Centralia - Pennsylvania's semi-ghost town
 

Many of you probably heard about Centralia, and the mine fire that has been burning underground since 1960's,
so I won't go into great details on the history of it. To make the long story short, it spread to underground network
of mines from a landfill fire. Due to mismanaged efforts of containment, the population of Centralia was reduced from
about 1200 in 1960's to about 7 currently.

Anyway, I became very interested in the area after having it as a subject of my final project for Geographical Information
Systems class. And today I actually got a chance for a quick visit, and of course, a few photos:

View from Aristes, PA.
Most of the houses have been condemned and demolished, with the state of Pennsylvania declaring eminent domain on all properties in 1992:
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6441/71667098xz9.jpg

"South Hill." Smoke rises from the underground fire:
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2341/44131707nt4.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8646/39243113mp3.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2985/69461565os3.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/580/35867332ft7.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8063/29745358nk3.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6251/84075311sl0.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8899/74194921je2.jpg

Windmills just outside the town:
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4229/96943847pj3.jpg

Centralia Town Hall seen from South Hill:
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1513/10nx7.jpg

Industrial wasteland:
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http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/9792/11zb9.jpg

View from north along Trautwine Street towards South Hill
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4610/12mr3.jpg

The subsided and abandoned section of PA 61:
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/220/13kv8.jpg

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3503/14eq0.jpg

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7717/15qo2.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/3023/16jg5.jpg

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6864/17om9.jpg

The funny thing is, people clearly put things to make it burn more:
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/5268/18wa5.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7338/19vy7.jpg

Dead end. The subsided section is blocked off at both ends by rocks and mounds of dirt, but pedestrian traffic is easily accessible:
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6886/20yg5.jpg

Former site of Centralia town landfill, located behind Odd Fellows cemetery (top left) This is where the fire is presumed to have originated
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5219/21sh8.jpg

Vents installed to keep underground gases from building up to dangerous pressures:
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/5156/22rk4.jpg

Centralia wide panorama from South Hill:
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http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/121/pano1db1.jpg

Cool. Silent Hill.

That's one hell of a fire to keep burning that long.

Good old Centralia, PA. It was a different town in the past:

http://www.offroaders.com/album/cent...-1980s-era.htm

Wind energy!!! Centralia still has a mayor. Cool photos man:cheers:

Centralia is a neat place, and it's been years since I've been there.

Supposedly there is enough coal in that seam to fuel the fire for another 250 years.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/10013541.html

I've seen a documentary on Centralia on French TV, this story is amazing!
I've heard there's a city in China which have the same fire.
Thanks for sharing these unusual pics :tup:

wow, that was different. What a crazy place, fires buring below your feet.

Wow, seems like a terrible waste of coal. Too bad there's no money (will) to put the fire out.

Nice pictures. I've never made it up there myself, although I am planning on it sometime soon. My dad grew up in that area, actually.

a real hive of activity. the development's amazing, i see the potential.

but, where are all the people?

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awesome set!

Eerie, and yet interesting. There's no way I would have been one of those folks who have stayed. Thanks for the pics vasiliy, good stuff.

It would cost upwards of $700M just to try to put it out, no guarantees.

Here is the satellite image of the town:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...43774&t=h&z=15

They've already made a couple attempts in the past, but to no avail.:(

On the contrary.

As I mentioned above, the state of Pennsylvania declared eminent domain on all properties within town in 1992. The houses are being systematically demolished as people die or move out, to prevent any further inhabitation. In a few years there might not even be any more left standing. (Of the few buildings left, I noticed at least one, along Big Mine Run Rd, dilapidated and ready to give in)

in case you couldn't tell, i was being sarcastic. :yes:

thanks for the pics though.

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Agreed :(

very interesting

weird place...