming it into one of the largest urban ponds on the planet.

via dailymail.co.uk

Holland Island in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Reddit

Holland Island was once a bustling place.

Now, it is deserted, succumbing to rapid erosion. In its heyday, the island was home to approximately 360 residents. However, in 1914, the relentless forces of wind and tide initiated the erosion of its western side, where most of the population resided, compelling them to evacuate.

The image shows the final standing house from Holland Island, which tragically collapsed in 2010.

Reddit

Abandoned residences in rural Finland.

via nationalgeographic.com

Following the demise of the property owner in a fire, these cottages were left abandoned.

via nationalgeographic.com

Nature wasted no time and swiftly started reclaiming the land.

via nationalgeographic.com

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

ap

Since the 1986 nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant, the surrounding area has been entirely deserted by humans.

A 1,000-mile zone around the plant remains closed to human activity for the next 20,000 years due to residual radiation from the meltdown. In the absence of human presence, the surrounding forests of Chernobyl have gradually reclaimed the abandoned city.

It's reminiscent of a nuclear wildlife sanctuary. Take a look at these before and after pictures of the area.

via abandonedkansai.com

This was how the power plant looked in the '90s

via Kyiv Post

See this aerial photo from 2013. Notice how the forest is encroaching on the city.

Alex Cheban

Old poison gas factory in Okunoshima, Japan

littleaesthete.com

Back in World War II, the island of Okunoshima was home to several large poison gas factories.

via msn

But after the war, the factories were wrecked and left behind.

The rabbits they used for testing? Well, they were set free around the area.

And guess what? They've done pretty well for themselves, as you can see in these photos.

via gethiroshima.com

Here's a super cute video from a tourist's visit to the island.

Kolmanskop, a ghost town in Namibia.

Raymond June from Washington, D.C.

The town was a bustling diamond mining area.

But when the mines ran dry, people packed up and left in 1954.

CHRIS GRAY

Now, Mother Nature is reclaiming the place, turning it back into desert as we speak!

via ejphoto.com

Aral Desert in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

© Arian Zwegers/Flickr

Ever wondered why there are boats in the desert? Well, believe it or not, this wasn't always a desert.

Once upon a time, it was home to the fourth largest body of water in the world.

Unknown

But due to overfishing and irrigation, that grand sea shrank down to just 10% of its original size.

What's left now? Three small lakes surrounded by a whole lot of desert. Oh, and plenty of camels roaming around too!

via Facebook

Fukushima, Japan

via observer.com

When the Fukushima nuclear disaster struck in 2011, thousands had to evacuate, leaving their pets behind—roughly 10,000 of them!

AP

There's a foundation in Japan that ensures food is brought to the city for these abandoned furry friends.

Unknown

Año Nuevo Island in California, USA.

via Flickr

Out there off the coast of Northern California sits this quaint nine-acre island.

via onegreenplanet.org

It's been deserted since the early 19th century.

And hey, this isn't the only spot where nature is taking back abandoned areas, either.

via onegreenplanet.org

And likely because it's become a prime spot for sea lions and seabirds to breed.

via lighthousefriends.com

Here are some other places reclaimed by nature.

In Berlin, Germany, there's an abandoned amusement park.

via imgur.com

Bennett College. It was abandoned in 1978.

via TheUnknownCameraman

The forest is reclaiming this house.

Unknown

No more railroad tracks. Only nature.

Unknown

A rural Pennsylvania road being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

Unknown

Nature calls—literally

via Pinterest

North Border Island (New York)

via BBC

These photos show how nature takes back what was once ours. Even the strongest of structures stand no chance against the power of time, weather, and the force of Mother Nature.

It's a reminder that in the grand scheme of things, everything returns to the Earth. If you have nature-loving friends, go tell them about this post!