From deserted Olympic venues to silent amusement parks to hotels that haven't had guests in centuries, abandoned places continue to capture the imagination of urban explorers and curious people around the world.
As places we normally think of as crowded, busy hubs of travel, airports are particularly eerie when they've been sitting unused for years.
Here are 10 eerie abandoned airports around the world — and how they got to be this way.
Jaisalmer Airport — Rajasthan, India
No passengers or planes have ever passed through Jaisalmer Airport in Rajasthan, India, which cost $17 million to build and was supposed to open in 2013.
According to Reuters, Jaisalmer was one of more than 200 no-frills airports planned by India's previous government that was meant to encourage travel and commerce in more remote parts of the Indian subcontinent. But airlines couldn't compete with larger travel hubs in the area.
Hellenikon International Airport — Athens, Greece
Hellenikon International Airport started as a military airbase in 1938 and was Athens' main hub for commercial air travel for 60 years. It's been defunct since 2001 when it was replaced by Athens International Airport.
Nicosia International Airport — Nicosia, Cyprus
Nicosia International Airport was built as a military airfield in the 1930s. It shut down when it became the center of fighting in a military coup by Greek nationalists, and then part of a demilitarized zone in 1974.
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