Ghost Town: Photographer Explores Abandoned Nuclear Power Plant

The 481ft cooling towers of the site have never been used, since the multi-billion dollar development was scrapped in 1983.

The deserted building in Elma, Washington, was part of the largest nuclear power plant construction project in US history.

But the ambitious development failed because of a $61m budget shortfall.

Photojournalist Johnny Joo visited the empty site in May.

He said: “The structures are so massive that as you approach them you feel like you are close, realising soon that you are still so far away.

“When you finally reach the base you actually realize how incredibly massive these things are.

“The inside is a crazy site as well, with the zigzagging legs of the structure being taller than my house.

“It's incredible to think that those are holding this structure.”

Satsop Nuclear Power Plant was funded by the Washington Public Power Supply System, which defaulted on $2.25bn of municipal bonds sold to finance the project.

The failure represents one of the largest defaults of its type in US history.

Instead of demolishing, the structure developers turned the surrounding area into a business park, with companies still operating from the site to this day.

Johnny, 25, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, said: “The way the structure curves in and back out creates some wild acoustics.

“I felt small. It felt incredible seeing such a massive structure that was built by us.

“I felt sad knowing that so much money was wasted on something for it to never even be used.”