Mention Upington and the mind conjures up visions of a desolate unbaked Southern Kalahari Desert town where man's existence is a daily struggle.
But how wrong can one be? Through this harsh landscape that surrounds Upington runs a glittering green ribbon - the fertile Orange River valley which brings life-giving water from the distant highlands of Lesotho to the town.
Upington is remarkably lush for a city in the dry North West of South Africa. This can be attributed to the permanent water of the Orange River that passes through it. Grapes and citrus are cultivated along the banks of the river that creates an oasis, taking the water through the semi desert. To the north of Upington the landscape changes to the barren Kalahari Desert. |
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| Empty streets in the desert town |
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