ONE of the world's spookiest abandoned towns is in Ireland.
Travel review website IgoUgo has compiled a list of the globe's top 10 ghost towns based on recommendations from its readers.
And coming in at number nine is Great Blasket Island.
In 1953, after its population began to dwindle and remaining inhabitants could no longer support themselves, Great Blasket was abandoned.
A combination boat-raft trip takes visitors to the island these days to hike among wild donkeys, sheep, rabbits and puffins.
Here are the other towns to make it on to the list:
Kolmanskop, Namibia. Before entering this abandoned mining town in the Namib desert, stop in nearby Luderitz for a permit.
The town was at its heyday in the 1920s but abandoned in 1956.
Fatehpur Sikri, India. Built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century to be the most beautiful city in the world, it was widely thought this goal was achieved -- until people realised the city lacked access to water.
Oatman, Arizona, US. Wild burros roam the streets and $60,000 bills decorate the walls of the local hotel.
Deception Island, Antarctica. A regular stop on Antarctic sailings, Deception Island was a popular place for scientific outposts until several volcanic eruptions destroyed the bases in the 1960s.
Rhyolite, Nevada, US. Gold was discovered here in 1904, and within 16 years, the town had thrived and fallen into disrepair.
Arltunga, Australia. A favourite part of this old Outback mining town is the "loneliest pub in the scrub".
Grafton, Utah, US. Founded for its fertile land and abandoned largely due to conflicts with Native Americans, Grafton is most famous as the set of the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Stromness, South Georgia Island. It's a former whaling station, abandoned in 1961.
South Pass City, Wyoming, US. A ghost town with the illustrious distinction of being the birthplace of women's suffrage in the US.
hnews@herald.ie
