Following the Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion in 1986, a 2,600-square-kilometer area in Ukraine is now an uninhabited exclusion zone. Wildlife, including wolves and wild horses, has returned to the area.
In 79 AD, the city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash and pumice from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The preserved ruins offer a snapshot of Roman life.
Angkor Wat, an ancient city in Cambodia, was abandoned in the 15th century. It is the worlds largest religious monument spreading over 400 square kilometers, originally constructed as a Hindu temple.
Opened in 1928, the Canfranc Railway Station was one of the worlds largest rail stations. Its abandonment in 1970 led to stories of spies, gold trafficking, and Nazis.
Hashima Island, a former coal mining site, was once home to over 5,000 inhabitants. It was abandoned in 1974 as coal resources dwindled, leaving crumbling buildings behind.
Pripyat, built for Chernobyls workers and residents, was evacuated within hours of the explosion. The ghost city now showcases an eerily preserved snapshot of 1980s Soviet life.