For Mickey
particular
focus on
abandoned
and forgotten
places that are
being
reclaimed by
nature.
Ghost Towntastic
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Hashima Island
Japan
Population: 0
The island's most notable features are the abandoned
historical concrete buildings, undisturbed except by
nature, and the surrounding sea wall.
The 6.3-hectare (16-acre) island was known for its
undersea coal mines, established in 1887, which
operated during the industrialization of Japan. The island
reached a peak population of 5,259 in 1959. In 1974,
with coal supplies nearing depletion, the mine was
closed and all of the residents departed soon after,
leaving the island effectively abandoned for the
following three decades. Interest in the island re-
emerged in the 2000s on account of its undisturbed
historic ruins. Certain collapsed exterior walls have since
been restored, and travel to Hashima was re-opened to
tourists on April 22, 2009. Increasing interest in the
island resulted in an initiative for its protection as a site
of industrial heritage. The island was formally approved
as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2015,