Several abandoned historic structures may be found in Romania, some of which have previously been studied. It also has an entirely abandoned settlement. Yep, you read that correctly. In a gorgeous Romanian valley, an entire community has been abandoned. Or should it be ‘floats abandoned’? If you’ve ever visited Romania in pursuit of abandoned locations, you’ve most likely come upon the abandoned village of Geamana.
Let us begin with a little introduction. Geamana is a lovely hamlet located roughly 279 kilometers north-east of Bucharest, Romania’s capital. Up until 1978, the community was prospering, with magnificent environment mingling with the people’ pleasant lives. Then came the year 1978. Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania’s then-dictator, was notified about a copper-rich resource in the village’s vicinity. Yet, extracting all the copper would not be easy, since they also required a location to dispose the poisonous waste created by the mining. What better location to deposit the poisonous garbage than the community itself? Isn’t that shocking?
Geamana’s copper mining exploration is currently ceased. Nonetheless, it is understandable that the effects of hazardous garbage put in the river are still visible. What’s more, the Romanian government is planning another exploration project in the area. The proposal is, of course, strongly opposed by Romanian society, which has been directly affected by it by losing their home and cherished community. Yet, Romania’s corrupt government has frequently failed to uphold a high environmental standard.
The dictator ordered the evacuation of the whole village’s population, some 400 people, in order to commence mining for copper. Most of the families decided to relocate because they believed they would become wealthy as the government promised. Yet, they relocated almost 62 miles away and were only compensated with little quantities of land and money. They were also informed that the graves surrounding the chapel would be moved, which never occurred. The inundation of the community produced an artificial lake into which poisonous waste would be dumped. The settlement was largely destroyed, leaving only the towering standing roofs of some homes and the church, which resembles the Reschen Lake Bell Tower. The poisonous garbage thrown in the lake transformed the water a rainbow of colors.
The location is still in a deplorable state as we speak. It’s difficult to think that a lovely community was abandoned in order to mine copper, ruining the lives of hundreds of people and severely harming the environment. It’s vital to remember that the lake is only accessible by mud trails, which may not be suitable for all types of vehicles.