Namaqualand Towns: OKIEP * More information and photographs for this page will be posted soon * HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 29 36S 17 54E) On the N7 just north of Springbok. HISTORY It is believed that local people worked copper here long before the Dutch colonialists discovered copper deposits at Okiep in 1685. In 1852, the first mine to be opened by Europeans in South Africa is located in the Okiep district and large copper deposits were also discovered here in 1855. By 1866 a narrow railway line to Port Nolloth at the coast was built, in order for the copper to be shipped from there. Fluctuating copper prices, coupled with a remote and hostile setting, have resulted in varying degrees of success and failure in the 150-year history of the mines. In 1918 the Okiep copper mines ceased operating and the place became almost a ghost town. ORIGINS OF THE NAME From the Khoi /Ugieb for "Brackish place where copper occurs" POPULATION 6,000 PLACES OF INTEREST Remains of various old Copper Mines WHAT TO DO AND SEE Flowers in season 4x4 routes Hiking Trails ACCOMMODATION See "Where to Stay" TOURISM OFFICE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Springbok 8km Nababeeb 13km