Alexander Bay, Northern Cape
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Alexander Bay is a town in the extreme north-west of South Africa. It is located on the southern bank of the Orange River mouth. It was named for Sir James Alexander, who shipped the copper ore he mined at Kodas in the Richtersveld on barges down the river to export from the bay. With diamonds being discovered along the West Coast in 1925, Alexander Bay was established to service the mining industry. The resulting diamond rush led to the Diamond Coast Rebellion of 1928.
Previously, the town was a high-security area, with permits needed to enter; today, only a visitor's book is kept at the security checkpoint. Today it is a tourist destination, with access to the Richtersveld and Nababiep national parks.
The town of Oranjemund lies on the northern bank of the river, which forms the international border with Namibia.
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