Xhariep (or Gariep) Dam, the youngest town in the Free State, officially became a registered municipality as recently as 1994. It was originally erected in the late 1960's for the construction workers building the Gariep Dam. After the official opening of the dam (originally called the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam, after the man know as the architect of apartheid) in 1972 the potential of the town as a tourist haven next to the largest dam in South Africa was recognised. Gariep Dam is situated virtually in the centre of South Africa. It is an ideal inland holiday destination as well as a perfect stopover for tourists travelling between Gauteng and Cape Town. |
