Vanwyksvlei

Van Wyksvlei
A road in Vanwyksvlei
Van Wyksvlei  Van Wyksvlei shown within South Africa
Coordinates: 30°21′S 21°49′E / 30.350°S 21.817°E / -30.350; 21.817Coordinates: 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[1]
• Total	2.66 km2 (1.03 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	1,721
• Density	650/km2 (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

See also

• Vanwyksvlei Dam

	Aggeneys	Kakamas	Kenhardt
	Brandvlei		Vosburg
	Vanwyksvlei
	Loeriesfontein	Sutherland	Williston

v t e Municipalities and communities of Pixley ka Seme District Municipality, Northern Cape District seat: De Aar Emthanjeni Britstown De Aar Deelfontein Hanover Kareeberg Carnarvon Vanwyksvlei Vosburg Renosterberg Petrusville Philipstown Vanderkloof Siyancuma Campbell Douglas Griekwastad Plooysburg Schmidtsdrift Siyathemba Marydale Niekerkshoop Prieska Thembelihle Hopetown Orania Strydenburg Ubuntu Hutchinson Loxton Merriman Richmond Victoria West Umsobomvu Colesberg Norvalspont Noupoort