Did you know the largest ship graveyard in the world can be found in Mauritania? That’s right.

Just off those cost of Mauritania’s second largest city Nouadhibou, sit hundreds of abandon and rotting ships.

The first ships were abandoned in the 1920’s and as time went on, individuals, companies, and even some countries found it convenient to leave their unwanted vessels here as local officials were more than happy to look the other way if the price was right. Today over 300 vessels can be seen off the water rotting away in the hot sun.

Interestingly, the water surrounding the vessels have become a spawning locale for various kinds of fish and as a resort has become a crucial source of employment for the local population. This has resulted in the Nouadhibou ships being regarded as indispensable by the locals, in terms of generating much-needed revenue and income. As a result the government today has no plans to really alter the graveyard, but they do ensure the ships are appropriately dismantled.