Vanwyksvlei

Van Wyksvlei
A road in Vanwyksvlei
Van Wyksvlei  Van Wyksvlei shown within Northern Cape
Coordinates: 30°21′S 21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°ECoordinates: 30°21′S 21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	Pixley ka Seme
Municipality	Kareeberg
Area[1]
• Total	2.66 km^2 (1.03 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	1,721
• Density	650/km^2 (1,700/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	2.3%
• Coloured	92.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.9%
• White	4.0%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Afrikaans	97.7%
• Other	2.3%
Postal code (street)	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'. Ironically this is one of the driest places in South Africa, and the surrounding region is named the Dorsland (Afrikaans for Thirstland).^[2]

History

Van Wyksvlei was founded in 1881.^[3] 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.

Van Wyksvlei Dam

The Van Wyksvlei Dam was the first (1882) state-funded dam build in South Africa.^[4]

References

1. "Main Place Van Wyksvlei". Census 2011.
2. Information on Van Wyk's Vlei
3. http://www.routes.co.za/nc/vanwyksvlei/index.html

See also

• Vanwyksvlei Dam