Kimberley
South Africa
Kimberley, the capital of South Africa's Northern Cape province, built its identity on diamonds: the 1871 discovery of a diamond field here drew Cecil Rhodes and Barney Barnato, who made their fortunes in the city, and Rhodes established De Beers here in the early mining years. The first stock exchange in Africa opened in Kimberley in 1881, and on 2 September 1882 it became the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to install electric street lighting. The city also saw a notable siege during the Second Boer War, and serves as a gateway toward the Kgalagadi, Augrabies Falls, and Namaqualand.
- Population142,089
- Nearest water from center1.1 km
- Nearest mountain from center11.2 km