Exploring lost worlds: 10 abandoned islands that no one has set foot on for a long time (11 photos)

There are hundreds of thousands of islands around the world, but not all of them can boast that they were once inhabited, but are now forgotten and abandoned by people. There are about 200 of them, and each has its own reason for being abandoned.





Islet on Loch Laich, Scotland

On this small island stands the medieval castle Stalker. Built in the 1320s, it passed from hand to hand between distinguished Scottish clans over the centuries. From 1965 until now, Stalker has been owned by the Stuart family, who spared no expense in restoring the castle. Until the 2000s, anyone could visit the castle as a tourist, but for the last 20 years no one has lived there.



Mamula, Montenegro

In the 19th century, one of the Montenegrin generals ordered the construction of a fort on an uninhabited island to protect the Bay of Kotor. But during World War II, the fort was occupied by the Germans, who used the structure as a prison camp. Even now, when so many years have passed, no one wants to live and work on Mamula, knowing his sad past.





Gemiler, Türkiye

The history of this island began in the 4th century, when, according to archaeologists, the remains of St. Nicholas were buried there. The island became a center of pilgrimage, but in 650, fearing raids by Arab ships, the remains were transported to the mainland and people stopped traveling to Gemiler.



Spinalonga, Crete, Greece

At the end of the 16th century, the Venetians built a fort and fortification to protect their trade routes from the Turks. But from 1903, for 60 years, the island became a colony for lepers. Even now, many years later, there is no one willing to go to Spinalonga.



Suakin, Sudan

In former times it was the largest Red Sea port in the region, but it faded into the background when Port Sudan was built 60 km to the north and made it the main sea gate of the country. Every year there were fewer people in Suakin, and now it is nothing more than a forgotten island with an old city built from coral.



Delos, Greece

This Greek city also gradually became dilapidated and died out. People first settled there 5,000 years ago, and in the 900s BC it was a center of pilgrimage with temples, alleys, markets and beautiful statues. But in the 8th century, the situation was aggravated by sea robbers, and people stopped traveling to Delos. It is worth saying that in the last 30 years people began to settle on Delos, and at the moment on an area of 3500 km? 14 people live.



Gaiola, Italy

There is a legend that this island is cursed. Italians are a rather superstitious people who like to exaggerate, but here it is worth paying tribute and agreeing. The reputation of the island, like the houses on it, is very tragic. Almost all of its owners were haunted by evil fate: the death of relatives, arrest, kidnapping of children. Now Gaiola belongs to the state, and if you wish, you can buy the island, but there are no takers.



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Edlidaey, Iceland

Until the 1930s, little life was in full swing on the island. There were houses of several families who lived by fishing, hunting puffins and raising livestock. But while life was developing on the mainland, everything here was stuck in one place, and people began to leave Edlidaey. Now there is only one tiny house there, built by hunters to make it more convenient to catch birds.



Balljenac, Croatia

From above, this island resembles a fingerprint due to its numerous stone walls. For hundreds of years, people from the neighboring island of Caprie have used Ballenac to plant crops such as grapes, figs, and olives. To distinguish between plant species and protect them from the wind, the Croats built stone walls.



Isola dei Cappuccini, Sardinia

In search of peace and quiet, Capuchin monks began to create communities for themselves in Sardinia since 1591, and this island became their choice, which is why they earned themselves the nickname Capuchin Island. The monks have not been there for a long time, and on Isola dei Cappuccini there are 8 bungalows for tourists, but they are in no hurry to go to the Italian island, which has nothing to offer.