When viewed from the outside, this structure in Bangkok, Thailand doesn’t look like much, but it was once the bustling New World Mall. Built in 1982 by the Kaew Fah Plaza Company, the 11-story New World Mall enjoyed a brief period of success, Unfortunately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) shut the mall down 15-years later in 1997 when they realized that the owner had obtained permission to construct only four floors. They then destroyed the seven upper levels and a subsequent fire in 1999 left the mall roofless. Without cover, rainwater filled the basement and this pool of stagnant water soon became a breeding place for mosquitoes. So, local vendors decided to release a few fish into the water, to get rid of them. Soon, the fish began to multiply and take over the once stagnant, mosquito-laden waters. Continue reading for a video, more pictures and information.
When word started to spread about this incredible fish pond in an old mall, it quickly become a hit tourist attraction, with local noodle vendor, Jae Toom, saying that at least 10 to 20 people visit New World Mall every day to feed and photograph the aquatic life.
