Beaufort West (Afrikaans: Beaufort-Wes) is a town in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and is known as the "Capital of the Karoo". It forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 25 000 inhabitants in 2001.
It is the centre of an agricultural district based mainly on sheep farming, and is a significant town on the N1 national road.
Next door to Beaufort West is the Karoo National Park. Important fossils have been found in the area, initially by David Baird, son of the local magistrate in 1827.
As part of a drive to create employment opportunities, a hydroponics project was started and now supplies premium herbs and vegetables nationally.
The old Town Hall and the Dutch Reformed Church have been declared national monuments.
Read more about Beaufort West: History, Famous Residents
Famous quotes containing the word west:
“One can write out of love or hate. Hate tells one a great deal about a person. Love makes one become the person. Love, contrary to legend, is not half as blind, at least for writing purposes, as hate. Love can see the evil and not cease to be love. Hate cannot see the good and remain hate. The writer, writing out of hatred, will, thus, paint a far more partial picture than if he had written out of love.”
—Jessamyn West (1902–1984)