Kolmanskop is a ghost town in southern Namibia.
It became popular in 1908, when people rushed into the desert hoping to make money out of the diamond fever. At the time the diamonds were very easy to find, they would lay fully exposed on top of the sand. This caused a diamond rush from all over the world and the once desolated desert was full of fortune seekers.
Within two years a town was established in the desert with some 700 families living in it.
But after the drop in diamond sales, everyone left and the place became deserted again. The dunes began to reclaim what was always theirs.
A couple of old buildings are still standing, but the rest are just crumbling ruins.
These picture were taken by
Richard Ehrlich and
Barbarella.
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