Crystal Stone Museum

　　The Crystal Stone Museum (Kristall Galerie) is situated in Swakopmund, a coastal city in Namibia. Known as the "Pearl of the Coast," this beautiful city features many buildings with European architectural styles. Among its many attractions is the renowned Crystal Stone Museum, which draws every visitor to the city eager to feast their eyes on its wonders.

　　So why is this not-so-large museum so famous and appealing to tourists? While the dazzling array of crystal stones and other gemstones housed within certainly plays a big part, the main draw — the must-see highlight — is a massive crystal stone displayed in the lobby on the ground floor. This crystal is not only the museum’s prized exhibit but also a national treasure of Namibia. It is clustered in form, with a yellow hue tinged with light red, stands about 3 meters tall, requires five or six people with outstretched arms to encircle its girth, and weighs an astonishing 14.1 tons. It is the largest crystal stone ever discovered in the world.

　　According to experts, this crystal stone formed approximately 500 million years ago and was discovered in 1985 on the outskirts of Karibib, in Namibia’s Erongo Region. Since the unearthing of this world-record-holding national treasure in Karibib, the once-obscure small town has gained significant fame. Both domestic and international visitors to the Crystal Stone Museum now know that Karibib is the birthplace of the world’s largest crystal stone.

　　Kristall Galerie Must-visit reason: The world’s largest crystal stone Continent: Africa Country/Region: Namibia Province/State: Erongo Region City: Swakopmund