Vioolsdrif

Vioolsdrif is a village on the Orange River in the north-western Namaqualand area of South Africa.

Key facts

Settlement.name: Vioolsdrif
Settlement.image_skyline: Oranje_at_Noordoewer.png
Settlement.image_caption: The Orange River from the border bridge between Noordoewer and Vioolsdrif. Extreme heat and sunlight cause visible evaporation.
Settlement.pushpin_map: South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa#Africa
Settlement.subdivision_type: Country
Settlement.subdivision_name: South Africa
Settlement.subdivision_type1: Province
Settlement.subdivision_name1: Northern Cape
Settlement.subdivision_type2: District
Settlement.subdivision_name2: Namakwa
Settlement.subdivision_type3: Municipality
Settlement.subdivision_name3

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Article

5 sections

Contents

Origin of name
Geography
Tourism
Climate
References

Vioolsdrif is a village on the Orange River in the north-western Namaqualand area of South Africa.

== Origin of name == The name in Afrikaans means 'the ford (shallow river crossing) of the violin'. It is reportedly named after Jan Viool ("John Violin"), who is said to have played the fiddle in these parts in the nineteenth century. Some say he was a Nama man, who used to guide ox-wagons across the ford. An accomplished player, he would fiddle away merrily on the river bank while waiting for wagons to arrive. These claims await elaboration.