Silver Islet Cemetery in Silver Islet, Ontario

During the silver boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the town of Silver Islet sprung up on the shores of Lake Superior in Canada. The town is still there, though now with only a handful of permanent residents. Tucked along a wooded trail, visitors will find the Silver Islet Cemetery—the final resting place of many silver miners and their families.

The graves date from 1870 to 1937. Headstones at the time of burial were usually made of wood, with families surrounded by picket fences. Over time, the surrounding wilderness has begun to take over the cemetery, leaving picket fences wound through with branches and roots, headstones decomposing or falling over, a partially maintained trail to see the graves—and ghosts of miners past.

Today, the children of Silver Islet have a challenge. Can they stay the night in the cemetery or in the field next to it without running back home (or to their rental cottage) after being chased out by the spirits? It’s a rite of passage for teens: Brave the spectral silver miners, and you’ll become a true resident of the town.

Source: Atlas Obscura - Latest Articles and Places