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Over 1 million unclaimed bodies are buried on a little-known island in New York City - here's the story behind the massive graveyard

Courtney VerrillJun 29, 2016, 23:05 IST

Mike Segar/Reuters

Every week, bodies that have been unclaimed and unidentified are taken by ferry to a potter's field on Hart Island, off the coast of the Bronx in New York City. It is there they are laid to rest under unmarked gravestones, leaving no information about the deceased.

With over one million bodies, Hart Island is the largest mass graveyard in the United States. 1,000 new unidentified coffins are buried there each year, according to Reuters.

Getting access to the cemetery is challenging, and photography and videography of any kind is prohibited. Recently, the city provided a rare photo opportunity to Reuters photographer Mike Segar - see his photos below.