The Free State is a province of South Africa, with Bloemfontein as its capital. Bloemfontein is also the judicial capital of South Africa. On June, 9 1995, the old Orange Free State Province was merged with portions of the old Bophuthatswana Bantustan, to give birth to the Free State Province.
Geography And Climate
The Free State comprises an area of 129,480 km2 between the Orange River in the south and southwest, the Vaal River in the north and northwest, the Drakensberg Mountains and Lesotho in the east, and the Klip River in the northeast.
The Free State is mainly situated on flat, boundless plains in central South Africa, but the Free State also includes mountainous areas to the east.
Demographics
The population of the Free State Province numbered 2 706 776 according to the 2001 Statistics South Africa census.
Free State resident speak mainly Sesotho at home (62 percent), while 14 percent speak Afrikaans and 9.5 percent speak isiXhosa.
Free State Economy
The Free State soil is rich and the climate allows a thriving agricultural industry, which produces more than 70 percent of all of South Africa's grain consumption needs. With more than 30 000 farms, it is hardly surprising that the Free State is known as South Africa's breadbasket. Maize, sunflower and wheat are the main crops farmed in the Free State.
Some of the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world can be found in the Free State.
Free State Dams
The Gariep Dam, formerly known as the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam, is the South African dam with the largest surface area, and is located in the Orange River, forming part of the border with the Eastern Cape Province. Other dams in the Free State include:
- the Vanderkloof Dam
- Kalkfontein Dam
- Krugersdrif Dam
- Allemanskraal Dam
- Sterkfontein Dam
- Bloemhof Dam
- the Vaal Dam
- Ntshingwayo Dam
- Grootdraai Dam
- Rustfontein Dam
- Welbedacht Dam
- Erfenis Dam
