Ghost Towns..

Today's topic of discussion revolves around 10 ghost towns that possess the potential to be extremely hazardous. As is customary with all the videos presented on top 10s, this particular one is based on an original script provided to us by a member of our writing team. However, in this specific case, I took the liberty of rewriting it myself. Without further ado, let us delve into the subject at hand. There exist numerous locations on our planet that are off-limits to the general public. These include places like Area 51, the Pentagon, and even the restricted restrooms of certain Taco Bell establishments. These are the spots where classified activities occur. On the other hand, there are places that one is technically allowed to visit, but it is strongly advised against doing so due to the genuine risk of fatality. Today, we will explore 10 such locations from around the world. We begin with number 10, Gim Dmania Gamana. Once a picturesque Romanian village nestled in a fertile valley teeming with rabbits and vibrant flora, it has now transformed into a toxic wasteland. The toxicity is so potent that the very soil itself can corrode leather shoes. The calamity began in 1978 when the ruling Communist regime decided to exploit the natural environment by extracting a large underground copper deposit near the town. Within a mere year, the entire area became engulfed in putrid waste. Paradoxically, this desolation possesses a peculiar allure, with its shimmering iridescent waters that blanket the town. It is reminiscent of a venomous snake or an individual on Tinder proudly displaying a fish. These factors contribute to the town's popularity as a tourist destination, albeit an extremely ill-advised one. People travel from far and wide to witness the unnaturally vibrant toxins that coat every surface. Speaking of the town itself, only the spire of the church remains visible, rising above the toxic waters that have submerged nearly everything else. A few houses situated on higher ground stubbornly refuse to be relocated, while the majority of the buildings and infrastructure lie submerged beneath the contaminated depths. Astonishingly, the water level in the surrounding valley continues to rise at a rate of approximately 1 meter per year. This is due to the ongoing dumping of toxic effluence into the lake. The toxic slurry has claimed many victims in recent times. The town of Whiton was completely devastated after the danger posed by asbestos became widely known. The entire town, along with its surrounding area, was isolated from the power grid and erased from public ordinance maps. Signs were put up, advising people to avoid visiting the area, but unfortunately, this warning has not been effective in deterring visitors. The government has designated a large portion of land as dangerous, which is approximately half the size of Singapore. Shockingly, after the area was closed off, large quantities of toxic asbestos were mysteriously dumped in a nearby Valley, which is frequented by Aboriginal people. Understandably, they are extremely angry about this situation. The danger of cancer caused by asbestos microfibers is slowly spreading beyond the quarantine area, aided by the frequent wildfires that Australia experiences. However, the town itself is immune to these wildfires due to the fireproof qualities of asbestos, rendering the traditional method of using fire to eliminate the danger ineffective. Despite the urgent need for a cleanup, the Australian government seems to have low concern for the massive amount of asbestos slowly spreading across the Outback. The responsibility of safely disposing of the acres of asbestos-covered dirt largely falls on charities. Moving on to another example, Pitcher, Oklahoma, located in Ottawa County, was once a thriving mining community focused on extracting lead and zinc for the war effort. However, as mining activity declined, so did the population. In 1967, when lead and zinc mining ceased entirely, the mines began to fill with water, causing environmental contamination throughout the region. It is becoming evident that there is a recurring pattern in response to these situations.Then, beneath the surface, the fire continued to burn and still burns to this day, resulting in the evacuation of many people due to the toxic environment. In 1990, only 63 people remained, and by 2012, the entire town's population was reduced to 10 individuals. During this time, two of the town's cemeteries fell into the raging inferno below, which must have been extremely distressing for the religious residents, as it resembled apocalyptic events. Additionally, random sinkholes would appear in the town, leading to endless tunnels of flame below, and temperatures would unexpectedly spike to heights of 900 degrees Fahrenheit. As if these occurrences weren't enough, people's houses began to tilt at awkward angles as the ground beneath them melted away, making it nearly impossible to sell their properties. Fortunately, the government intervened by purchasing everyone's homes and instructing them to relocate elsewhere, choosing to let the town burn. If anyone wonders why the town is still ablaze, it originated from a fire at the dump that spread to a coal mine. The coal veins caught fire, and experts believe they could continue burning for centuries, although the exact duration remains uncertain. Presently, Centralia resembles the first level of Doom Eternal, with cracked and dilapidated streets occasionally revealing the fiery depths below or emitting toxic gases with enough force to harm wildlife. Experts suggest that the fire will persist for centuries, but in reality, we cannot accurately predict when it will exhaust its fuel. The current hope is that the fire will eventually lose interest and depart, moving on once again. Another example of a town affected by fire is New Indria, California, which was established during the California Gold Rush to support mining activities.The town's boundaries are marked with ominous warnings about hidden dangers, which are often ignored by curious visitors eager to explore. The bright orange River nearby, tainted by toxic slurry, serves as a stark reminder of the risks lurking in the air. Despite the town's residents being aware of the dangers, tourists continue to flock in, leaving behind remnants of their presence like rusted cars and monuments. Love Canal in Niagara Falls stands out as a particularly horrifying example, where unsuspecting residents fell victim to toxic waste buried by a chemical company, reminiscent of a low-budget horror movie plot.