Ağdam, Azerbaijan

Capital City

Forget the postcard-perfect visions of Azerbaijan - living in Ağdam is a grim reality. With a population of just 3,770, this once-thriving city is now an almost entirely uninhabited ghost town, the victim of decades of brutal conflict. The destruction is total, with the entire town "in complete ruins" save for a single mosque. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the government predicts it will take 15 years to fully clear the area of landmines. Only the most stalwart and adventurous should consider calling this ruined city home.