Vaal Triangle

The Vaal Triangle is a triangular area of land formed by Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg - together they comprise a substantial urban complex in South Africa. Meyerton, just north of Vereeniging, is also generally included in the complex. The area straddles the Vaal River and is a major industrial region, which is home to Iron and Steel Corporation Iscor and Sasol, the steel and oil-from-coal processing facilities.

Due to the heavy industries in and around the Vaal Triangle it became infamous for its air pollution and respiratory disease. For this reason, local Afrikaans speaking people often refer to the reagon as the "Vuil Driehoek" (meaning "Dirty Triangle") as a pun on "Vaal Driehoek" (the Afrikaans translation for Vaal Triangle).

Nearby is the Vaal Dam, from which the massive PWV megalopolis (Pretoria, Witwatersrand and Vereeniging) draws its water. The PWV forms the urban heart of Gauteng province. The Witwatersrand is the name given to the area that comprises the Greater Johannesburg metropole and the gold-bearing reef along which gold was discovered in 1886.

The Vaal Dam is well-patronised by people from Johannesburg over the weekends and during holidays, as it provides extensive water recreation facilities some 70 km south of the city.

External links

* [http://www.vaaltriangleinfo.co.za Vaal Triangle Info]