At first glance, this abandoned lighthouse looks idyllic, situated in the seas between the East coast of Russia and Japan. In reality, the building used to serve as a prison for some of Russia’s most dangerous criminals.
The prison has since been closed down, but the island remains under Russian control with the lighthouse now derelict and the island uninhabited.
Gulliver’s Travels Park – Kawaguchi, Japan
This park is dedicated to the story of Gulliver's travels, as we can see from the giant Gulliver lying down in the middle of the park.
The Japanese government tried to keep the property open but unfortunately not even that could save it. Now, despite its bright facades, the park lies empty and derelict. A sad end for Gulliver.
Disney’s Discovery Island – Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Lake Buena Vista on Disney’s Discovery Island may not too look too dangerous or creepy, in fact, it seems picturesque. However, rumor has it that the lake is the reason why this attraction was closed. Unfortunately, the water in the lake carries a bacterium that is so dangerous to humans that it could cause death.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so this lake will remain out of bounds, and Discovery Island will ironically be abandoned.
Chateau Miranda – Celles, Belgium
Although the castle is located in Belgium, it was actually built by French aristocrats who had left France during the revolution. In the years after and as the Second World War approached, it was turned into an orphanage and functioned as one until 1980 when the building was abandoned.
Strangely the family refused any help to restore the building from the government, and as a result, it is now in a state of disrepair. It is also said to be haunted, so lots of people visit in search of ghosts and thrills.
Hashima Island, Japan
This island in Japan was once upon a time inhabited by over 5000 miners and their families. They were there to mine for coal and sent it back to the mainland. The island went into decline as petroleum started to replace coal as Japan’s first choice for energy.
We can see from the picture that the building looks run down and dilapidated. It may have been built in a hurry when coal was first discovered here. Due to its fascinating past, Hashima Island has been the subject of a number of documentary films.