Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns

A Deserted Town Ghost towns are empty places where people once lived. People often leave these towns because of some threat or because they can no longer find work. Each town has a story to tell.

As shown on the map above, empty towns are found around the world. Imagine what life was like for the people who lived in these places. Why do people leave these towns?

Resources Vanish Sometimes people leave a town after they run out of a resource. In 1908, a diamond was found in a desert in Africa. Soon after, a new town was born. Everyone left when the diamonds became hard to find.

In the 1900s, many people hunted whales around this island. Whales became harder to find over time. Then people stopped hunting whales. People left the town. Old buildings and boats are still there.

Forces of Nature Some places become ghost towns because of natural events. In 1995, a volcano erupted on this Caribbean island. The capital city was almost destroyed. Over half the people who lived on the island have left. The volcano is still active today.