The Northern Cape is the biggest province in South Africa. It stretches 372 889 km2 which makes it bigger then Germany and represents 30.5% of South Africa’s surface area. It is also the most populated province in the country, with a density of 1.1 million people. (2.3% of the national population), making it in the region of three people per square kilometer.
Much of this can be ascribed to the natural environment of the Northern Cape. Apart from the narrow corridor around the major rivers, which are extensively used for irrigation, is is also largely semi-arid to the most arid province. These irrigation ares forming a stark contrast with the adjacent Karoo, Kalahari and Namaqualand landscapes. Agriculture, which is one of the main industries in the Province, consists mostly of extensive stock farming due to the low carrying capacity of the land.
A distinguishing feature of the western part of the province is the Ghaap Plateu ( which Linksfontein is also situated). The Ghaap lies in what is often called Griqualand-West after the former independent state, with both having roughly the same borders. It is on average 1.500 meters above sea level, with a basis of hard quarttizites. In the west, the Ghaap gradually rises to meet the Asbesberg and Langberg. It is separated from the Highveld, of which it is an extension, by the Harts-,Vaal- and Orange Rivers.
At the same time trough the Northern Cape has been blessed with some of the most remarkable mineral wealth in the world. The exploitation of which has given rise to the main contributor to the provincial economy, the mining sector. The copper mines around Springbok an Okiep are the oldest mines of the colonial era in South Africa, dating back to the late 17th Century. Then the Northern Capr, particularly the area between Kimberley and Bushmansland, is not only the birthplace of the modern diamond mining industry, which still continues to be a significant contributor to the provincial economy to this day. It is however also known for some of the worlds biggest limestone, iron ore and manganese mines, while some of the worlds scarcest and most precious minerals as also extracted here.
Some of this making the Northern Cape and it’s rich mineral diversity probably one of the most treasured provinces, one we need to conserve and protect for future living and sustainability.