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Vanwyksvlei Latitude and Longitude:

30°21′S 21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°E / -30.350; 21.817
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vanwyksvlei
A road in Vanwyksvlei
A road in Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei is located in Northern Cape
Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei is located in South Africa
Vanwyksvlei
Vanwyksvlei
Coordinates: 30°21′S 21°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
 • Total2.66 km2 (1.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
 • Total1,721
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 •  Black African2.3%
 •  Coloured92.5%
 •  Indian/ Asian0.9%
 •  White4.0%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
 •  Afrikaans97.7%
 • 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.

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Vanwyksvlei". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b "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