USA Centralia

In May 1962, the population of Centralia town, Pennsylvania, began to dwindle from over 1000 residents to just seven in 2013 as the result of a coal mine fire. Many had to flee their houses as a result of the fire and these houses were later demolished. The area is now abandoned; nature has claimed it back, leaving just paved streets in the forest as a reminder of the town that was once there. Many people visit one of the most popular tourist hotspots there named ‘The Graffiti Highway’. The mine fire created structural problems for part of Route 61 and the road now has a cracked and uneven surface, through which steam can sometimes be seen. A lot of the road is covered with graffiti artwork, giving it its name. The fires are estimated to burn for at least 250 more years.

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