Monday, November 29, 2010

DESERTED ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN-HASHIMA ISLAND

Hashima Island off the coast of Japan was once the most densely populated city on planet earth. From 1890 to 1974, the island was a coal mining facility. But when petroleum replaced coal in the 1960's, coal mines across Japan began shutting down and Hashima was abandoned, giving it a new nickname, “Ghost Island.”

Mitsubishi bought the island in 18901 and began using it as a coal mining facility. When space for the workers began to run out, they built Japan’s first large scale reinforced concrete apartment block on the island in 1916. More concrete tower blocks followed, and by 1959 the population of Hashima reached its peak of 5,259 – an astonishing 1,391 people per 10,000 square metres within the residential district – which is said to be the highest population density ever recorded in the world. The 15-acre island is one of 505 uninhabited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki itself. Sightseeing boat trips around the island are provided by two operators; Yamasa-Kaiun from Nagasaki Port, Kyodo Co. from Nomo Island.

As of April, 2009, the island is open again for public visits, with Yamasa Kaiun providing transportation to the island from Nagasaki. When petroleum began to replace coal here in the 1960s, coal production at Hashima began to decline, and Mitsubishi officially announced the closure of the mine in 1974. Today there is nobody left at all. Protected by a high sea wall, and completely off-limits to the public, the island is now an empty, rotting and collapsing ghost town, as clearly demonstrated.



























































































































































15 comments:

Valerie said...

Interesting. It was quite congested with those tower blocks. It all seems such a waste now.

Bikram said...

nice interesting ..

Bikram's

Rià said...

Oh yea i remember having read abt this a while ago. Must be interesting to visit such a place where no on lives.

Kurinji said...

I like this blog veru much, really unique and interesting.

SG said...

Thanks for the nice narration and beautiful pictures.

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Very interesting post..loved all the pics and the narration!

dr.antony said...

Hadnt heard about it.You always have something interesting to say.

Margaret Cloud said...

You also have the most interesting post. The information given is a nice read. I can't imagine being that congested, it probably had a lot of disease. Thank you for coming by and leaving such a nice comment. Have a good week.

P.N. Subramanian said...

Thanks for taking us for a visit to this Ghost Island.

डॉ. मोनिका शर्मा said...

Interesting pictures...Thanks

Patty said...

I would find it a little spooky visiting a place that looks like that and no one living there.

Kunwar Kusumesh said...

oh,it is all really amazing and interesting, urmi ji.wonderful

My Unfinished Life said...

quite interesting!!!...

Trotter said...

Hi Babli! amazing story! Had never heard about. Always learning...

Blogtrotter Two is in the Valley of Kings waiting for you!! No photos allowed inside the tombs, sorry… Enjoy and have a great week!

Jeevan said...

Interesting and Informative post!