23 Places Where Nature Has Reclaimed Abandoned Cities

8. Humberstone, Chile: The Ghostly Echoes of the Nitrate Boom

Humberstone, a former nitrate mining town in the Atacama Desert of Chile, offers a haunting glimpse into the past. Once a thriving community during the nitrate boom of the early 20th century, Humberstone was abandoned when the industry collapsed. Today, the town is a ghostly echo of its former self, with its buildings slowly being reclaimed by the desert. The harsh desert winds have weathered the wooden structures, and sand has begun to encroach upon the town. Despite the arid conditions, nature has begun to reclaim Humberstone, with cacti and desert plants growing in the streets and wildlife returning to the area. The town's transformation from a bustling mining community to a ghost town reclaimed by nature serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of human endeavors and the enduring strength of the natural world.