Whether it's nuclear meltdowns, earthquakes, volcano eruptions or plagues, it seems — given time — every disaster will turn into some kind of tourist experience.
New Orleans, US
New Orleans is a triumph of idiotic design. It's essentially a bowl below sea level, surrounded by rivers and lakes above it. Oh yes, and it's in a spot where hurricanes are known to drop by every now and again.
All of this led to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, after which 80 percent of the city was left underwater, more than 1000 people died in the state of Louisiana, and much of New Orleans was damaged irreparably.
The tragic thing is that it will happen again — the recent near miss by Hurricane Gustav was a lucky escape.
But, while it's still standing, New Orleans is still arguably America's most fascinating city. Many of the jazz clubs and the French Quarter survived, while Mardi Gras is still one of the world's greatest festivals.
And for those wanting to see the damage wreaked by Katrina, they only have to wander around some of the affected streets. Equally moving is the mausoleum at the Charity Hospital Cemetery for the unidentified bodies found after the hurricane.
Chernobyl, Ukraine
There is still an exclusion zone around the scene of the
world's worst nuclear accident. But day trippers can get past the security checkpoints, armed with Geiger counters, and get disturbingly close to the reactors and ghost towns.
Kobe, Japan
The
Kobe earthquake of 1995 was utterly devastating. More than 6500 people were killed, and much of the city was reduced to rubble. It is thought that nearly $200 billion worth of damage was caused.
The city has rebuilt itself remarkably quickly since then, but those interested in the earthquake's legacy can visit the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum. It's part educational experience (a lot concentrates on how such disasters can be prevented and their impact reduced in future) and part high-tech immersion. There are plenty of games, and a video simulation that takes you back to Kobe as the earthquake was happening.
There is also a Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park, which has deliberately retained some of the Meriken Wharf as it looked after the quake. The contrast to the rebuilding around it is remarkable, and there's also a small exhibition on the regeneration process.
Pompeii, Italy
Arguably the most famous disaster site of all time, Pompeii is the Italian city that was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79. At least 2000 people died, and it was largely forgotten about until the 18th century when excavations started.
Archaeologists are still uncovering the ruins, but they've already managed to dig out temples, law courts, city gates and an amphitheatre.
It's justifiably one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions — a Roman era town that's been partially preserved by the destruction wreaked upon it. This is one of those places where it's best to go on a guided tour so the story of the eruption, the buildings and the city's life can be explained properly.
Eyam, England
This Derbyshire village has an incredibly moving tale: it sacrificed itself for the good of the country. When the
Black Death broke out in 1665, Eyam was in big trouble after the local tailor received some infected cloth from
London.
Rather than making for the hills, though, the villagers thought that the right thing to do was to shut the village off from the rest of the world until the plague had passed. For more than a year they lived in isolation, eating food left at the village gate. During that time, more than a quarter of the population died a horrible death, but their actions saved countless lives.
The village is well worth a visit if in the area. There's a small museum about the Black Death, and the local church has the Plague Register from the era, which listed the victims as they died.
Galle and Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
The
Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 ravaged the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, and it still hasn't properly recovered.
The coastal area around Hikkaduwa was particularly badly affected, and even now it is struggling. The same goes for the famous cricket ground at Galle. It was pretty much wiped out by the tsunami, but a combination of pride, hard work and foreign aid meant it could host Test matches again in 2008.
Rebuilding work is underway across the area but progress is slow, and that's where volunteer projects, such as the one bookable through Responsible Travel, are a great help. They not only bring in funding, but the volunteers help in rebuilding houses, teaching and caring for orphans and the elderly.
The
Northern Territory capital was as good as destroyed in 1974, when
Cyclone Tracy tore through the town. More than 70 people died, and a massive rebuilding operation was required.
One of the most fascinating places to visit in town now, however, is the Cyclone Tracy exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. It includes a dark room where the conditions are simulated using radio recordings made at the time.
For more extreme travel, check out Final destinations on RALPH.
Done any disaster touring or doom and gloom holidaying yourself? Or is there a site, such as the grounds of the World Trade Center in New York, that you would like to visit to pay homage? Tell us about it.
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