Geography Now

The WORST "White Elephant" projects on earth

This video explores "white elephant projects," which are super expensive endeavors that either fail, are plagued by embezzlement, or never reach completion. These projects often result in significant financial loss and leave behind unfinished or underutilized structures. The host shares a personal experience from Equatorial Guinea, a country with a unique political structure. It's the only Spanish-speaking nation in Africa, led by the same president for over four decades. The capital, Malabo, is located on Bioko Island, separate from the mainland where most of the population resides. Recognizing this disconnect, the president decided to build an entirely new capital, Ciudad La Paz (City of Peace), in the heart of the Congo rainforest on the mainland. While the city boasts beautiful, ornate buildings and high-rises, it remains largely empty, resembling a ghost town. Although not explicitly called a failed project, its slow growth highlights the challenges of such ambitious undertakings.