Across the globe, there are many deserted islands that were once home to large populations. The reasons for their abandonment can vary, including natural disasters, wars, and epidemics.
1. Mamula, Montenegro: Mamula Island features an abandoned fortress built in 1853 by Austrian-Hungarian General Lazarus von Mamula to protect Kotor Bay in southeastern Montenegro. During World War II, the fortress was used as a prison for prisoners of Benito Mussolini.
2. Gemiler, Turkey: Archaeologists believe that the remains of early Christian Bishop St. Nicholas were laid to rest on Gemiler Island in 326. However, due to numerous attacks from Arabs, the saint’s remains were moved to the mainland in 650. The church structures on the island have remained abandoned ever since.
3. Spinalonga, Crete, Greece: The Venetians built fortifications on Spinalonga Island in the late 16th century to protect trade routes from pirates and the Ottoman Empire. From 1903 to 1957, the island served as a leper colony, after which it was abandoned.
4. Ilha Da Queimada Grande, Brazil: Known as Snake Island, this infamous site has been uninhabited since 1920. Prior to that, settlers attempted to create a banana plantation but were unsuccessful. Few tourists dare to visit the island due to the overwhelming presence of highly venomous golden lancehead vipers.
5. Fort Alexander, Russia: Built between 1838 and 1845 on an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland, this fortress was tasked with protecting St. Petersburg and the port of Kronstadt. In 1899, it became a laboratory for studying plague and bacteria, but the deaths of two workers led to its closure.
6. La Isla De Las Munecas, Mexico: This artificial island, located near Laguna de Teshuilo, is known as “the island of dolls.” Since 1950, thousands of dolls have been hung from trees by the island’s owner, Julian Santana Barrera, to ward off the spirit of a girl who died nearby.
7. Gaiola, Italy: According to locals in Naples, Gaiola Island, located just a few meters off the coast, is cursed. This belief stems from the tragedies that befell the family who owned the island, resulting in the loss of many family members.
8. Alcatraz, California, USA: This island has a haunting history, located about 2 kilometers off the coast of San Francisco. From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz Island was home to a federal prison. The strong currents surrounding the island made it impossible for any inmate to swim to freedom.
9. Ellioaley, Iceland: This island was inhabited until 1930. The small community on Ellioaey survived by fishing and farming livestock. As life became increasingly difficult compared to the mainland, they decided to leave. The large white building (shown in the image) was built in 1953 as a resting place for hunters.
10. Middle Ground Coastal Battery: This island, located near the port of Mumbai, was constructed by the British East India Company in 1682 to combat piracy. During World War II, the island was fortified with anti-aircraft guns and combat weapons. Today, it is controlled by the Indian Navy.
11. Baljenac, Croatia: Shaped like a fingerprint when viewed from above, Baljenac Island features 23 kilometers of dry stone walls known as “suhozid.” For hundreds of years, residents of the nearby island of Kaprije used Baljenac for agriculture, building walls to divide crops and protect them from the wind.
12. Houtouwan, Zhoushan, China: Houtouwan Island once had over 2,000 residents, primarily engaged in fishing. In the early 1990s, the remote village faced numerous issues related to education and infrastructure, prompting its inhabitants to migrate elsewhere. By 1994, nearly the entire island had been abandoned and remains so to this day.
