Graskop

Graskop is a small town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. It was set up in the 1880s as a gold mining camp but it now serves as a tourist destination and the timber industry. The name is Afrikaans for grassy hillock. “God’s Window”, a scenic view from the escarpment of the Lowveld below, is located outside the town.

Graskop
Shops along the main street of Graskop
Graskop
Graskop
Coordinates: 24°55′54″S 30°50′30″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceMpumalanga
DistrictEhlanzeni
MunicipalityThaba Chweu
Area
  Total35.01 km2 (13.52 sq mi)
Elevation
1,436 m (4,711 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
  Total3,996
  Density110/km2 (300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
  Black African61.2%
  Coloured13.0%
  Indian/Asian0.9%
  White22.9%
  Other2.0%
First languages (2011)
  Afrikaans29.4%
  Northern Sotho22.0%
  Sotho14.8%
  English10.9%
  Other22.8%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1270
PO box
1270
Area code013

Graskop is 14 km south-east of Pilgrim's Rest and 28 km north of Sabie. It was laid out between 1880 and 1890 on a farm belonging to Abel Erasmus, Native Commissioner of the Transvaal Republic. Named after a grassy hillock (Afrikaans gras, ‘grass’, kop, ‘hillock’). Originally it was a mining camp. It is the best place to view the "Edge of the Lowveld", with a sudden drop of 700 metres.[2]

References

  1. "Main Place Graskop". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 187.
  • Graskop travel guide from Wikivoyage
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