With the vast wealth to be found, this barren stretch of desert soon became a thriving colonial town: Kolmanskop.
(Source: mg.co.za/article/2008-0…)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0M5JfXgAAtyMu.jpg)
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Devoid of other options, they were often employed as labourers in the diamond mines, forced to live in cramped, barracks-like compounds for months.
(Source: thediamondloupe.com/articles/2016-…)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0QJ_0W0AMyfCU.jpg)
"The ostrich & sleigh was used at Christmas time to bring Father Christmas & presents," one resident remembers.
(Source: namibia-accommodation.com/listing/kolman… 📷mallix; jbdodane)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmzvzI4W0AE_TBJ.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dmz0iv-W4AEOWYI.jpg)
(Source: books.google.co.uk/books?id=_W-ZC… ; 📷jbdodane)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0WwXtU0AQ5IF1.jpg)
The Sperrgebiet was turned into a national park in 2004, but for now it is still controlled by the De Beers diamond company.
(Source: mg.co.za/article/2008-0… 📷jbdodane)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0FI21W0AEiX5T.jpg)
It was only in 1994 that the newly-independent Namibia was awarded a 50-50 stake in their country's diamond extraction.
(Source: nytimes.com/1998/04/27/wor… 📷jbdodane)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0YZHSUUAYVUUo.jpg)
- Kolmanskop: The Ghost Town of Namib Desert: kolmanskop.net
- 100 years of Namibian diamonds: mg.co.za/article/2008-0…
- A Visit To the Sperrgebiet: thediamondloupe.com/articles/2016-…
- Find a diamond in the sand? (NYT): nytimes.com/1998/04/27/wor…
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0JQAfX4AEY8n4.jpg)
jbdodane: flickr.com/photos/jbdodan…
Damien Du Toit: flickr.com/photos/coda/
Johan Jönsson: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Julle
Thomas Halfmann: flickr.com/photos/consigl…
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm0VAMSV4AAs-6F.jpg)