19. Power Plant IM, Charleroi, Belgium
Originally built in 1921, the Power Plant IM used to be one of the largest coal burning power plants in Belgium—its massive cooling tower (pictured) was able to cool down 480,000 gallons of water per minute in its heyday. But with great power comes great pollution, and this particular plant was responsible for 10 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the entire country. Greenpeace protested, and the site was shut down in 2007. And while they may no longer provide any electricity, the abandoned towers still provide plenty of eerily beautiful vistas.
20. Hashima Island, Nagasaki, Japan
Hashima Island was once the most densely populated island in the world; now it’s completely empty. People became interested in the island after finding an underwater coal deposit directly under it. As time went on, tightly packed apartment complexes were constructed for the miners and laborers, providing its density record. But folks left as quickly as they came when the coal ran out. It’s now a rock and concrete ghost town in the middle of the ocean.