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IN PICTURES

A fine dusting of sparkling snow quenches the arid Karoo’s thirst

It’s been a cold and wet winter, with Cape Town experiencing torrential rain and Joburg icy day and night. But parts of the Cape welcomed the precipitation that broke a nine-year drought. 
Karina Turok
By Karina Turok
18 Aug
Karina-Picture-essay Main Lone Aloe Aberdeen Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)

Flowering aloes on the road to the Kalkkop impact crater which can be found on a private farm 50 kilometres south east of the town of Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Flowering aloes on the road to the Kalkkop impact crater which can be found on a private farm 50 kilometres south east of the town of Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Aberdeen Eastern Cape, Thorns and Aloes, survivors of the drought. (Photo: Karina Turok)<br>
Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, Thorns and Aloes, survivors of the drought. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Abundance of winter rain breaking the drought outside of Aberdeen Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)<br>
Abundance of winter rain breaking the drought outside of Aberdeen, Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Mustard yellow lichen at the entrance to the Swartberg pass. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Mustard yellow lichen at the entrance to the Swartberg pass. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Invasive Mexican jointed cactus on the road to Aberdeen Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Invasive Mexican jointed cactus on the road to Aberdeen, Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Aberdeen Eastern Cape - a Shepards Tree stands alone after the ravages of a nine year drought in the area. (Photo: Karina Turok)
Aberdeen, Eastern Cape - a Shepards Tree stands alone after the ravages of a nine year drought in the area. (Photo: Karina Turok)
The rust coloured mountains of the R 341 approaching De Rust, Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)
The rust-coloured mountains of the R 341 approaching De Rust, Eastern Cape. (Photo: Karina Turok)

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This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R29.

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Comments

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Peter Holmes 18 August 2023 09:23 AM

Thank you, Karina, for these magnificent photographs. I particularly like the black and white images and the way they enhance what you are portraying in these shots. The Karoo is a special place, with special people who live in it.

Wendy 18 August 2023 02:36 PM

Lovely Pics thank you Karina. That area feels like an energising spot. Once you love Aberdeen, you love it more every time.