|
Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei or Van Wyk's Vlei (Afrikaans for ''Van Wyk's Marsh'') is a small town in the Northern Cape, South Africa. __NOTOC__ 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''). History Vanwyksvlei was founded in 1881. It later saw action in the Second Boer War where two Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...es 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.http://www.northerncape.org.za/getting_around/towns/V ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vanwyksvlei Dam
Vanwyksvlei Dam is a dam in South Africa. It was established in 1884. See also *List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa References List of South African Damsfrom the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (South Africa) The Department of Water and Sanitation is one of the departments of the South African government. It is responsible for the state of water and sanitation in South Africa. In May 2009, following the election of Jacob Zuma, the Department of W ... Dams in South Africa Dams completed in 1884 {{SouthAfrica-dam-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vosburg
Vosburg is a town 61 km west of Britstown, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town has relatively low crime rate and features many 18th century buildings. Town 100 km north-north-west of Victoria West Victoria West is a town in the central Karoo region of South Africa's Northern Cape province. It is situated on the main N12 route, at an elevation of . It is the seat of the Ubuntu Local Municipality within the Pixley ka Seme District Municipa ..., 70 km west of Britstown and 94 km north-east of Carnarvon. It was founded in 1895 and became a municipality in 1897. Named after the Vos family, who owned the farm on which it was laid out. History The town was established on the farm ''Processfontein'' in 1895 and was named after Mr J Vos and the Van Rensburg family. References Populated places in the Kareeberg Local Municipality Karoo Populated places established in 1895 1895 establishments in the British Empire {{Northern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. It also completely enclaves the country Lesotho. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World, and the second-most populous country located entirely south of the equator, after Tanzania. South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with unique biomes, plant and animal life. With over 60 million people, the country is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of . South Africa has three capital cities, with the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government based in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town respectively. The largest city is Johannesburg. About 80% of the population are Black South Afri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South African Republic and the Orange Free State) over the Empire's influence in Southern Africa from 1899 to 1902. Following the discovery of gold deposits in the Boer republics, there was a large influx of "foreigners", mostly British from the Cape Colony. They were not permitted to have a vote, and were regarded as "unwelcome visitors", invaders, and they protested to the British authorities in the Cape. Negotiations failed and, in the opening stages of the war, the Boers launched successful attacks against British outposts before being pushed back by imperial reinforcements. Though the British swiftly occupied the Boer republics, numerous Boers refused to accept defeat and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Eventually, British scorched eart ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aggeneys
Aggeneys is a mining town established in 1976 on a farm of that name, situated between Pofadder and Springbok in the Northern Cape, South Africa. Origin of the name It has been stated that "no-one is quite certain of the origin of the name Aggeneys". Derived from the Nama language, suggested meanings include "Place of Blood", "Place of Red Clay" or "Place of Reeds". One author favours the last of these: the Nama word ‡''a'' means "reed" while !''keis'' means "place". Mining and geological contexts Aggeneys the town, on a farm of that name, was founded to service the Black Mountain Mine, an underground base-metal operation nearby, currently employing over 600 permanent staff. This zinc/lead/copper/silver mine is just to the west of the town. The produce of the mine is transported by truck to the nearest railway line, located to the south-east along a virtually straight gravel (dirt) road. The diversified ore is then railed down to Saldanha Bay where it is exported out in 50 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brandvlei
Brandvlei is a small town in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape, South Africa. This is where a 19th-century trekboer called ''Ou Brand'' settled. Brand camped at this spot at the Sakrivier, a dry river bed, which only occasionally had water after good rains – and which typically result in flash floods. The settlement was cut in two by such a flood in 1961. After it was recovered, a municipality was formed in 1962. This Brandvlei is located in the Bushmanland, also known as the Thirst Land, ''Dorsland'' in Afrikaans and should not be confused with the Brandvlei south of Worcester in the Western Cape. From 1974 until 2005 it was the location of an entire Long Range Artillery Battalion of the SADF, co-located with a Helicopter Transport Squadron and a Ground Attack Jet Squadron of the SAAF This area was once sub-tropical, such as during the Miocene period. Many fossils have that been found in the area attest to this fact. From 1910 the farmers used an irrigation method comp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loeriesfontein
Loeriesfontein is a small town in the Northern Cape of South Africa. It falls within what is known as the Hantam region. The town Location The town of Loeriesfontein is within a basin surrounded by mountains, and it is accessed from the N7 highway (north out of Cape Town), turning off on the R27 at Van Rhynsdorp to Nieuwoudtville, then following the R357 to Loeriesfontein (a further 65 km north). Local government Loeriesfontein became a municipality in 1958, but it has since lost that status in a re-organization of municipal responsibilities that incorporated it into Hantam Local Municipality. History and context The town grew around a general store established in 1894 by a travelling Bible salesman, named Fredrick Turner, the son of the sister of Charles Spurgeon. He came from Norwich, England. The store still exists. It is currently owned by Victor Haupt, the grandson of Fredrick Turner. The shop is currently called Turner & Haupt SPAR, and is 113 years in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sutherland, Northern Cape
Sutherland is a town with about 2,841 inhabitants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It lies in the western Roggeveld Mountains in the Karoo. History Sutherland was founded in 1855 as a church and market town to serve the area's sheep farmers. By 1872 the town had a population of 138 registered citizens living in 19 houses. The large Dutch Reformed church in the centre of Sutherland was built in 1899. During the Anglo Boer War the church was used as a fort by garrisoned British soldiers. During the war a number of engagements between British and Boer forces occurred in the town. In one such engagement a force of 250 Boer commandos attacked the local British garrison for 10 hours. The ruins of a fort can be found on the outskirts of town on the hill called Rebelskop. This was named after this engagement. Economy Major economic activities include tourism and sheep farming. The area includes at least twelve registered B&B's, guest houses and guest farms. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Williston, Northern Cape
Williston is a town in Northern Cape, South Africa. Town 103 km north-east of Calvinia and 140 km south-west of Carnarvon. History Williston was originally known as Amandelboom (''Afrikaans'' "almond tree") as a large almond tree stood as the focal point of the town by the Sak River. The tree had been planted in 1768 by Johan Abraham Nel, a farmer and owner of the land that was to become the town, to commemorate the birth of one of his sons. In the early 19th century, the district was populated by pastoralists who constantly moved their livestock between springs in search of fresh grazing areas. These pastoralists were derogatorily referred to as 'Basters' as the pastoralists were of mixed race and descendants of the Khoi and Dutch. In 1845, the community requested that the Rhenish Church, which had a mission station in Wuppertal, establish another mission station in Williston. Two missionaries were sent to Williston to assist the community with their spiritual needs. By ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenhardt
Kenhardt (founded 1868) is a small town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. This little town is about 120 km from Upington, the largest town in the area. History On 27 December 1868, special magistrate Maximillian Jackson with a police contingent, was sent to act against the Griquas in the area. The Griqua's anti-colonial resistance had erupted into an open conflict. Jackson arrived in Kenhardt and set up camp under a giant camelthorn tree. This has been for a long time the most remote settlement in the North-Western Cape. With time the town developed from under this tree, becoming a municipality in 1909. The Hartbees River, with its many sweet thorn trees, provides a green belt irrigated by the Rooiberg Dam. Kenhardt is famous for being at the heart of the Dorper sheep-farming area. Geography This region contains very little vegetation, primarily very low shrubs and yellow grass among a rocky desert kind of landscape. If you travel south from Kenhardt towards B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kakamas
Kakamas is a town founded in 1898 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. Originated as at a place where the Orange River could be relatively easily crossed. The spot was first known as Bassonsdrif. In 1898 a proper settlement was established and under the auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church the area was developed as an agricultural spot. It became a municipality in 1954. History The small town of Kakamas was built on the sheer hard work and determination of a couple of impoverished stock farmers at the end of the 19th century. The drought of 1895–97 was followed by an outbreak of rinderpest, leaving many farmers destitute. In 1897, the Dutch Reformed Church started a "colony" on the farms Soetap and Kakamas on the banks of the Orange River for white people who had lost everything as a result of the drought. Ignoring the criticism of qualified engineers about their building methods, the farmers continued to construct th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henry James Knight
Henry James Knight Victoria Cross, VC (5 November 1878 – 24 November 1955) was an England, English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom, British and Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth forces. Details Born in Yeovil, Somerset (Born James Huntley Knight, Enlisted Henry James Knight) he was 21 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The King's (Liverpool) Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The full citation was published in the London Gazette of 4 January 1901 and reads: Knight stayed in South Africa until after the war ended in June 1902, returning home on the SS ''Carisbrook Castle'' which arrived in Southampton in early December that year. Further information He later achieved the rank of Captain (land and air), captain in the Manchester Regiment. His Victoria Cross ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
