Abandoned places, as fascinating as they are, best demonstrate one thing – just how quickly nature can what our civilization has left behind. Be it a piano in the middle of the woods (no questions asked) or an entire building, grass, vines and even trees will find their way to the sun no matter what’s in their way. This compilation of beautiful photographs will show how, in the end, nature wins it all.

Humans love to marvel over our mastery of nature. We’ve built skyscrapers and fortresses, canals and highways, museums and schools. We’ve bent the natural world to our whims — often at the expense of the environment.

But civilization is a fragile creation. As everlasting and unshakable as we think our modern buildings and cities are, Mother Nature always finds away to persevere, to expand and to thrive. As we abandon our buildings or leave them in disrepair, nature is quick to move in and assert itself.

Below, these vivid photos capture the unstoppable force of nature — and how the natural world continues to survive and thrive in the face of concrete and steel.Plants are incredibly resilient, and can grow from the most unlikely places so long as they have a source of sun and water. These man-made objects, buildings, and entire cities are no match for the rapid growth of plant life. Check out these unbelievable photos of nature wining the battle against civilization.

The Old Piano Tree, California

Trees Winning Against Concrete In Hong Kong

Abandoned Inner City Railway In Paris

Bicycle Eaten by A Tree On Vashon Island, Washington

Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok

Old Abandoned Mill In Sorrento, Italy

Abandoned Ferris Wheel

Vintage Automobile Graveyard, Belgium

Abandoned Mining Town, Namibia

Abandoned 160-Year-Old Railway In Paris

102-Year-Old Abandoned Ship In Sydney, Australia

Tree Roots Overcoming Brick Sidewalk

Abandoned Mansion Near Kilgarvan, Ireland

Abandoned Train Station In Abkhazia, Georgia

I.M. Cooling Tower, Belgium