Lifestyle / Bizarre

The Forgotten Depths: 20 Photos of Abandoned Mines and Other Forgotten Facilities

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Split image: Left shows a person in a raft exploring an underground cavern filled with abandoned cars; right shows a dimly lit, old mine tunnel with wooden tracks and wet walls.

Lurking beneath many people’s very feet exists worlds of abandoned mines, forgotten tunnels, and also industrial facilities that are withering away altogether. They stand as haunting symbols of a bygone era. They were once bustling hubs of industry as well as innovation, but now these very places sit in unsettling silence. We’ll take a look at some of the best photos we could find that capture these eerie spots.

1. Long forgotten mine through a mountain

A dimly lit, abandoned mine tunnel with rusty metal supports and wooden beams. The tracks are partially submerged in muddy water. The walls and ceiling are uneven, and a faint light is visible in the distance.
thebest1

Talk about a stunning color gradient.

2. Just a tad bit disorienting

Three people wearing helmets and headlamps stand in a large, dimly lit cave. Sunlight streams in through a ceiling opening, illuminating the rough, dark rock walls and floor. The scene conveys a sense of exploration and adventure.
flaxseedoil

So many wild slopes in those abandoned tunnels.

3. The stunning Dragon’s Eye

underground1973

The Dragon’s Eye Mine is on a different level of natural beauty.

4. A couple hundred feet down a shaft of a uranium mine, forgotten since ’89

A person in protective gear stands inside a dimly lit underground site next to a large, yellow industrial vehicle. They hold a sign that reads "Radiation Controlled Area." The surroundings include rocky walls and various equipment.
funfish

This guy looks unfazed by things.

5. 2000′ Deep Bore Hole – Idaho

A narrow, deep, cylindrical tunnel with rough, textured walls. A metal rod extends halfway down, illuminated by light, highlighting the contrast between dark shadows and lighter, chalky deposits on the walls.
beastoflife

That’s a long way down, indeed.

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6. A Silver mine from the 1700-1800 that was continuously worked till into the 1920s

View of a narrow, dimly lit tunnel with rough, rocky walls and old, uneven wooden planks scattered on the ground, creating a rustic and eerie atmosphere.
fredaugust

Well, it had a great run.

7. A roughly 170 year old wooden ore cart still sitting in a drift next to a shaft station

Rusted mining cart on tracks inside an old, dimly lit tunnel. Surrounding rocky walls and debris are visible, and a wooden structure appears to be collapsing in the background.
massiveyes

It looks salvageable no?

8. Time to clean up the car cave

A person in a small inflatable raft on a blue reflective water surface inside a dark cave. Sunlight beams through a crevice, illuminating a pile of discarded vehicles and debris along the rocky cave wall.
underground1973

Seems like a fun enough job.

9. A striking Anthracite maze

Dark, rocky mine tunnel with two narrow gauge tracks running along the gravel floor. The walls and ceiling are rugged, with mineral stains and stalactite formations. A faint, distant light is visible at the far end of the tunnel.
soaringwolf

Some beautiful colors at play here.

10. This looks like a Disneyland ride

A dimly lit, underground mine tunnel with rusty pipes and metal tracks on the muddy floor. The rocky ceiling is uneven, and there's a chain in the foreground. The tunnel stretches into darkness.
mykingmyking

Which way to go is the real question.

11. Monster Tin and Tungsten Mine

A dimly lit underground tunnel with rocky walls and a muddy floor, partially flooded with water. Rusty metal pipes run through the scene, and thin stalactites hang from the ceiling.
lowinsector18

It seems like the aromas could be quite potent down there.

12. Just your standard abandoned ore mine

Illuminated interior of a rocky cave or tunnel with uneven walls and ceiling. The floor is scattered with rocks and debris. A side passage is visible, and a few metal and wooden objects lean against the wall.
.lordofkiwis

So many abandoned ore mines to choose from, and so little time.

13. A gigantic slope in a forgotten mine presents itself

A cave with a rough, rocky interior and several people standing and exploring. A ladder lies on the ground amidst scattered stones and debris, while the cave walls arc overhead, casting shadows. The environment appears dark and damp.
anonymous

Would not want to slip and fall here.

14. Silver ore mine from 1752 in the Czech Republic

A dimly lit, rocky cave interior with uneven stone walls and a wet floor reflecting light. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, and the cave extends into unseen depths. The rough texture and natural formations create an ancient, rugged atmosphere.
woodchuckwood

Some mines are more innately valuable than others.

15. Slate mine chamber from the early 20th century

A rugged cave interior with layered rock formations. The ceiling and walls display jagged, horizontal slabs of stone, while the floor is scattered with broken rock pieces. The overall tone is earthy with shades of brown and gray.
prettyslatemine

This might be the trippiest yet most beautiful mine that we’ve laid eyes on yet.

16. A 150-year-old copper mine

Icicles hang from the rocky ceiling of a cave, with scattered stones and patches of snow on the ground. The scene appears cold and dimly lit, creating a wintry and rugged atmosphere.
mothermatter258

A mine that’s been around town for a while now.

17. Forgotten zinc mine in Norway

View from inside a rocky cave or tunnel looking up toward a circular opening. Sunlight illuminates the rough, textured stone walls, creating a contrast between the bright entrance and the shadowy interior.
moltenlava

Of course, Norway has some stunning mines.

18. Forgotten bunker in Moscow looking quite bleak

View of an abandoned, dimly lit underground bunker with curved concrete walls and ceilings. Tables and debris are scattered throughout the space, and large exposed pipes run along the ceiling. A door is visible at the end of the room.
anonnymous

Abandoned bunkers seem like they could be filled with ghosts.

19. Always fun taking a field trip back to the 1800s

View of an old, dilapidated mine shaft with wooden beams and collapsed debris. The passageway is dark and narrow, with rust and decay visible on the structures. Rocks and dirt fill the bottom of the tunnel.
masterewok

Watch your head now.

20. Very old abandoned limestone mine in Moscow region.

A dark, rocky underground tunnel with a narrow path of wooden planks leading into the distance. Dim light highlights the rough textures of the stone walls and ceiling, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.
ginseng

The fact that it’s the only one with rails might be the most interest part of all.

In the mood for more?

You can check out 25 Colorized Photos From The Early Days In The Coal Mines, 20 Colorized Images Of Steelworkers and Miners in the Early 1900s or 50 Images of America Then and Now.

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Meet the Writer


Matt Staff

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just as easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.

These days Matt’s caught up in trying to provide folks as many vivid glimpses into the days long since passed as he can, through fun and engaging collections of hand-picked vintage photos.



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