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As solid and unshakable as we think our civilization is, its grip on nature is tenuous at best. If any cracks appear in the faces of our buildings or our machines, nature is quick to move in and take over. With this in mind, here are 21 photos of places and things that nature is in the process of reclaiming.
Quite a bit of thought has been given to the idea of what Earth might look like once we’re gone. Indeed, many books and TV shows on the topic have found that nature would take our places fairly quickly. Many cities would be re-colonized within a year or two, and many of our buildings would begin crumbling soon after without human maintenance or energy sources. The Life After People series on the History Channel has a comprehensive timeline of collapses detailing when various famous landmarks of human civilization throughout the world might give way to nature.
RELATED:
The Old Piano Tree, California
Image credits: Crackoala
Trees Winning Against Concrete In Hong Kong
Image credits: Romain JL
Abandoned Inner City Railway In Paris
Image credits: messynessychic.com
Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington
Image credits: Ethan Welty
Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok
Image credits: Jesse Rockwell
Old Abandoned Mill In Sorrento, Italy
Image credits: Jason Wallace
Abandoned Ferris Wheel
Image credits: Kyle Telechan
Vintage Automobile Graveyard, Belgium
Image credits: Rosanne de Lange
Abandoned Mining Town, Namibia
Image credits: Marsel Van Oosten
Abandoned 160-Year-Old Railway In Paris
Image credits: Pierre Folk
102-Year-Old Abandoned Ship In Sydney, Australia
Image credits: AndyBrii
Tree Roots Overcoming Brick Sidewalk
Image credits: worldbeyondyourown
Image credits: Wei-Feng Xue
Abandoned Mansion Near Kilgarvan, Ireland
Image credits: Sam Abell
Abandoned Train Station In Abkhazia, Georgia
Image credits: Ilya Varlamov
I.M. Cooling Tower, Belgium
Image credits: brokenview
Abandoned Fishermen’s Town In Kamchatka, Russia
Image credits: englishrussia.com
Angkor, Cambodia
Image credits: Pietro Bevilacqua
Image credits: Brad Grove
Abandoned Hotel Room
Image credits: Matthias Haker
The Radioactive Ghost City Of Pripyat, Ukraine
Image credits: castlemaineindependent.org
What do you think ?
JesykaKretowicz 10 years ago
I think radiation is awesome because it keeps humans away @ SallaMakkonen
KellicAnonymousTiger 10 years ago
You do realize that radiation also kills animals as well, right?
Load More Replies...
AndréDuquette 10 years ago
I saw a documentarie about Tchernobyl and Pripyat and the animals populations are growing and in good healt. Those populations are balanced.
MattTwyman 10 years ago
Radiation travels up the food chain. While some animals may not live long enough to suffer the effects, it accumulates down the chain. bad
SunwynRavenwood 10 years ago
Most animals do not live long enough to die of cancer from radiation. In each generation the more susceptible die first.
TovaritchYakivDelamarov 10 years ago
Not really, there's a lot of people who go in Prypiat to steal (and sell) things.
SteveSalverius(ill-literate) 10 years ago
Those things they sell are poluted by radiation as well, right? "Yeah, go on, buy this contaminated product, good price!" ...
BryanHernandez 9 years ago
radioactive stuff isnt good it causes disease and kills animals , wildlife and people and it creates mutants and radioactive doesnt go away
LittleBobby 10 years ago
He makes a great point here and you musn't consider it as serious as hell.
BrenFallon 10 years ago
I'm so glad this Panda is bored, the things it posts fascinate me on a daily basis.
SallaMakkonen 10 years ago
The last one (Pripyat in Ukraine) seems like any ordinary town in Finland :'D
OlliMäntyranta 10 years ago
Only that buildings would be in just a little bit better condition, but not much :D
PhyllisHughes 10 years ago
Do the trees still grow if it's radioactive? I thought it killed off organic life?
MatthewValentini 10 years ago
Depends where you are. You will glow in the dark if you step foot in the red forest. Also radioactive dust is far more dangerous to humans.
Load More Replies...
Caedus 10 years ago
Permanent radiation actually isn't that harmful. It kills the swallows though because they don't live there all the year.
AnttiAli-Lekkala 10 years ago
It just depends on what level of radiation your body has gotten used to. Your body boosts the dna repair with more radiation.
Keith Owen 10 years ago
Radiation over time is harmful in that it causes genetic damage as well as cancers.
ArtiomRosov 10 years ago
There is not such a high level of radiation in Pripyat' to kill even a human. It is the cumulative effect, that eventually kills.
Cliff Nies 4 years ago
Awesome. This shows nature is stronger than man's destruction. It shows mankind is the plague on this planet. Overpopulation is what causes these diseases. The Abuse of greed by the few for a power struggle. All wars are created by the piracy of the greedy. Just like the Skulls / Bones, Hell's fire societies believe they live on another level law of standards. There is only "1" law. The Just law of the universe. It will win all the time. natural law. As all civilizations have come to pass it shows that ours is the lowest. There will be nothing to remember us as the Pyramids. Just like many buried under the sand.
Toph Tophylock 10 years ago
I was amazed on Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington. It was left by a soldier during WW.
TophTophylock 10 years ago
I was amazed on Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington. It was left by a soldier during WW.
Patrice Chavez 10 years ago
Seen rose branch coming thru concrete, nature beats, no ?. Cities under cities
DulceWilson 10 years ago
We don't build, we destroy. Nature is always on the move smiling at us after all the damage we keep causing. Amazing.
LouiseLafaille 10 years ago
L'Inimaginable! Une beauté vs la force de la nature en même temps que Désolation.
lonewolf717 10 years ago
Nature with a big N will always survive to mankind and it is not so important..Human beings are not the center of the universe..Get rid of !
lonewolf717 10 years ago
I Am always thinking that Nature with a big N doesn't need mankind, will survive to mankind, and it isn't so important for the mother Earth
Yash Tirumala 10 years ago
One picture I find too awesome is "Bicycle eaten by a tree" though the others are good as well
DawnWinters 10 years ago
Beautiful pics, amazing what nature will do if you just leave it alone...
DuncanWillis 10 years ago
Stunningly beautiful images! Life goes on, even in the most inhospitable circumstances. We are not alone...
Riqueza Sin Límite Autor Arley Castro Castillo 10 years ago
Hermosas imágenes, lo transportan a uno por un mundo soñado. Les felicito y deseo muchos éxitos.
GeorgieSandhu 10 years ago
Fantastic photos. Will use some in my lessons on biological weathering.
Jean-pierreYvon 10 years ago
Juste wow, I love this kind of pictures, j'adore ce genre de photo,
Sunwyn Ravenwood 10 years ago
"The World Without US" tell what earth would be like if humans vanished. "Life After People" is based on it. It is a good read.
Donal Heffernan 10 years ago
The under-lying comment seems to be that the world would be a better place without humans. The Gods (of various denominations) put us here.
Donal Heffernan 10 years ago
The roots of the brick pavement tree seems to prefer turning left, or, heading south, for the Sun?
DonalHeffernan 10 years ago
The tree roots on the brick pavement seem to prefer going left or heading south. The Sun?
JimmyNaessens 10 years ago
The abandoned hotel room really caught my eye! It's the combination of the intimacy of the room and the rawness of nature that has moved me.
TheoSprocket 10 years ago
its beautiful i wish the hole world was like that the greener the better
LiesbetSablon 10 years ago
The Vintage Automobile Graveyard, Belgium doesn't exist any longer. It was "cleaned up" bij the mayor of Chatillon in 2010.
AndreasEmanuelsson 10 years ago
Where are all the beuatiful sunken ships = marine sanctuaris of hard bottom demandning fauna?
MaethasitHongmanee 10 years ago
The fishes in Bangkok abandoned mall brought by the people nearby because water may cause mosquito nest then they release the fish to preven
JanMcCarthyTchamani 10 years ago
That's Nature vs. concrete - what about Nature vs. plastic???
darapuspita 10 years ago
I like the photo of "Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok" . I feel so surprise look at those fish :D
Susanna Vesna 10 years ago
Actually most cities in Ukraine are this green. So it looks pretty normal. The piano is fake i think!
Prajakta Sarwottam 10 years ago
feels like Nature is raising its hand and saying, "this is my place, this is where I belong" ...Love it! thank you for sharing it!
KetiAkhobadze 10 years ago
One comment: Abkhazia is not a country, it is a region of Georgia, so please edit the post and write 'Georgia' next to Abkhazia. Thanks.
TaylerAdcock 10 years ago
Abkhazia is a disputed territory/partial state controlled by a separatist government off the Black Sea. It's called Google, try it some time
AustinStott 10 years ago
i'm sure i stayed in that abandoned hotel room although i'm sure there was a kettle hmmm
JesykaKretowicz 10 years ago
I think radiation is awesome because it keeps humans away @ SallaMakkonen
KellicAnonymousTiger 10 years ago
You do realize that radiation also kills animals as well, right?
Load More Replies... AndréDuquette 10 years ago
I saw a documentarie about Tchernobyl and Pripyat and the animals populations are growing and in good healt. Those populations are balanced.
MattTwyman 10 years ago
Radiation travels up the food chain. While some animals may not live long enough to suffer the effects, it accumulates down the chain. bad
SunwynRavenwood 10 years ago
Most animals do not live long enough to die of cancer from radiation. In each generation the more susceptible die first.
TovaritchYakivDelamarov 10 years ago
Not really, there's a lot of people who go in Prypiat to steal (and sell) things.
SteveSalverius(ill-literate) 10 years ago
Those things they sell are poluted by radiation as well, right? "Yeah, go on, buy this contaminated product, good price!" ...
BryanHernandez 9 years ago
radioactive stuff isnt good it causes disease and kills animals , wildlife and people and it creates mutants and radioactive doesnt go away
LittleBobby 10 years ago
He makes a great point here and you musn't consider it as serious as hell.
BrenFallon 10 years ago
I'm so glad this Panda is bored, the things it posts fascinate me on a daily basis.
SallaMakkonen 10 years ago
The last one (Pripyat in Ukraine) seems like any ordinary town in Finland :'D
OlliMäntyranta 10 years ago
Only that buildings would be in just a little bit better condition, but not much :D
PhyllisHughes 10 years ago
Do the trees still grow if it's radioactive? I thought it killed off organic life?
MatthewValentini 10 years ago
Depends where you are. You will glow in the dark if you step foot in the red forest. Also radioactive dust is far more dangerous to humans.
Load More Replies... Caedus 10 years ago
Permanent radiation actually isn't that harmful. It kills the swallows though because they don't live there all the year.
AnttiAli-Lekkala 10 years ago
It just depends on what level of radiation your body has gotten used to. Your body boosts the dna repair with more radiation.
Keith Owen 10 years ago
Radiation over time is harmful in that it causes genetic damage as well as cancers.
ArtiomRosov 10 years ago
There is not such a high level of radiation in Pripyat' to kill even a human. It is the cumulative effect, that eventually kills.
Cliff Nies 4 years ago
Awesome. This shows nature is stronger than man's destruction. It shows mankind is the plague on this planet. Overpopulation is what causes these diseases. The Abuse of greed by the few for a power struggle. All wars are created by the piracy of the greedy. Just like the Skulls / Bones, Hell's fire societies believe they live on another level law of standards. There is only "1" law. The Just law of the universe. It will win all the time. natural law. As all civilizations have come to pass it shows that ours is the lowest. There will be nothing to remember us as the Pyramids. Just like many buried under the sand.
Toph Tophylock 10 years ago
I was amazed on Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington. It was left by a soldier during WW.
TophTophylock 10 years ago
I was amazed on Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington. It was left by a soldier during WW.
Patrice Chavez 10 years ago
Seen rose branch coming thru concrete, nature beats, no ?. Cities under cities
DulceWilson 10 years ago
We don't build, we destroy. Nature is always on the move smiling at us after all the damage we keep causing. Amazing.
LouiseLafaille 10 years ago
L'Inimaginable! Une beauté vs la force de la nature en même temps que Désolation.
lonewolf717 10 years ago
Nature with a big N will always survive to mankind and it is not so important..Human beings are not the center of the universe..Get rid of !
lonewolf717 10 years ago
I Am always thinking that Nature with a big N doesn't need mankind, will survive to mankind, and it isn't so important for the mother Earth
Yash Tirumala 10 years ago
One picture I find too awesome is "Bicycle eaten by a tree" though the others are good as well
DawnWinters 10 years ago
Beautiful pics, amazing what nature will do if you just leave it alone...
DuncanWillis 10 years ago
Stunningly beautiful images! Life goes on, even in the most inhospitable circumstances. We are not alone...
Riqueza Sin Límite Autor Arley Castro Castillo 10 years ago
Hermosas imágenes, lo transportan a uno por un mundo soñado. Les felicito y deseo muchos éxitos.
GeorgieSandhu 10 years ago
Fantastic photos. Will use some in my lessons on biological weathering.
Jean-pierreYvon 10 years ago
Juste wow, I love this kind of pictures, j'adore ce genre de photo,
Sunwyn Ravenwood 10 years ago
"The World Without US" tell what earth would be like if humans vanished. "Life After People" is based on it. It is a good read.
Donal Heffernan 10 years ago
The under-lying comment seems to be that the world would be a better place without humans. The Gods (of various denominations) put us here.
Donal Heffernan 10 years ago
The roots of the brick pavement tree seems to prefer turning left, or, heading south, for the Sun?
DonalHeffernan 10 years ago
The tree roots on the brick pavement seem to prefer going left or heading south. The Sun?
JimmyNaessens 10 years ago
The abandoned hotel room really caught my eye! It's the combination of the intimacy of the room and the rawness of nature that has moved me.
TheoSprocket 10 years ago
its beautiful i wish the hole world was like that the greener the better
LiesbetSablon 10 years ago
The Vintage Automobile Graveyard, Belgium doesn't exist any longer. It was "cleaned up" bij the mayor of Chatillon in 2010.
AndreasEmanuelsson 10 years ago
Where are all the beuatiful sunken ships = marine sanctuaris of hard bottom demandning fauna?
MaethasitHongmanee 10 years ago
The fishes in Bangkok abandoned mall brought by the people nearby because water may cause mosquito nest then they release the fish to preven
JanMcCarthyTchamani 10 years ago
That's Nature vs. concrete - what about Nature vs. plastic???
darapuspita 10 years ago
I like the photo of "Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok" . I feel so surprise look at those fish :D
Susanna Vesna 10 years ago
Actually most cities in Ukraine are this green. So it looks pretty normal. The piano is fake i think!
Prajakta Sarwottam 10 years ago
feels like Nature is raising its hand and saying, "this is my place, this is where I belong" ...Love it! thank you for sharing it!
KetiAkhobadze 10 years ago
One comment: Abkhazia is not a country, it is a region of Georgia, so please edit the post and write 'Georgia' next to Abkhazia. Thanks.
TaylerAdcock 10 years ago
Abkhazia is a disputed territory/partial state controlled by a separatist government off the Black Sea. It's called Google, try it some time
AustinStott 10 years ago
i'm sure i stayed in that abandoned hotel room although i'm sure there was a kettle hmmm
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