Kamieskroon
Encyclopedia
Kamieskroon is a small town in the Kamiesberg Local Municipality
, lying in the foothills of the Kamiesberge
at an elevation of approximately 800 m (2 600 ft). The town is more or less in the centre of Namaqualand
, about 70 km (43 mi) to the south of Springbok, Northern Cape
, South Africa
. It is known mainly for its abundance of wild flowers during spring.
Kamieskroon was founded in 1924, when the Dutch Reformed Church
bought the land to relocate from Bowesdorp, 8 km to the north of the current location of the town. The move was forced by a shortage of water and restricted space for the growth of the town. Kamieskroon is located at the foot of the "Kroon" (Afrikaans, meaning Crown), a small koppie that resembles the crown of a king and is near Sneeukop, the second highest peak in Namaqualand. Also located close to Kamieskroon is Boesmankop, a mountain that resembles a Boesman (Bushman
or San) lying on his back.
Namaqua National Park
is located 20 km west of Kamieskroon. It is 1,000 km² in area and its principal purpose is to preserve the natural local flora. Since 2002 native wild animals have been re-introduced to the Park. (They had been shot out at least a century before). Springbok, Hartebees and Oryx
(Gemsbok) now roam there again.
The climate is arid but temperatures are moderated somewhat by the elevation. Daytime temperatures commonly reach thirty-five degrees Celsius (95°F) in summer while some frost may be experienced during clear winter nights.
Kamiesberg Local Municipality
-Population:In 2007, an estimated 12,117 persons lived in Kamiesberg; however, this estimate is very rough. The majority of Kamiesberg's people are coloured ....
, lying in the foothills of the Kamiesberge
Kamiesberge
The Kamiesberge , is a mountain range of jumbled granite inselbergs or bornhardts dotted over sandy plains and centered around Kamieskroon in Namaqualand in South Africa. In appearance the range is very like the Matopos of Zimbabwe...
at an elevation of approximately 800 m (2 600 ft). The town is more or less in the centre of 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...
, about 70 km (43 mi) to the south of Springbok, Northern Cape
Springbok, Northern Cape
Springbok is the largest town in the Namaqualand area in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. it had a population of 10,294. Springbok is located on the N7 national road which connects the Cape with Namibia, and at the western end of the N14, which connects it with Upington and Pretoria...
, South Africa
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...
. It is known mainly for its abundance of wild flowers during spring.
Kamieskroon was founded in 1924, when the Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
bought the land to relocate from Bowesdorp, 8 km to the north of the current location of the town. The move was forced by a shortage of water and restricted space for the growth of the town. Kamieskroon is located at the foot of the "Kroon" (Afrikaans, meaning Crown), a small koppie that resembles the crown of a king and is near Sneeukop, the second highest peak in Namaqualand. Also located close to Kamieskroon is Boesmankop, a mountain that resembles a Boesman (Bushman
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
or San) lying on his back.
Namaqua National Park
Namaqua National Park
Namaqua National Park is a South African national park situated approximately 495 km north of Cape Town and 22 km northwest of Kamieskroon. It has an area of more than 700 km2. The park is part of Namaqualand, an area covering 55,000 km2 located within the semi-desert Succulent...
is located 20 km west of Kamieskroon. It is 1,000 km² in area and its principal purpose is to preserve the natural local flora. Since 2002 native wild animals have been re-introduced to the Park. (They had been shot out at least a century before). Springbok, Hartebees and Oryx
Oryx
Oryx is one of four large antelope species of the genus Oryx. Three of the species are native to arid parts of Africa, with a fourth native to the Arabian Peninsula. Their pelage is pale with contrasing dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight...
(Gemsbok) now roam there again.
The climate is arid but temperatures are moderated somewhat by the elevation. Daytime temperatures commonly reach thirty-five degrees Celsius (95°F) in summer while some frost may be experienced during clear winter nights.