Waterval Boven (officially known as Emgwenya[2]) is a small town situated on the edge of the Escarpment on the banks of the Elands River above the 75m Elands Falls on the railway line from Pretoria to Maputo in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Hence the name, which is Dutch for "above the waterfall".[3]

Waterval Boven
Waterval Boven is located in Mpumalanga
Waterval Boven
Waterval Boven
Waterval Boven is located in South Africa
Waterval Boven
Waterval Boven
Coordinates: 25°39′S 30°20′E / 25.650°S 30.333°E / -25.650; 30.333
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceMpumalanga
DistrictNkangala
MunicipalityEmakhazeni
Area
 • Total
38.88 km2 (15.01 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
6,178
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African83.3%
 • Coloured1.7%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White14.0%
 • Other0.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Swazi70.9%
 • Afrikaans13.8%
 • English3.4%
 • Zulu3.0%
 • Other9.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1195
Area code013
Websitewww.watervalboven.com

It is the sister town of Waterval Onder which is at the base of the Escarpment below the waterfall. Both settlements were established in 1895 because of the building of the Pretoria - Delagoa Bay railway line,[4] built by the Netherlands-South African Railway Company (NZASM).[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Waterval Boven". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "AfriForum petitions against name changes". Mail & Guardian Online. 2 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Waterval Boven - South Africa Towns". southafrica.co.za. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Waterval Onder Information". Where to Stay. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Welcome | Dutch Footsteps - NZASM tunnel at Waterval Boven". www.dutchfootsteps.co.za. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
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