26 Forgotten Villages Around the World Being Reclaimed by Nature

15. The Vanishing Village of Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima or "Battleship Island," was once a thriving coal mining community. However, the decline of the coal industry led to its abandonment in 1974. Today, the island's decaying buildings stand as a haunting reminder of its industrial past. The village's story is a testament to the impermanence of human settlements and the relentless power of nature. Hashima Island's abandoned structures, now overgrown with vegetation, offer a glimpse into the past and the resilience of the natural world in reclaiming human-made environments.