<strong>A ghost town: </strong>Moscow-based photographer Maria Passer traveled to the ghost towns that surround coal-mining community of Vorkuta in Russia, to capture how the Arctic conditions have infiltrated the abandoned buildings.
A ghost town: Moscow-based photographer Maria Passer traveled to the ghost towns that surround coal-mining community of Vorkuta in Russia, to capture how the Arctic conditions have infiltrated the abandoned buildings.
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<strong>Changing landscape: </strong>Vorkuta was a Gulag labor camp from the 1930s to 1960s. In the later years of the Soviet Union, people moved from across the USSR to the area for job opportunities. "To attract miners to live in hard climate conditions the salaries here were really good," Passer tells CNN Travel. After the Soviet Union collapsed and coal mines started to close, the fortunes of Vorkuta and the surrounding towns -- such as Cementozavodsy, pictured here -- changed again and people started to leave the area.
Changing landscape: Vorkuta was a Gulag labor camp from the 1930s to 1960s. In the later years of the Soviet Union, people moved from across the USSR to the area for job opportunities. "To attract miners to live in hard climate conditions the salaries here were really good," Passer tells CNN Travel. After the Soviet Union collapsed and coal mines started to close, the fortunes of Vorkuta and the surrounding towns -- such as Cementozavodsy, pictured here -- changed again and people started to leave the area.
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<strong>Snowed in:</strong> Some of the buildings Passer photographed were abandoned, others semi-abandoned. This photo was taken in the village of Severny. Passer says some people still live in this building.
Snowed in: Some of the buildings Passer photographed were abandoned, others semi-abandoned. This photo was taken in the village of Severny. Passer says some people still live in this building.
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<strong>Eerie sight: </strong>This photo of an icicle-covered lamp was taken in the village of Cementozavodsky. "In this village there is only one apartment building which is not abandoned," says Passer. "There are no shops, banks, literally nothing."
Eerie sight: This photo of an icicle-covered lamp was taken in the village of Cementozavodsky. "In this village there is only one apartment building which is not abandoned," says Passer. "There are no shops, banks, literally nothing."
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<strong>From above:</strong> Passer took some photographs with her drone and others with her camera. It was tough, she says, to operate her devices in such cold temperatures.
From above: Passer took some photographs with her drone and others with her camera. It was tough, she says, to operate her devices in such cold temperatures.
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<strong>Atmospheric shots: </strong>Passer traveled around the region with her photographer friend Lana Sator. "It's really atmospheric, and really impressive," says Passer of the duo's experience of walking around the ghost towns.
Atmospheric shots: Passer traveled around the region with her photographer friend Lana Sator. "It's really atmospheric, and really impressive," says Passer of the duo's experience of walking around the ghost towns.
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<strong>Abandoned buildings: </strong>The reason many of the buildings are abandoned is because<strong> </strong>the closure of the coal mines and lack of opportunities have rendered homes largely unsellable. "People who want to move from the region can't sell their apartments and have to leave them," says Passer.
Abandoned buildings: The reason many of the buildings are abandoned is because the closure of the coal mines and lack of opportunities have rendered homes largely unsellable. "People who want to move from the region can't sell their apartments and have to leave them," says Passer.
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<strong>Tragic circumstances: </strong> "It's really a tragedy that many people have to leave their houses and to go to live somewhere else," says Passer. "But these locations, they have an abandoned beauty."
Tragic circumstances: "It's really a tragedy that many people have to leave their houses and to go to live somewhere else," says Passer. "But these locations, they have an abandoned beauty."
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<strong>Difficult situation:</strong> During her stay, Passer spoke to people living in the region. "It feels like they are upset that the place where they were born, where they grew up, is dying," she says.
Difficult situation: During her stay, Passer spoke to people living in the region. "It feels like they are upset that the place where they were born, where they grew up, is dying," she says.
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<strong>Disastrous and breathtaking</strong>: Passer wants her photographs to reflect both beauty and tragedy. "When I explored this iced building, I had two thoughts: 'Oh my gosh! It's disastrous' and 'Oh my gosh, it's breathtaking!'", she says. "I would like people who see the pictures to feel the same way. "
Disastrous and breathtaking: Passer wants her photographs to reflect both beauty and tragedy. "When I explored this iced building, I had two thoughts: 'Oh my gosh! It's disastrous' and 'Oh my gosh, it's breathtaking!'", she says. "I would like people who see the pictures to feel the same way. "
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