33 Ghost Towns That Have Become Stunning Tourist Attractions

23. Kadykchan, Russia – A Soviet Mining Town Abandoned in an Instant

Deep in the Russian Far East, Kadykchan was once a thriving mining town built under Soviet rule during World War II. It housed workers who mined the region’s vast coal deposits, and at its peak, it was home to nearly 12,000 people. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the town's economy crumbled. A deadly explosion in one of the mines in the 1990s accelerated its decline, and within a few years, the town was abandoned entirely. Today, Kadykchan stands frozen in time, with deserted apartment blocks, schoolbooks scattered in classrooms, and Soviet propaganda posters still clinging to the walls. Unlike other ghost towns that slowly faded away, Kadykchan was abandoned in a matter of years, leaving behind a haunting, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The extreme cold of the region has preserved much of the town’s infrastructure, making it a fascinating yet eerie place to explore.