Alexander Bay, Northern Cape
Encyclopedia
Alexander Bay is a town in the extreme north-west of South Africa
, also known as the region of Little Namaqualand
. It is located on the southern bank of the Orange River
mouth. It was named for Sir James Alexander
, who was the first person to map the area whilst on a Royal Geographical Society
expedition into Namibia
in 1836. (It is mistakenly believed by many locals that it was he who first established commercial copper mining in the area.) With diamonds being discovered along the West Coast in 1925, Alexander Bay was established to service the mining industry.
Alexander Bay is the most northerly situated town along the west coastline of South Africa. It is 150 miles (240 km) north-west of Springbok
, the administrative centre of Namaqualand. Being near the southern end of the Namib desert, it is officially also the driest town in South Africa with an average annual rainfall of less than 2 inches (50 mm). The cold Benguela Current
in the Atlantic Ocean
has a moderating influence on the coastal climate with only small variations in diurnal and seasonal temperatures.
After diamonds were discovered along this coast in 1925 by Dr Hans Merensky, Alexander Bay became known for its mining activities. The resulting 'diamond rush' led to the Diamond Coast rebellion of 1928. Copper ore were shipped through the Richtersveld
in barges down the Orange River for export from this bay. The town was a high security area and permits were needed when entered. It is no longer a high security area and no permits are needed. The Orange River enters the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay. The Orange River wetland forms the border between South Africa and Namibia. The Orange River wetland is a declared RAMSAR site. Fields of green and orange lichen, soon to be declared a national monument, grow on a hill near the turnoff Alexander Bay town.
The town of Oranjemund
lies on the northern bank of the river, which forms the international border
with Namibia
. The two towns are linked by the Harry Oppenheimer
Bridge.
The town is served by an airport known as the Alexander Bay Airport
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, also known as the region of Little Namaqualand
Namaqualand
Namaqualand is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over and covering a total area of 170,000 square miles/440,000 km². It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions - Little Namaqualand to the south and Great Namaqualand to the...
. It is located on the southern bank of the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
mouth. It was named for Sir James Alexander
James Edward Alexander
Major-General Sir James Edward Alexander KStJ was a British soldier, traveller and author.-Background:Born in Clackmannanshire, he was the eldest son of Edward Alexander and his second wife, daughter of John Glas...
, who was the first person to map the area whilst on a Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
expedition into Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
in 1836. (It is mistakenly believed by many locals that it was he who first established commercial copper mining in the area.) With diamonds being discovered along the West Coast in 1925, Alexander Bay was established to service the mining industry.
Alexander Bay is the most northerly situated town along the west coastline of South Africa. It is 150 miles (240 km) north-west of Springbok
Springbok
Springbok can have the following meanings:* Springbok , a small antelope inhabiting southern and western Africa.* South Africa national rugby union team, known as the Springboks....
, the administrative centre of Namaqualand. Being near the southern end of the Namib desert, it is officially also the driest town in South Africa with an average annual rainfall of less than 2 inches (50 mm). The cold Benguela Current
Benguela Current
The Benguela Current is the broad, northward flowing ocean current that forms the eastern portion of the South Atlantic Ocean gyre. The current extends from roughly Cape Point in the south, to the position of the Angola-Benguela Front in the north, at around 16°S. The current is driven by the...
in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
has a moderating influence on the coastal climate with only small variations in diurnal and seasonal temperatures.
After diamonds were discovered along this coast in 1925 by Dr Hans Merensky, Alexander Bay became known for its mining activities. The resulting 'diamond rush' led to the Diamond Coast rebellion of 1928. Copper ore were shipped through the Richtersveld
Richtersveld
The Richtersveld is a mountainous desert landscape characterised by rugged kloofs and high mountains, situated in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. It is full of changing scenery from flat sandy plains, to craggy sharp mountains of volcanic rock and the lushness of the Orange River, which...
in barges down the Orange River for export from this bay. The town was a high security area and permits were needed when entered. It is no longer a high security area and no permits are needed. The Orange River enters the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay. The Orange River wetland forms the border between South Africa and Namibia. The Orange River wetland is a declared RAMSAR site. Fields of green and orange lichen, soon to be declared a national monument, grow on a hill near the turnoff Alexander Bay town.
The town of Oranjemund
Oranjemund
Oranjemund is a town of 4,000 inhabitants situated in the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth. It exists to service the diamond industry....
lies on the northern bank of the river, which forms the international border
International Border
The India–Pakistan Border , known locally as the International Border , is the international boundary between India and Pakistan that demarcates the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat from the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan borders India in the east. The border...
with Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. The two towns are linked by the Harry Oppenheimer
Harry Oppenheimer
Harry Frederick Oppenheimer was a prominent South African businessman and one of the world's richest men...
Bridge.
The town is served by an airport known as the Alexander Bay Airport
Alexander Bay Airport
Alexander Bay Airport is an airport serving Alexander Bay, a town in the Northern Cape province in South Africa.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 01/19 which measures . It also has two gravel runways: 07/25 is and...
.