Port Royal

Situated on the Palisadoes sandspit at the western end of Jamaica, Port Royal had gained a reputation in the 17th century as both the richest and wickedest city in the world. It was notorious for its gaudy displays of wealth and loose morals, and was a popular place for pirates to bring and spend their treasure.

On June 7, 1692, a devastating earthquake hit the city, causing the sandspit on which it was built to liquefy and flow out into Kingston harbor[?]. The effects of tsunamis caused by the earthquake further eroded the sandspit, and soon the main part of the city lay permanently underwater, though intact enough that archaeologists have managed to uncover some well-preserved sites. The earthquake and tsunami combined to kill between 1000 and 3000 people, over half the city's population.

Some attempts were made to rebuild the city, starting with the one third of the city that was not submerged, but these met with mixed success and numerous disasters. An initial attempt at rebuilding was again destroyed in 1704, this time by fire. Subsequent rebuilding was hampered by several hurricanes in the first half of the 18th century, and soon Kingston eclipsed Port Royal in importance.

A final devastating earthquake on January 14, 1907 again liquefied the sandspit, destroying nearly all of the rebuilt city and submerging additional portions. While the city still exists today, its population is now less than 2000 and it has little to no commercial or political importance, though the Jamaican government has recently resolved to develop it as a historical and touristic site.