9.
SHIPBREAKING YARDS
Disposing of a large cargo vessel is a pretty complicated process, especially doing it properly
and in a way that causes minimal waste and environmental damage.
Most of the time, container ships are dismantled at shipbreaking yards in India and Bangladesh.
The metal is scrapped, and every usable and recyclable part of a ship, including doors
and toilet seats, gets repurposed or reused.
Sadly, there’s a reason that most shipbreaking yards are in certain parts of the world.
The work is dangerous and toxic, so the industry tends to set up shop in places with cheap
labor and less restrictive environmental regulations.
In a quest to offer an insider’s perspective of what really goes on at these facilities,
author William Langewiesche visited the Alang shipyard in Gujarat, India.
He detailed his observations in his book, The Outlaw Sea, describing the site as “a
shoreline strewn with industrial debris on the oily Gulf of Cambray” in the Arabian
Sea.
Measuring roughly six miles (10 km) long, the narrow, smokey industrial zone was lined
with as many as 200 ships at one point.
Each vessel was in a different stage of being dismantled, and was spilling debris onto the
tidal flats.
Langewiesche described seeing emaciated workers among heavy soot and smoke, going dangerously
close to a burning, unbearably loud and hot furnace.
Multiple photographers, including Edward Burtynsky, have captured photos of the daily goings-on
at sites like Alang.
The sobering images show workers standing around campfires amid toxic debris and the
disassembled components of a ship they had taken apart.
Even more troubling, the pictures reveal a stream of hazardous metals leaking into the
sand and out to sea.
In the words of blogger Geoff Manaugh of “BLDG BLOG” (“Building Blog,”), the dismantled
ships represent “the scraps of a first world that sent its waste elsewhere.”
And he’s not wrong.
It's an undeniable characteristic among privileged countries to treat garbage as an “out of
sight, out of mind” matter without lending additional thought to how it’s handled or
where it ends up.
But sites like Alang are proof that at the end of the day, someone pays the price for
our first world wastefulness.
8.
THESSALONIKI TRAIN CEMETERY
Outside Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, there’s an ever-expanding collection of
decommissioned trains left behind by the country’s national railway.
It’s known as the Hellenic Railways Organisation.
The decaying cars began accumulating in the 1980s.
Today, there are over 1,000 of them at the property.
They attract lots of urban explorers, but serve no other purpose.
The company tried to sell the cars as scrap several times, but these attempts were unsuccessful.
Very few honest business owners seem interested in associating with the site, which has a
reputation for scrap smuggling and other shady dealings.
Not all the trains are worth scrapping, anyway, according to some rail enthusiasts, who believe
that many of them should be preserved for their historic value.
The yard contains some remarkable vintage cars, including antique wagons dating back
to 1895, which once traveled back-and-forth between Thessaloniki and Istanbul.
There are also vehicles that the Nazis seized as World War II trophies, according to photographer
Nicki Panou, who spotted the ill-gotten cars during a visit to the site.
On her website, Panou echoed the sentiments of many who think it’s a shame that the
vintage cars have been left to rot, unguarded and at the mercy of vandals who have dismantled
them and sold what they can for scrap.
Describing the wagons as lost pieces of heritage, she further pointed out that it’s unfortunately
too late to save many of them.
7.
SOGEL TANK CEMETERY
In a small field just a few miles outside the German town of Sögel, there’s a collection
of around two dozen Leopard I and M47 Patton tanks arranged in neat lines.
Nobody seems to know why they’re there, and although it’s impossible not to notice
the site, the German military is strangely secretive about it.
Designed by Porsche, the Leopard I tank functioned as West Germany’s main battle tank during
the Cold War, when the country was split both physically and ideologically by the Berlin
Wall.
Nearly 6,500 of the vehicles were produced after it entered service in 1965.
The Leopard I was a popular choice among European militaries for some time before the last of
them were withdrawn from service in 2003 and replaced by the Leopard II.
Named after American World War II general George S. Patton, the M47 battle tank entered
service in 1951.
It was primarily used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and you may be surprised to
learn that it’s the only American tank that the U.S. military has never used in combat.
But the M47 has seen war under other countries’ militaries, and some are still in operation
today.
While there’s no physical barrier stopping curious explorers from investigating the tank
graveyard, there is a strictly-worded sign cautioning against trespassing and threatening
legal action against violators.
Some suspect that the property is an active military site, and that helicopter pilots
use the tanks for target practice.
So it’s probably best to obey the “no trespassing” sign – after all, better
safe than sorry!
6.
CZESTOCHOWA TRAIN GRAVEYARD
Czestochowa is Poland’s 13th most populated city.
During the communist era, it was among the country’s leading industrial and educational
centers.
Today, the city is popular among tourists, and it’s still an industrial hub, thanks
to the establishment of the Katowice Special Economic Zone, which offers incentives to
business owners who set up shop there.
But times nevertheless change, which is why Czestochowa is home to an abandoned train
depot that has seen much busier days.
During its heyday, the station served as a vital connection between the historic Warsaw-Vienna
Railway and the rest of Europe.
Over the years, six more rail stations opened throughout the city, and the depot closed
because it was no longer needed.
The disused property now functions as a storage facility for an eerie collection of aging
rail cars that have been taken out of service.
Czestochowa’s landscape has changed considerably, but the city of 240,000 is still lively and
has a lot going for it.
It is here that crumbling remnants of the past coexist alongside the fast-paced day-to-day
happenings of modern life.
This could perhaps explain why urban explorers are entangled in a contentious debate over
whether the station is a true train graveyard or a neglected part of a larger depot.
Technicalities aside, the property is fascinating regardless, drawing many off-the-beaten-path
explorers who are hoping to catch a firsthand glimpse of a bygone era.
Would you like to check this place out?
Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already!
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5.
EXCAVATOR GRAVEYARD
When World War II ended, Germany was parceled out between Great Britain, France, the U.S.,
and the Soviet Union.
A line was drawn, splitting the country into the capitalist west and the communist east.
Formally known as the German Democratic Republic, East Germany fell under strict Soviet control.
Separated from West Germany by the notorious Berlin Wall, the society was closed off from
the free world.
It wasn’t until after Germany reunified in 1990 that people from countries outside
the Eastern Bloc were able to gain a firsthand glimpse into what went on during those dark,
divided years.
And while a lot of it was utterly depressing, some sights proved fascinating.
Take, for example, a former East German coal mine located in the country’s northeastern
region.
Known today as Ferropolis, it consists of five massive bucket excavators that were left
behind when the site closed in 1991.
The equipment was abandoned simply because it was easier and less expensive than moving
or dismantling it.
And while it might normally be a problem to leave such gargantuan garbage lying around
with no future plans for it, the machinery attracted visitors.
Today, the property functions as an open-air industrial museum.
It’s thought to be the world’s biggest collection of deserted diggers, with each
excavator weighing up to 2,000 tons (1,814 metric tons).
The site’s oldest digger, nicknamed the Mosquito, was built in 1941.
Running this 223 by 92 foot (68 x 28 meters) monster required between three and five operators.
It took the same amount of people to run a 263-foot-wide excavator known as Mad Max,
which dates back to 1952.
Both the Mosquito and Mad Max are small compared to the 328-foot-long (100 meters) Medusa,
which required five to seven operators.
But even the Medusa is dwarfed by the site’s largest machine, the 410-foot-long (125 meters)
Gemini.
Built in 1958, the contraption was controlled by a six to eight person crew.
The 102 by 246-foot (31 x 75 meters) Big Wheel is the newest digger.
It was built in 1984 and requires three to five operators.
Nobody has used the machines since mining closed.
But they are legally protected, and in 1995, the site officially reopened as Ferropolis,
giving the public a chance to see the gigantic diggers up close.
4.
GREAT TRAIN GRAVEYARD
Near the mesmerizing salt flats of Uyuni, Bolivia, there’s a collection of dozens
of rusting locomotives and train cars.
Known as the Great Train Graveyard or the Cemeterio de Trenes, the site is located on
the outskirts of a deserted former transportation hub and less than two miles (3 km) from the
modern local train station.
During the early 19th century, plans were made to expand the region’s train network.
Sadly, the project was never completed.
The local mining industry began to dry up, and developers encountered issues with other
countries along the planned route.
Meanwhile, they kept running into technical issues.
Between bad timing, disagreements, and other problems, the project ground to a screeching
halt, leaving more than 100 rail cars parked in the middle of the desert.
Most of the vehicles were imported from Britain during the early 1900s.
Thanks to vandalism and the region’s salty winds, they’re heavily rusted and rapidly
deteriorating.
The eerie train graveyard is open to the public and draws a heavy influx of visitors who stop
by on their way to the salt flats.
It’s situated among a vast landscape completely devoid of homes, cars, and people for as far
as the eye can see, serving as a constant reminder of how far from civilization it is.
3.
VOZDVIZHENKA AIRCRAFT GRAVEYARD
Located near the Sea of Japan in Russia’s Far East, the former Soviet air base at Vozdvizhenka
dates at least as far back as the Cold War era.
Relatively little is known about the site, which is home to 18 or more gutted Tupolev
Tu-22M supersonic bombers.
In fact, it’s the only former Soviet base east of the Ural Mountains that ever housed
the Tu-22M.
Nicknamed the “Blinder,” the aircraft entered service in 1962.
It was the first-ever supersonic bomber that was made in the USSR.
But the plane underperformed compared to its manufacturers’ expectations when it came
to range and speed.
The Tu-22M was produced in small batches, and it was difficult to fly and maintain.
It was prone to crashing, pitching up, and striking its tail during landings.
But it was still used in combat, and is actually one of few Soviet bombers to ever see war.
The Tu-22M served in the Iran-Iraq War and in skirmishes against Tanzania in Chad.
Several countries invested in the aircraft for their own militaries, including Libya
and Iraq.
And many are still in service today.
The bomber’s golden era was nevertheless short-lived, and the Tu-22M has fallen largely
out of favor, leaving behind the seemingly post-apocalyptic, rotting collection at Vozdvizhenka.
2.
ABANDONED WORLD WAR II MACHINES
Located in the western Pacific roughly 5,900 miles (9,495 km) from the American mainland,
Saipan is a commonwealth of the United States and the largest of the Mariana Islands.
It’s also the site of a brutal, weeks-long battle between U.S. and Japanese forces that
lasted from June 15 to July 9, 1944.
Known as the Battle of Saipan, the skirmish ended with an American victory and the island’s
capture from the Japanese.
There are numerous American and Japanese historical sites on Saipan.
Several Sherman M4 tanks can be found off the shore of Chalan Kanoa Beach, sitting in
about 10 feet (3 meters) of water.
They’re remarkably intact for their age and are a popular diving attraction among
tourists.
The island and its surrounding waters are also home to two sunken Japanese planes, two
American planes, a handful of merchant ships, some landing vehicles, and other machinery.
Divers can explore the submerged vehicles, including the Japanese naval ship Shoan Maru,
which sits roughly 30 feet (9 meters) beneath the waves.
Most of these attractions are available to entry-level divers.
For more experienced visitors, there’s an underwater pile of World War II era “junk”
filled with Jeeps, airplane parts, and other items that the U.S. Navy discarded during
its time in Saipan.
1.
CHATILLON CAR GRAVEYARD
According to local legend, a forest near the Belgian village of Chatillon was once home
to a massive collection of rusting cars.
There are conflicting stories about where the vehicles came from.
One tale claims that they belonged to American soldiers who were stationed in the region
during World War II.
When they returned home after the war, it would have been extremely costly for them
to have the cars they bought overseas shipped to the U.S.
So the troops drove their automobiles up a hill and into a forest, parked them neatly
in rows, and simply left them behind.
If this is true, then it means that none of the soldiers had second thoughts and missed
their vehicle enough to retrieve it.
It seems unlikely, and many locals are quick to point out that a lot of the cars were post
World War II models, indicating that the site was probably an ordinary junkyard.
But it’s hard to know for sure, since most of the vehicles have been removed.
At one point in time, there were four car graveyards in the area.
But this is no longer the case.
Anything that was worth taking is gone, and the remaining cars are decaying and heavily
rusted, leaving us with little to learn from about the property’s past.
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