Knersvlakte

The Knersvlakte is a region of hilly terrain covered with quartz gravel in Namaqualand in the north-west corner of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

The name, literally "gnashing plain" in Afrikaans,[1] is thought to be derived from the crunching of wagonwheels as they moved over the hard quartz stones.

The climate of the region is semi-arid with long dry summers, and rainfall occurring in the winter months.

The white quartz gravel reflects the sunlight, and is not as hot as the darker rocks and soil found in adjacent areas.

Many of these plants are small and compact, which is presumably an adaptation to absorb heat as rain occurs in a short and cool winter period.