Many people have never heard of many of the enigmatic cities that exist on this planet. One such location is Varosha, a city in the nation of Cyprus. Once a bustling tourist destination, this city was well-known for its stunning beaches, tall skyscrapers, upscale hotels, and thrilling nightlife. Today, however, it stands silent, lifeless, abandoned, and stuck in time. Let's read what caused the city to get into this predicament.
What happened in 1974?
Varosha had about 40,000 residents in July 1974, over 50 years ago, but everything changed when turkey invaded cyprus militarily. This followed a coup in cyprus that greece supported with the goal of bringing the island and the Greek mainland together.
Overnight, the entire population of Varosha was left in fear of violence and mass murder. People abandoned their residences, businesses, lodging facilities, and even personal possessions. In the hopes that the war would soon come to an end, many sought refuge in neighboring towns and cities. However, they never came back.
There has been no sign of Varosha since that night. Everything is frozen in the past, buildings are still standing, and nature has seized numerous locations. The town is still a ghost town.
Cyprus was split into two
Cyprus was split into two distinct areas following the Turkish invasion in 1974; the northern portion became Turkish cyprus and the southern portion became Greek Cyprus. Varosha is located within the Turkish-controlled area and is still governed by the Turkish military.
The entire city has been cut off. It is very forbidden for civilians to enter. There are warning signs and fences all around it, and even attempting to take pictures from outside could result in arrest. The whole region is still shrouded in mystery and obscurity.
What Varosha looks like today
The large structures, hotels, eateries, and taverns in Varosha remain exactly as they did in 1974. Time has taken its toll, though. The buildings are currently in ruins, steadily deteriorating due to wind and sun. The once-beautiful beaches around the coast are now closed to the public and fenced off. Even the freshly reopened little portion of the city is only open for a limited period of time and is subject to severe limitations.
What happened in 1974?
Varosha had about 40,000 residents in July 1974, over 50 years ago, but everything changed when turkey invaded cyprus militarily. This followed a coup in cyprus that greece supported with the goal of bringing the island and the Greek mainland together.
Overnight, the entire population of Varosha was left in fear of violence and mass murder. People abandoned their residences, businesses, lodging facilities, and even personal possessions. In the hopes that the war would soon come to an end, many sought refuge in neighboring towns and cities. However, they never came back.
There has been no sign of Varosha since that night. Everything is frozen in the past, buildings are still standing, and nature has seized numerous locations. The town is still a ghost town.
Cyprus was split into two
Cyprus was split into two distinct areas following the Turkish invasion in 1974; the northern portion became Turkish cyprus and the southern portion became Greek Cyprus. Varosha is located within the Turkish-controlled area and is still governed by the Turkish military.
The entire city has been cut off. It is very forbidden for civilians to enter. There are warning signs and fences all around it, and even attempting to take pictures from outside could result in arrest. The whole region is still shrouded in mystery and obscurity.
What Varosha looks like today
The large structures, hotels, eateries, and taverns in Varosha remain exactly as they did in 1974. Time has taken its toll, though. The buildings are currently in ruins, steadily deteriorating due to wind and sun. The once-beautiful beaches around the coast are now closed to the public and fenced off. Even the freshly reopened little portion of the city is only open for a limited period of time and is subject to severe limitations.
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