2008 Silver Peace Park Ai Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Themes celebrating South Africa's natural heritage have been featured on these four sterling silver coins since the series' inception in 2000. The "Big 5" featured from 2000-2004 and "Hunters of Africa" in 2005-2006. A new theme featuring southern Africa's Peace Parks commenced with the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parkin 2007 and in 2008 features the | Ai- | Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (ARTP).

On 1st August 2003, a treaty was signed by President Sam Nujoma of Namibia and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, establishing the ARTP The ARTP includes the | Ai- | Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa. Each Park has its own Management Plan but certain cross-border issues require a joint management approach by all stakeholders concerned. The ARTP encompasses an area of some 6045 km2 stretching across some of the most spectacular arid and desert mountain scenery in southern Africa. The two parks share a common boundary in the Orange River, an oasis of greenery in this harsh but visually spectacular land with temperatures often reaching well over 40°C in some places. The diverse vegetation is a result of two different rainfall systems and climatic zones and although the areas look barren and desolate at first glance, closer examination reveals a rich array of unique species adapted for survival. The ARTP features the second largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon. In certain areas, the canyon floor lies more than 550m below the plateau and rock up to 2600 million years old are revealed. The | Ai- | Ais Hot Springs are found south ofthecanyon.

The local Nama people continue to live and graze their livestock in the Park and their colourful history in the Richtersveld area dates as far back as 2000 years. Their traditional lifestyle is based on nomadic pastoralism and they sustain themselves in this difficult and fragile environment by maintaining an intimate familiarity and respect of the land. They are a part of this harsh, spectacular landscape with its great variety of succulents which transform the land after good winter rain with their mass display of flowers.

The characteristic Orbea namaquensis, one of the 2400 succulents which form part of the "Succulent Karoo" biome, the giant tree aloe (Aloe pillansii) and the shy klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) which are depicted on the coins, are symbolic of this unique and dramatic environment.

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