{
  "id": 18438250,
  "title": "A date in the desert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/a-date-in-the-desert",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/travel/a-date-in-the-desert/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pofadder is a remote and inhospitable region in the Northern Cape, known as Bushmanland. It has been chosen for various purposes in the past, such as a nuclear waste disposal site. However, nearby lies the lush \"Green Kalahari,\" fed by the Orange River. The primary tourist attraction is the Augrabies Falls, while vineyards along the river from Keimoes to Kakamas also draw visitors.\n\nKlein Pella is an impressive date farm spanning nearly 20,000 hectares, contributing to the region's unique agricultural diversity. Only about 14,000 trees are cultivated for date production, as male and female trees are required for fruiting. Dates are wind-pollinated in natural settings, but commercial orchards use laborers or wind machines for manual pollination.\n\nPella, a settlement in the region, is an oasis with a spring discovered by the San people. It was later established as a mission station in 1814 and renamed after a town in Macedonia in 1895. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, built over seven years, stands as a testament to the community's resilience.\n\nThe town has a modest population of around 2,500 people and offers limited tourism facilities. However, nearby Klein Pella farm is popular among off-road adventurers due to its proximity to the \"Mountains of Mars.\" Despite the harsh environment, the region showcases adaptability of life forms and offers breathtaking landscapes for those who venture into it, especially during the cooler months.",
  "summary": "Breathtakingly spectacular big-sky country.",
  "key_points": [
    "Pofadder region chosen for various purposes, including nuclear waste disposal",
    "Klein Pella date farm spans 20,000 hectares, requiring pollination labor",
    "Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pella built over seven years"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}