30/08/2021
You may have seen pictures of Kolmanskop before, but do you know the story behind this ghost town? 🧐👻
It was in 1908 when a railway worker discovered what would soon make Kolmanskop a small but rich mining village: diamonds! 💎
The result of this discovery was that this part of Namibia (then a colony of the German Empire called German South West Africa) became a settlement of German miners and was declared a "Sperrgebiet" (restricted area). Soon after, a town was built that brought enormous wealth to a select few. At its peak, Kolmanskop had about 400 inhabitants and produced more than 10% of the world's diamonds.
Over the years, however, the area was exploited by extensive mining. In addition, richer diamond fields were found to the south of Namibia in 1928, causing many residents to leave their homes behind.
Kolmanskop was finally abandoned in 1956.
Today, this ghost town is a popular stop for tourists. Dunes rolling through the doors and windows of the former homes have filled the houses with sand, making it a rare sight and photo that many people don't want to miss.
But despite ongoing conservation efforts and a yearly limit on the number of tourists allowed in, it is hard to stop Mother Nature from claiming back what is hers. Soon, the geological forces of the desert could swallow the town completely, burying the stately mansions and public buildings that stand for the city's short, but eventful history...
📍 Kolmanskop, Karas, Namibia
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