2. Kolmanskop, Namibia
Southern Namibia was plunged into diamond fever in 1908 with people rushing to the Namib desert to make their fortunes. In two years an entire town had been established complete with casinos, schools, hospitals and residential buildings. However, after a drop in diamond sales after the WWI, people started to move out.
By the 1950s the town was abandoned and the sand dunes of the desert began to reclaim what was theirs. Most of the town is now completely buried but there are still some buildings, such as the theatre, that remain intact.