Graskop

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Graskop
A view of Graskop
Graskop
 Graskop shown within South Africa
Coordinates: 24°55′54″S 30°50′30″E / 24.93167°S 30.84167°E / -24.93167; 30.84167Coordinates: 24°55′54″S 30°50′30″E / 24.93167°S 30.84167°E / -24.93167; 30.84167
Country South Africa
Province Mpumalanga
District Ehlanzeni
Municipality Thaba Chweu
Area[1]
  Total 35.01 km2 (13.52 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 3,996
  Density 110/km2 (300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 61.2%
  Coloured 13.0%
  Indian/Asian 0.9%
  White 22.9%
  Other 2.0%
First languages (2011)[1]
  Afrikaans 29.4%
  Northern Sotho 22.0%
  Sotho 14.8%
  English 10.9%
  Other 22.8%
Postal code (street) 1270
PO box 1270
Area code 013

Graskop is a small town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. It was set up in the 1880s as a gold mining camp but it now serves as a tourist destination and the timber industry. The name is Afrikaans for grassy peak. “God’s Window”, a breathtaking view from the escarpment of the Lowveld below, is located outside the town.

Town 14km south-east of Pilgrim's Rest and 28km north of Sabie. It was laid out between 1880 and 1890 on a farm belonging to Abel Erasmus, Native Commissioner of the Transvaal Republic. Named after a grassy hillock (Afrikaans gras, ‘grass’, kop, ‘hillock’). Originally it was a mining camp. It is the best place to view Edge of the Lowveld, with a sudden drop of 700 metres.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Graskop". Census 2011. 
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 187. 

External links

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