11 – North Brother Island, United States

Less than a mile from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan lies a secret island that has been abandoned for almost 60 years.

North Brother Island is home to the Riverside Hospital which has seen its fair share of death, decay and ruin over the years. Once used as a place to quarantine sufferers of tuberculosis, yellow fever and small pox in the 19th century; later it was used after World War II to house veterans, and then as a treatment centre for heroin addicts. Now sadly left to crumble, it lies in ruins covered by weeds and overgrown plants.

Today it is a haven for birds and only with very strict written permission from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation can you gain access to the island, otherwise it is strictly forbidden.