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
Country	South Africa
Province	Mpumalanga
District	Ehlanzeni
Municipality	Thaba Chweu
Area [1]
• Total	35.01 km^2 (13.52 sq mi)
Elevation	1,436 m (4,711 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	3,996
• Density	110/km^2 (300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	61.2%
• Coloured	13.0%
• Indian/Asian	0.9%
• White	22.9%
• Other	2.0%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	29.4%
• Northern Sotho	22.0%
• Sotho	14.8%
• English	10.9%
• Other	22.8%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	1270
PO box	1270
Area code	013

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]

• 
  Potholes at Bourke's Luck near Graskop.
• 
  The Berlin Falls near Graskop.
• 
  "The Pinnacle" near Graskop.
• 
  "God's Window" near Graskop.

References

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

External links

• Graskop travel guide from Wikivoyage