SOUTH WEST AFRICA

SOUTH WEST AFRICA / SUIDWES-AFRIKA - ZUIDWEST-AFRIKA.

Landmarks.
Sesriem Canyon.
Second stamp in a set of 4, issued on 03.03.1988.
Face value: 30 cents of South-African rand.
Design: Johan van Niekerk.
Printing: Offset lithography.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 622.
- Scott No. 599.
- StampWorld No. 621.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 492.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 579.

Sesriem is a natural canyon carved by the Tsauchab river in the local sedimentary rock, about a kilometre (0.6 mile) long and up to 30 m (100 feet) deep. The name Sesriem is Afrikaans and means "six rawhide thongs", given by settlers on the Dorsland Trek who had to join six such thongs in order for a bucket to reach the water. Sesriem Canyon is only 2 m (6.5 feet) wide in some places, and has a portion that permanently contains water, which many animals use.