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19-597: The Knersvlakte is a region of hilly terrain covered with quartz gravel in Namaqualand in the north-west corner of the Western Cape Province of South Africa . The name, literally "gnashing plain" in Afrikaans , is thought to be derived from the crunching of wagonwheels as they moved over the hard quartz stones. The Knersvlakte is a Succulent Karoo and dominated by leaf succulents belonging to

38-565: Is located at Aggeneys , 110 kilometres (70 mi) further inland. The region is known for its cultural history, which was preserved by the Nama and Khoisan tribes. The Nama people are a group of Khoikhoi people. Around 50% of the Nama population and 80% of the neighboring Herero population were brutally killed by the German Empire between 1904 and 1907 in a racial extermination during

57-515: Is quite rich in alluvial diamonds deposited along the coast by the Orange River. Oranjemund is another mining town along this coast, situated in Namibia, but very much on the border. As the name suggests, it is at the mouth of the Orange River, which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia. The town of Alexander Bay is located 5 km (3.1 mi) away opposite the river on

76-453: Is situated west of the N7 , one of South Africa's national roads. This conservation area is a great biodiversity hotspot , with the highest concentration of succulent plants of any of the world's arid regions. More than a thousand of its estimated 3500 floral species cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park , on the border of Namibia and South Africa,

95-630: Is sparsely populated by the Namaqua , a Khoikhoi people who have traditionally inhabited the Namaqualand region. The area’s landscape ranges from an unexploited coastal strip in the west to semidesert areas in the north-east. Famed for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, its wild flowers during spring, its wealth of minerals, and cultural history, Namaqualand is a popular region for international and local tourists. The Namakwa coastline and

114-481: The Aizoaceae and Crassulaceae , with a variety of shrubs spread amongst them. The climate of the region is semi-arid with long dry summers, and rainfall occurring in the winter months. The white quartz gravel reflects the sunlight, and is not as hot as the darker rocks and soil found in adjacent areas. Because the area is isolated from other areas with abundant quartz stones, there is a high level of endemism in

133-681: The Herero and Namaqua genocide . Nama people traditionally speak the Khoekhoe language . Ernest Oppenheimer Sir Ernest Oppenheimer KStJ (22 May 1880 – 25 November 1957), was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur , financier and philanthropist , who controlled De Beers and founded the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa . Ernest Oppenheimer was born in Friedberg , German Empire ,

152-542: The Namakwa District Municipality , forming part of Northern Cape Province , South Africa. It is geographically the largest district in the country, spanning over 26,836 km . A typical municipality is Kamiesberg Local Municipality . The semidesert Succulent Karoo region experiences hot summers, sparse rainfall, and cold winters. Great Namaqualand, in the Karas Region of Namibia ,

171-633: The South African side and is linked to Oranjemund by the Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge. Other links crossing the river further upstream are a reintroduced pontoon at Sendelingsdrift in the Richtersveld National Park, and road bridges at Vioolsdrif (the main border crossing between the two countries) and at the remote border crossing of Onseepkans . A vibrant fishing industry is found along this stretch of

190-487: The South African west coast, especially in Port Nolloth , the major resort town of Namaqualand, and Hondeklipbaai , or Dogstonebay, called such because of a large boulder outside the town, which when viewed correctly, looks vaguely like a dog sitting down. Since the 19th century, copper has been mined at Springbok and its surrounding towns such as Okiep, while a large mine extracting copper, lead, zinc, and silver

209-417: The banks of the Orange River are popular for their hiking trails and off-roading routes. The beginning of the flower season varies from year to year, but usually occurs between August and October. The natural landscape is continually monitored with the first sign of spring and flower season being the arrival of Namakwa daisies. When purple vygies bloom, spring is coming to an end. The Namaqua National Park

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228-467: The manpower for the Kimberley Regiment for service during World War I . He became great friends with William Lincoln Honnold , an American engineer and chairman of Transvaal Coal Trust, Brakpan Mines, Springs Mines and The New Era Company. In 1917, they launched the Anglo American Corporation with financial assistance from J. P. Morgan . He was knighted in 1921. The initial capital

247-527: The plants that occur in the Knersvlakte. Many of these plants are small and compact, which is presumably an adaptation to absorb heat as rain occurs in a short and cool winter period. The Knersvlakte Nature Reserve was established in 2014 by CapeNature and the World Wide Fund for Nature to protect the endemic vegetation of the Knersvlakte. Namaqualand Little Namaqualand is within

266-565: The son of Edward Oppenheimer, a cigar merchant, and his wife, Nanette (née Hirschhorn) Oppenheimer. He began his working life at 17, when he entered Dunkelsbuhler & Company, a diamond brokerage in London . His efforts impressed his employer and in 1902, at the age of 22, he was sent to South Africa to represent the company as a buyer in Kimberley , of which he went on to become the mayor from 1912 to 1915. In this role, he helped raise

285-473: Was born into a Jewish family, he converted to Anglicanism in adulthood. His ashes were interred in a niche of the columbarium at Parktown St George's Church, Parktown . He was succeeded in the business by his son, Harry Oppenheimer . Oppenheimer's brother, Sir Bernard Oppenheimer , was also heavily involved in the diamond industry, himself dying in 1921. In 1964, the Oppenheimer Diamond

304-509: Was elected to, the House of Assembly as the Member for Kimberley. He held the seat until 1938. In 1927, Oppenheimer managed to gain control of the late Cecil Rhodes ' De Beers empire, building and consolidating the company's global monopoly over the world's diamond industry until his retirement. He gained the chairmanship of De Beers in 1929. Over the course of his chairmanship, Oppenheimer

323-837: Was involved in a number of controversies, including price fixing, antitrust behaviour, and an allegation of not releasing industrial diamonds for the U.S. war effort during the Second World War . In 1952, he was appointed as a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem . Ernest Oppenheimer married Mary Lina Pollak in 1906 and had two sons. She died in 1934. In 1935, he married Caroline Magdalen Oppenheimer (née Harvey), widow of Sir Michael, 2nd Baronet Oppenheimer of Stoke Poges. He died in Johannesburg in 1957. Although he

342-669: Was known as the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa and the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia before the two parks were formally combined in August 2003. What was once the Richtersveld National Park nurtures about 30% of South Africa’s succulent species. Some of the more prominent towns in this area are Springbok , being the largest in the region, and Kleinzee and Koiingnaas , both private mining towns owned by De Beers Diamond Mines . This area

361-691: Was £1 million. Half of the capital was subscribed in the United States and half in the United Kingdom and South Africa. He would remain as a permanent director and its chairman until 1953. In 1919, two years after its launch, Anglo American purchased diamond mines in South West Africa , which would pose a challenge to the De Beers diamond business monopoly. In the 1924 South African general election Oppenheimer stood for, and

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