Your House Finder: Abandoned Islands: Beautiful Ruins Throughout the World

Dry Tortugas, Key West, Florida

Source: Wikipedia

The Dry Tortugas were first dominated by sea turtles. Then, in 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon established the island as a shipping corridor. Soon after, it would be nicknamed “ship trap,” as many ships wrecked, their treasures now lining the bottom of the sea.

Though technically abandoned, it does welcome travelers. Many visit Fort Jefferson, which began construction in 1874 but never reached completed. However, it’s known as the island’s crown jewel.

Suakin Island Ruins, Suakin, Sudan

Source: Wikimedia Commons

In the 10th century BCE, Suakin was a popular port in the Red Sea for traders and explorers. The spread of Islam also contributed to the island’s heavy population.

During the 1800s, the island became a hub for slave trade. When slavery eventually decreased in popularity, the port did as well, and had no real use. It’s been abandoned since the 1920s.

Spinalonga, Gulf of Elounda, Crete

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The “Island of Tears” was occupied by a colony of lepers during the 20th century. They’d enter the island’s fortress through “Dante’s Gate,” the same way tourists enter today.

San Giorgio in Alga, Venice, Italy

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Located off the Venetian coast, San Giorgio was first inhabited in 1000 CE. It served as an operative station for Nazis and a base for the monastery reformation. It was abandoned shortly after WWII, and all that stands today are some dilapidated buildings.

Ross Island, South Andaman, India

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This island once served as the British administration of the Indian Penal Settlement in the Andaman Islands. Remains of a church and a hospital echo British architecture. The remains are now covered in fauna and flora. The island was first abandoned in 1941 when an earthquake struck and the Japanese invaded. The Indian Navy then took it over in 1979, and a museum was later established in 1993.

Poveglia Plague Island, Venice, Italy

Source: Wikimedia Commmons

Those living from the late 18th century to the early 19th century called this island home if they suffered from the plague. Now all that stands are the remains of a psychiatric hospital. It’s even rumored that about 50 percent of the island’s soil is composed of human remains.

Unfortunate for haunted attraction enthusiasts, visitors are forbidden. Probably something to do with all those remains.

North Brother Island, New York City

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Located near the Bronx on the East River, North Brother Island was once populated by quarantined patients during the 1960s. Typhoid Mary was famously among them. Now, the island primarily is occupied by birds, and people rarely make the visit.

Pages

Monday, August 15, 2022

Abandoned Islands: Beautiful Ruins Throughout the World

No comments:

Post a Comment