12 Hauntingly Beautiful Images of Abandoned Places Around the World

7. The Salton Sea, California: A Decaying Desert Oasis

The Salton Sea, once a thriving resort destination in California's desert, is now a haunting landscape of decay. Created by accident in the early 20th century, the sea became a popular recreational area, attracting tourists and celebrities. However, due to agricultural runoff and increasing salinity, the ecosystem began to collapse, leading to massive fish die-offs and a noxious odor. Today, the abandoned resorts and decaying structures along the shoreline create an eerie atmosphere, with the once-vibrant community reduced to a ghostly shell. The Salton Sea is a stark reminder of the environmental consequences of human intervention and the fragility of ecosystems. It serves as a cautionary tale of unchecked development and the need for sustainable practices to preserve natural resources.