The Abandoned Cinema in the Middle of the Sinai Desert (7 Photos)
Everyone has heard of mirages. Out in the desert, you can stumble upon the most unexpected sights: open seas, ships, cities, and lush groves. But until recently, the Sinai Desert hid something even stranger—a massive open-air cinema. And it was no optical illusion: an abandoned movie theater actually stood among the sand dunes. 
The 700-seat cinema was located in the southern region of Egypt's Sinai Desert. A wealthy Frenchman built it, pouring a small fortune into the project. Hundreds of seats, a generator, and a massive sail-like screen were brought all the way from Cairo. The entrepreneur expected moviegoers to flock to the site, but his gamble failed. 
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Neither locals nor tourists shared his enthusiasm. As a result, the open-air theater never screened a single movie. Legend has it that a crowd did gather for opening night, but the premiere was derailed when someone sabotaged the generator. 
No further attempts were made to screen films in the heart of the desert. Rows of wooden seats were left sitting in the sand under the scorching sun. Though the elements slowly took their toll on the equipment and furniture, the site remained remarkably intact until recently. 
The desert cinema that never showed a single film was even visible from space. It became a favorite destination for bloggers and photographers eager to capture such a surreal location. Among them was Estonian photographer Kaupo Kikkas, who took a striking series of photos of the site that we'd like to share with you. 
You might have noticed we're referring to the cinema in the past tense—and for good reason. It recently ceased to exist. Whether local vandals or a fierce sandstorm were to blame remains a mystery.
