Most of us are drawn to the mystery behind the abandoned areas, be it natural disasters or human conspiracy. Here are 17 strange stories about uninhabited islands.
1. Hashima Island in Japan
During its peak, Hashima Island in Japan had 5,000 inhabitants. But the island was abandoned after the coal mine ran out in the 1970s. Mitsubishi Corporation turned Hashima Island into a rich gathering place with apartments, restaurants, schools, etc. but withdrew quickly when the coal mine ran out. worth using. The island has been abandoned for more than 40 years, only open to tourists who like to explore the ruins of the movie “Skyfall”.
2. St. Kilda in Scotland
Residents of St. Kilda in Scotland was evacuated in 1930 and never returned. St. Kilda is an ideal habitat for puffer fish and sea birds but it is not suitable for humans. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of St. Kilda descends from malnutrition, disease and isolation. Eventually, the remaining inhabitants were evacuated and resettled on the Scottish mainland in 1930. Today, the island is owned by the Scottish National Trust (National Trust for Scotland) and became World Heritage UNESCO World.
3. Sudan’s Suakin Island
Suakin Port was originally developed by Ramses III in the 10th century BC. Over the next 3,000 years, the port became an important trading venue for major empires. By the 19th century, Suakin had become a slave trade center in East Africa, but the scale gradually shrunk over time. The remnants of a prosperous civilization are the coral buildings on the island.
4. Deception Island
Many countries have fought for years to take over the island in Antarctica, but all were burned down after the volcano erupted twice. Although Deception Island is not eligible for accommodation, photographers and scientists often come here to visit and research.
5.Dutch island in Maryland
Holland Island is located in Chesapeake Bay, five miles long, and is home to hundreds of sailors and farmers. In 1922, severe floods caused all residents of the island to leave. Since then, the island has gradually sunk into the water. In 2010, the only remaining house on the island was eventually submerged by rising tide.
6. McNab Island in Halifax
McNab Island in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was abandoned after World War II. McNab Island used to be a secret storage place, a banned substance distillery, a number of military fortresses, Victoria gardens, lighthouses … In the 1780s, merchant Peter McNab came to settle here. His descendants lived on the island until 1934. Because no other residents were staying, the island was gloomy over time.
7. Brentford Ait in London
The 4,572-acre island on the River Thames was once inhabited and the most famous entertainment spot is the Three Swan Pub. The suspicious guests, the improper playboys have made this bar a thorn in the eyes of many people. A particularly cranky neighbor, Robert Hunter, bought the bar and closed it permanently in 1812.
8. Ross Island in South Andaman, India
In its heyday, the island was called the “Paris of the East”, which was inhabited by British officers. Residents of England have turned the island into an authentic place to live with sumptuous discos, bakeries, clubs, swimming pools, gardens. Until 1941, the Japanese invaded to seize land to make war bunkers.
Ross Island was later used by the Japanese and British, and until 1979 it was returned to the Indian navy. Today, the island is uninhabited so it is covered with many trees. If you come to Ross Island, you can walk around to see the ruins, or visit some small shops built for tourists.
9. Dry Tortugas in Key West, Florida
The island was named by Spanish explorer and conqueror Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. Previously, the Dry Tortugas was used as a freight corridor and became the anti-pirate fortress of the sea. Army (Fort Jefferson), to protect the shipping channel and the national gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. This fort has imprisoned many deserters in the civil war and most notably the conspirator of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
After the navy abandoned the base in 1874, President Roosevelt registered the fortress as a national monument and the entire island became a national park. Guests can reach the island by boat, ferry or seaplane.
10. Ukivok village on King Island in Alaska
Locals often hunt for crabs and seals in the winter on King Island (because in winter, extreme weather causes water to freeze and they cannot fish).
In the 1900s, the Alaska Office of India closed the only school on the island so people had to emigrate. Without children there to help collect food for the winter, adults were also forced to return to the mainland. During the peak period, the village had about 200 people. It is said that the reason behind the Indian Office’s closure of the school is to avoid the potential dangers of the skiing. The abandoned school is still intact to this day.
11. Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island was once home to Native Americans, later becoming a Spanish colonial settlement. After the French pirates attacked, the island became a British settlement. On the island there is a fort against the Spaniards.
Shortly thereafter, the island became a farming plantation. After many times of changing owners, the Carnegie family built a huge castle, called the Dungility House. In 1959, the house was burned down, the cause behind is said to be enemy sabotage.
12. San Giorgio in Alga, off Venice, Italy
San Giorgio Island is located in Alga, off Venice, Italy, uninhabited after World War II. San Giorgio was originally the abode of monasteries until a great fire broke the island. The island became a political prison in 1799 and a place to detain prisoners during World War I, but was later abandoned.
When World War II began, the lands on the island were used as Nazi secret training bases to learn how to plant mines under water. When the war ended, the island was abandoned again.
13. Poveglia Plague Island
From the 14th to the 17th centuries, the island received 160,000 people infected with the plague, making it the most haunted place in the world. Some estimates suggest that more than 50% of the island’s land is made up of human ashes. In 1922, a mental hospital was opened on the island. In 1968 there was a rumor that a hospital doctor was conducting horrific experiments on patients. A special doctor is said to torture and kill the patient, or for the patient to commit suicide.
14. Discovery Island of Disney World
In 1974, Disney opened a bird sanctuary named “Treasure Island”, which was later renamed “Discovery Island” in 1978. On the island there are many rare animals like flamingos and a beach. sea for tourists. You can get to the island by Disney vacation boat or Walt Disney World Cruise service. However, the island was closed in 1999 for a variety of reasons, including accusations of improper care for the animals, deadly bacteria in the park waters, dangers from wild crocodiles, etc. , the animals were transferred to the nearby Disney Animal Kingdom resort.
15. Ōkunoshima Island
Unkunoshima Island is now called “Rabbit Island”, but it was originally where the Imperial Japanese Army produced toxic gas during World War II. These products have killed some 80,000 soldiers and civilians in China. Today, the island receives many tourists who love animals thanks to the survival of more than 300 wild rabbits.
16. Palmyra Atoll, Hawaii
The island was purchased by a wealthy family in 1922 and then used as a U.S. naval refueling station during World War II. Palmyra became the last privately owned territory of the United States in 1959, because then Hawaii became a US state. The island now belongs to the non-profit conservation organization Nature Conservancy. However, due to many shipwrecks and a double murder, Palmyra Atoll is often said to be a cursed island.
17. North Brother Island
North Brother Island in New York City is said to be haunted by mistreated patients. Initially, the island was a bird sanctuary but became a hospital for smallpox patients in 1885. After that, patients with typhoid also came to stay.
When the hospital was closed in 1942, the island buildings were used as housing for veterans, and later became a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. The facility finally closed in 1963. The buildings remain on the island, but with the history of the unfortunate fate that once lived here, no one wants to live on this island.
Sure, i’ll visit one among these places….