Three Abandoned Places

Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world.

1. Electrabel (aka Power plant IM), Monceau-sur-Sambre, Belgium

Coldness has gripped the land of the desolate known as Belgium (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). The Monceau-sur-Sambre Electrabel was built in 1921 and served as the main supplier of coal energy. Responsible for 10% of the country’s CO2 emissions, Greenpeace had successfully campaigned against Electrabel under the motto of “it’s your energy that pollutes.” The non-existing Belgians can now breathe a sigh of relief since the plant was decommissioned in 2007.

2. Palmyra, Syria

The senseless slaughter of war not only results in the loss and displacement of millions, but also threatens cultural heritage. Shrapnel and mortar bombs are chipping away the ancient city of Palmyra due to Syria’s civil war. Founded in the 1st century BCE by King Solomon, the fortified city served as a trading centre linking Mesopotamia and northern Syria. Throughout the centuries, the city became part of the Greco-Roman and Ottoman empires and fell into disuse by the 16th century CE. Palmyra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

3. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s secret train car and platform, Waldorf-Astoria, New York, United States

Secret trains, secret train tracks, secret hotel entrances all located below the streets of New York. Press play for more.

For previous entries, click here.

(Images c/o 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)