Alexander Bay

Alexander Bay is synonymous with diamonds, which were discovered along this coast in 1926. The famous geologist Hans Merensky picked up 487 diamonds under one stone alone and realised there were plenty more to come.

It was at his request that the government intervened to prevent the diamond market from collapsing due to overproduction. Prospecting was prohibited and although diggers threatened to occupy the area by force, opposition fizzled out and the state took complete control.

Diamonds are now recovered by removing the sand along the line of the beach and by sucking up the sea bed with deep-sea mining vessels who patrol the West Coast.

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Diamonds cause men to do many strange things[/b]. They have been smuggled out of the highly controlled areas by ingenious methods. Carrier pigeons have managed to liberate a few of the precious gems, workers have tried hiding them in deep cuts in their legs. One man sent his zither home for repair full of diamonds, but his unwitting wife sent it back to him with them still inside.

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