S1 – Ep 276 – Kakamas – The First Hydro-Electric Power Station in South Africa!

We knew Kakamas was located on the banks of the Orange River. What we didn’t know was that it had the first hydro-electric power station in South Africa and the transformer building was designed to look like an Egyptian Temple. The power station harnessed the power of the river to generate electricity, which was used to power the irrigation systems that enabled the farmers in the surrounding area to cultivate their crops. However, the construction of the irrigation canals in Kakamas was not without controversy. Qualified engineers criticised the farmers for their building methods. Despite this criticism, the canals that were built using these methods have remained in use to this day and continue to be used. One of the unique features of the Kakamas irrigation canals is the water wheels that are used to lift the water from the canals. These water wheels have become an iconic symbol of the town and are a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the area. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #northerncape #kakamas

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