Vanwyksvlei

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Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei town.jpg
A road in Vanwyksvlei
South Africa Northern Cape location map.svg
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Vanwyksvlei
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Vanwyksvlei
Coordinates: 30°21′S21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°E / -30.350; 21.817
Country South Africa
Province Northern Cape
District Pixley ka Seme
Municipality Kareeberg
Area
[1]
  Total2.66 km2 (1.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total1,721
  Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 2.3%
   Coloured 92.5%
   Indian/Asian 0.9%
   White 4.0%
  Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   Afrikaans 97.7%
  Other2.3%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
8922
PO box
8922

Vanwyksvlei or Van Wyk's Vlei (Afrikaans for Van Wyk's Marsh) is a small town in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Contents

Name

The town is named after a farmer called Van Wyk, and the Afrikaans suffix vlei , meaning 'pond', 'marsh'. However, it is one of the driest places in South Africa, and the surrounding region is named the Dorsland (Afrikaans for Thirstland). [2]

History

Vanwyksvlei was founded in 1881. [2] It later saw action in the Second Boer War where two Victoria Crosses were awarded; Harry Hampton and Henry Knight were awarded the medal for gallant acts.

Vanwyksvlei Dam

The Vanwyksvlei Dam was the first (1882) state-funded dam built in South Africa. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Vanwyksvlei". Census 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Routes Travel Info Portal: Van Wyksvlei". Archived from the original on 10 May 2008.
  3. "Getting around - Van Wyksvlei". Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.

See also