The surreal graveyards of abandoned amusement parks pique our curiosity with their juxtaposition of once pulsating kinetic energy eerily frozen in time.

Trashed by trespassers, tagged by vandals and reclaimed by Mother Nature, the deteriorating and collapsing Ferris wheels, carousels and roller coasters transform with each passing season into rusting and rotting still-life portraits of benign neglect.

The once brightly colored playgrounds of whirling rides, turreted castles and bizarre attractions were inevitably brought low by some combination of bad planning, poor timing, negligent management, financial ruin, changing times, ill-conceived ideas, natural disaster or even man-made tragedy.

Some of the deserted theme parks operated for a century or more. Others never opened their doors to the public. Most closed in the past three decades.

What follows are the 21 creepiest abandoned amusement parks from around the world:

For mobile users who can't view the Storify content above, here's a rundown of the 21 creepiest abandoned amusement parks:

1) Six Flags New Orleans (Louisiana)

2) Pripyat Amusement Park (Ukraine)

3) Takakanonuma Greenland (Japan)

4) Okpo Land (South Korea)

5) Umoja Children’s Park (Zanzibar)

6) Nara Dreamland (Japan)

7) Spreepark (Germany)

8) Joyland Amusement Park (Kansas)

9) Lincoln Park (Massachusetts)

10) Gulliver’s Kingdom (Japan)

11) Chippewa Lake Park (Ohio)

12) Disney’s River Country (Florida)

13) Heritage USA (South Carolina)

14) Dunaujvarosi Vidám Park (Hungary)

15) Wonderland (China)

16) Dadipark (Belgium)

17) Okutama Ropeway (Japan)

18) Rocky Point Park (Rhode Island)

19) Holy Land USA (Connecticut)

20) Williams Grove Amusement Park (Pennsylvania)

21) Miracle Strip Amusement Park (Florida)

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