Abandoned Towns
Gold rush towns abandoned when new boomtowns emerge elsewhere or the gold has run out, towns deserted when caught in war zones, settlements evacuated due to natural disasters or chemical spills – seeing a town with devoid of people is an uncanny feeling. Where has everyone gone? And why aren’t they coming back? From Pripyat in Ukraine to Bodie in California to English villages requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence during World War II, from Greek leper colonies to deserted Italian mountain villages, Abandoned Towns is a brilliant pictorial work examining lost worlds. With reasons ranging from the collapse of local industry to being pushed aside to make way for a new industry, from earthquakes and volcanoes to man-made chemical spills, from war zones to demilitarised zones, the book explores a wide range of desolate urban environments from around the globe. And with these places left to nature, we can see not only how nature reclaims the land, but also gain a glimpse into the past free from humankind’s modernising hands. With 150 striking colour photographs exploring 100 worlds, Abandoned Towns is a fascinating visual history of the mysteries of lost worlds.
Chris McNab is a wilderness expert, military specialist and author of many books, including Ghost Towns and Abandoned Wrecks. He holds a PhD from the University of Wales and lives in south Wales, UK.