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All Namibia Elizabeth Bay Elizabeth Bay Ghost Town

Elizabeth Bay Ghost Town

The ruins of this mining boom town stand like skeletal reminders of the settlement's dark history.

Elizabeth Bay, Namibia

Added By
daynix
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The remains of the entertainment hall and casino.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
The remains of the entertainment hall and casino.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
Rows of houses for the German miners along the coast.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
After being washed with hoses in this large room, food was then served to the miners from the large vats.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
Elizabeth Bay.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
The remains of the desalination plant.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
  daynix / Atlas Obscura User
  daynix / Atlas Obscura User
  daynix / Atlas Obscura User
The remains of a home containing two levels of “rooms” for the local miners.   daynix / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Though it often seems to be forgotten in the shadow of its ghost town counterpart, Kolmanskop, Elizabeth Bay was another lucrative diamond mining town that is worth exploring. It feels closer to urban exploration, and its decrepit buildings and machinery tell of a dark, greedy history.

It was operational for only 20 years, but Elizabeth Bay still boasted an immense wealth of diamonds. As a result, German miners flooded the town, building their own miniature Germany along the coast of Namibia.

A large entertainment hall and casino were built overlooking the ocean. The town also housed monstrous machinery for desalinating ocean water, rows of housing for German miners, and large, overcrowded buildings for local workers.

While the German workers enjoyed proper housing, the Namibian miners were subjected to slave conditions. Their housing and washrooms were all shared. The buildings where they slept contained cot-size beds separated by a small wall divider. About 20 beds ran along each side of the buildings and in some, rows were stacked on top of each other forcing more men into the desolate conditions. The doors to these “houses” were locked at night and their windows were small and high off the ground to discourage any workers from escaping overnight.

After a quick flash of success, the town closed in 1948. Then, in 1991, a new Elizabeth Bay mine was opened and is still in operation today. The remains of the original still stand, weather-torn and beaten but still impressive as they capture the endeavors of when the town was at its peak. 

Related Tags

Mining Ghost Towns Diamonds Ruins

Know Before You Go

The old town of Elizabeth Bay is part of the Namdeb restricted zone. Tours and required permits, however, can be arranged with companies like Namib Offroad Excursions.

Community Contributors

Added By

daynix

Published

January 30, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Bay,_Namibia
  • http://www.travelnewsnamibia.com/news/diamonds-dust-ghost-towns-diamond-era/
Elizabeth Bay Ghost Town
Elizabeth Bay
Namibia
-26.910109, 15.18424

Nearby Places

Kolmanskop Ghost Town

Namibia

miles away

Shark Island

Luderitz, Namibia

miles away

Namib Desert Horses

Garub, Namibia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Namibia

Namibia

Africa

Places 23
Stories 8

Nearby Places

Kolmanskop Ghost Town

Namibia

miles away

Shark Island

Luderitz, Namibia

miles away

Namib Desert Horses

Garub, Namibia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Namibia

Namibia

Africa

Places 23
Stories 8

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