Alexander Bay, Northern Cape

Province

Alexander Bay (English), also Alexanderbaai ( Afrikaans ), named after Sir James Alexander, who founded the town in 1836, is a town in the municipality Richtersveld, Namakwa District, Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The most northerly town on the west coast of South Africa is located south of the mouth of the Orange River into the Atlantic Ocean, on the border with Namibia. The place Oranjemund in the diamond area of Namibia can be reached via the Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge. The distance to Springbok is 250 kilometers.

History

The German -born South African geologist Hans Merensky discovered in 1927 south of the Orange estuary rich diamond fields. Soon both sides of the Orange River and along the coast, new housing developments. In this time Alexander Bay and on the other side of the river in the town of Oranjemund Namibia. The region was then declared a prohibited area. The border to Namibia is closed here as before.

The road to Alexander Bay is a dead end in the diamond area. At the same time it leads to the near Richtersveld National Park.

Attractions

The marsh and wetlands at the mouth of the Orange River forms an important stopover for a large number of migratory birds and therefore was declared a Ramsar site. The rare Barlow Lark ( Certhilauda barlowi ) is also found here.

Striking are the green and orange lichens growing on a hill near the city. This lichen fields should be declared a national monument and would then be specially protected.

Weblink

  • Location in the Northern Cape
  • Richtersveld (municipality )
  • Place in Africa
Richtersveld Local Municipality James Edward Alexander Springbok, Northern Cape
44238
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