NORTHERN CAPE

province, western South Africa. It is bordered on the north by Namibia and Botswana; on the east by North-West, Free State, and Eastern provinces; on the south and southwest by Western Cape province; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Northern Cape was administratively created out of northern and central Cape of Good Hope province in 1994. Kimberley is the provincial capital. The Northern Cape's eastern half and southwest form part of the Highveld, an arid plateau that gradually rises to the Great Escarpment (more than 6,000 feet in elevation) along the province's southern border. To the northwest is desert, including the sand dunes of Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. The Orange River traverses the province from east to west and provides water for irrigation. The Orange is joined by one of its main tributaries, the Vaal River, near Douglas, in the east. Thornveld is the natural vegetation of the province, and the climate is generally hot and arid. Annual rainfall increases from 4 inches (100 mm) in the west to about 14 inches (350 mm) in the east. Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. About half of the population is of mixed race. Blacks make up 30 percent of the population and are mostly Tswana-speaking peoples. Whites constitute about 15 percent and mostly speak Afrikaans. The major urban centres are Kimberley and Upington. Merino sheep are raised in the south and Karakul sheep in the north, and cattle are grazed throughout the province. Pig raising and horse breeding are also practiced. Wheat, alfalfa (lucerne), cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), citrus fruit, and grapes are grown under irrigation. Major copper mines are located near Prieska and Okiep. Diamonds are recovered from the arid region of Namaqualand in the west, along the Atlantic coast. Tungsten, zinc, lead, asbestos, iron ore, and manganese are also extracted at various locations. Area 139,692 square miles (361,800 square km). Pop. (1994 est.) 737,306.