Biggest Ghost Town... Varosha/Famagusta

Please take a look at my other video that shows Ghost Towns in Scandinavia ( Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland )    • Amazing Ghost Towns In Northern Europe   Varosha Info Below

Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, on 20 July 1974 in response to a Greek-backed coup, the Greek Cypriot Army withdrew its forces to Larnaca. The Turkish Army advanced as far as the Green Line, which is the present day border between the two communities. Just hours before the Turkish Army and the Greek Cypriot Army met in military combat on the streets of Famagusta, the entire population, fearing a massacre, fled. Many refugees fled south to the towns of Paralimni, Deryneia, and Larnaca. Paralimni has since become the modern day capital of the Famagusta province in the Republic of Cyprus.

When the Turkish Army gained control of the area during the invasion, they fenced it off and have since barred admittance to anyone except Turkish military and United Nations personnel. The Annan Plan had provided for the return of Varosha to Greek Cypriot control, but this never happened, as the plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.

The reason why Varosha is abandoned is due to the UN Security Council Resolution 550 (taken in 11 May 1984),[3] which in short states that: "attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible". Since TRNC is not allowed to resettle the area and the area is under TRNC control, this situation led to the abandonment of the Varosha district.

Since 1974, entry to the district is forbidden with the exception of the TSK personnel and the students of the girls' dormitory in there.

As no one has inhabited the area and no repairs have been carried out, all of the buildings are slowly falling apart. Nature is reclaiming the area, as metal corrodes, windows break, and plants work their roots into the walls and pavement. Sea turtles have been seen nesting on the deserted beaches. Car dealerships are stocked with vintage 1974 models, and years following the abandonment, people claimed to have seen lightbulbs still burning in the windows of abandoned buildings.