Following the breakup of the USSR however, the radar installations were shut down and dismantled, and by 1999 Skrunda-1 became a ghost town… and a popular tourist attraction.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA red curtain covers a broken window in an abandoned apartment in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
A red curtain covers a broken window in an abandoned apartment in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA man snaps a picture of a mural depicting Vladimir Lenin inside one of the buildings in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
A man snaps a picture of a mural depicting Vladimir Lenin inside one of the buildings in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsAn old Soviet time newspaper is seen on the wall of one of the abandoned apartments in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
An old Soviet time newspaper is seen on the wall of one of the abandoned apartments in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsPeople listen to a guide (R) during the tour of a ghost town of Skrunda-1 which used to be a secret Soviet radar facility, located near Skrunda, Latvia. April 9, 2016.
People listen to a guide (R) during the tour of a ghost town of Skrunda-1 which used to be a secret Soviet radar facility, located near Skrunda, Latvia. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsPeople walk inside an abandoned sports hall in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
People walk inside an abandoned sports hall in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA woman stands on a balcony of an abandoned apartment block in the ghost town Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
A woman stands on a balcony of an abandoned apartment block in the ghost town Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsPeople walk past an abandoned apartment house in the ghost town which used to be a secret Soviet radar facility, located near Skrunda, Latvia. April 9, 2016.
People walk past an abandoned apartment house in the ghost town which used to be a secret Soviet radar facility, located near Skrunda, Latvia. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA worn Soviet military log is seen lying on the floor of an abandoned building in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
A worn Soviet military log is seen lying on the floor of an abandoned building in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA woman walks through an abandoned hospital building in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
A woman walks through an abandoned hospital building in the ghost town of Skrunda-1. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA man takes a picture inside a gym in the ghost town of Skrunda-1, with an inscription in Russian that says 'Victory starts here' seen in the background. April 9, 2016.
A man takes a picture inside a gym in the ghost town of Skrunda-1, with an inscription in Russian that says 'Victory starts here' seen in the background. April 9, 2016.
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsA general view of the ghost town of Skrunda-1 located in Latvia, which used to house an important Soviet radar facility during the Cold War. April 9, 2016.
A general view of the ghost town of Skrunda-1 located in Latvia, which used to house an important Soviet radar facility during the Cold War. April 9, 2016.