Vanwyksvlei

Vanwyksvlei

Vanwyksvlei

Place in Northern Cape, South Africa

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

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

See also


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