Exploring Vaal Dam-South Africa's Beautiful Water Source

Vaal Dam encompasses more than 300 km2, making it the country's greatest dam by area. The building was built in 1938. It is one of the main sources of drinking water in Gauteng. It is situated on the Vaal River near Vereeniging, between the N1 and the N3, and approximately 110 kilometers from Johannesburg. Additionally, three provinces border the Vaal Dam: the Free State, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Vaal Dam is its island, which was used for covert meetings during Apartheid! In South Africa, the Vaal River is the northern tributary of the Orange River. It begins at Sterkfontein Beacon near Breyten in Mpumalanga Province and flows 1,210 kilometers southwest to its confluence with the Orange near Douglas; its middle section constitutes the majority of the northern provincial boundary of the Free State.

The Vaal Dam is utilized for a variety of water activities and events, including the 'Round the Island yacht race, the Keel-boat Week, the Bayshore 200-kilometer jet-ski race, and the Bayshore Marina Vaal Dam treasure hunt'. There are ten sailing clubs, and numerous weekend users of the dam include anglers, water skiers, and canoeists.
The property along the dam and river is extremely desirable. As our communities become increasingly congested, man seeks refuge in water. With its calmness and serenity, the river has much to offer!

Article Courtesy of www.sahistory.org.za/place/vaal-river-and-dam-gauteng-free-state-northern-cape-and-mpumalanga