VanwyksvleiVanwyksvlei or Van Wyk's Vlei is a small town in the Northern Cape, South Africa.NameThe town is named after a farmer called Van Wyk, and the Afrikaans suffix vlei, meaning 'pond', 'marsh'. However, it is one of the driest places in South Africa, and the surrounding region is named the Dorsland.HistoryVanwyksvlei was founded in 1881. It later saw action in the Second Boer War where two Victoria Crosses were awarded; Harry Hampton and Henry Knight were awarded the medal for gallant acts.Vanwyksvlei DamThe Vanwyksvlei Dam was the first state-funded dam built in South Africa.