There are times when the natural world speaks in hushed tones—and times when it makes itself impossible to ignore. No matter how advanced our cities become or how far we stretch our highways, the earth has a way of taking back what’s been borrowed. Trees wind their roots through ancient ruins, ivy creeps across rusted train cars, and moss climbs forgotten staircases. These striking scenes remind us that our time here is brief, and nature is always waiting in the wings.
Take a look at these powerful images where nature made its move—and everything else stood still.
1. Ruins of an old paper mill
2. The ruins of a 13th-century Castle Coeffin on the island of Lismore on the west coast of Scotland.
3. A temple in Cambodia being eaten by a tree.
It’s actually quite beautiful.
4. “This birch deciding that the roof is the ground now.”
When you buy a tree, the label says to dig a hole twice as big as the pot and fill it with good quality compost, and then you see this tree.
5. This cabin in Norway
6. “The entrance to a folly cave, hidden in a tree root.”
Looks like a Skyrim mini-dungeon entrance. Honestly though. I see it. We’re back in the golden days of endlessly trekking to the furthest reaches of what maps Skyrim had to offer, and life is perfect.
7. An abandoned train in Serbia
8. “Abandoned baseball stadium seats.”
There is just something unshakably eerie and unsettling about this picture. At least the plants seem to be enjoying the game. We have that going for us.
9. Imari Kawanami Shipyard on the island of Kyushu, Japan
10. “Recently explored the ruins of a once grand Manor House in Wales. Now completely left to nature.”
This was once a rather grand manor set in a beautiful estate. It was built in the late 1700s, but the estate dates back to the 14th century. Past visitors include the poet Coleridge, and also Admiral Nelson is thought to have stayed here in 1802. It has been abandoned to nature since the last private resident died in 1921.
11. “A creek making a car a feature.”
It still has an engine. Yes, that is what really counts, isn’t it? As long as we have an engine around, we’re clearly in business. This car is ready to let it rip, no doubt.
12. “East Germany.”
Oh, man. Mind your steps on these precarious steps. Should you not, you might get snagged by a branch, a hungry vine, a few clovers, etc. We love a good, heavily forested step.
13. Polar bears at an abandoned Soviet weather station
14. The grand staircase of the Titanic before and after
15. Tree roots growing on and under these bricks and copying the patterns.
16. “A Buddha head being swallowed by a tree in Thailand.”
Looks pretty cozy and happy. Yes, that’s it. We found it. This must be happiness. Just resting your face in a hive of thick tree roots. Who would’ve thought?
17. “I recently visited the ruins of Moore Hall in Ireland. Nature is doing what it does best.”
Moore Hall was built in the 1790’s, and stayed with the Moore family for generations until it was burned down in 1923 by anti-treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War.
18. Construction helmet reclaimed by barnacles and seaweed
19. Abandoned village in Shengshan, China
20. The sign seems to be trying to send us a message.
21. This feral escalator
22. The rainforest has almost completely reclaimed this 90-year-old tramway bridge.
23. Statue of Jesus inside a tree in an abandoned cemetery in southeast Poland
24. Old Shiva temple being embraced by a sacred Bodhi tree in Bangladesh.
25. An apartment complex in Keelung, Taiwan, that’s slowly being overtaken by trees.
