Above Images: 1. Entrance to the Well 2. Well covered by round concrete slab.
Is the Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well, the oldest HOTA activated site in South Africa?
In my humble opinion this site is the oldest registered HOTA site in South Africa to date. I am open for correction in this regard. The well dates back to November 1497. But before we continue let's go back in history to understand the significance of this HOTA activated site. I quote:
“Vasco da Gama carried out 2 expeditions between 1497 and 1502. This feature focuses on the first, as it was during this expedition that Vasco da Gama's crew landed in South Africa.
The reason for putting "discovery" in inverted commas is because the land was not, as so many explorers argue, discovered by them. The land was already occupied and was being used by the inhabitants. The reason why groups often state their arrival on some foreign land as a "discovery" is because, according to the primitive 'finders keepers' rule, this lends support to any claim they make to "owning" the land. For an unpacking of this mystification of the history of exploration.
The Portuguese expedition set off from the Tagus River on 8 July 1497 with a crew of 148 men in a squadron of three square-riggers, the Sao Gabriel, the Sao Raphael, the Berrio, and a supply ship. The commander-in-chief, Vasco da Gama embarked on the Sao Gabriel accompanied by his pilot, Pedro de Alenquer. Vasco's brother, Paulo, captained the Sao Raphael. For almost four months they sailed across the Atlantic without sight of land until, on *4 November 1497, they reached a bay (current day St Helena). Vasco da Gama named the bay Bahai da Santa Elena (St Helena Bay), after the Religious Mother of Constantine the Great. Close to, or near the mouth of the Berg River, the explorers set in to make repairs, look for water, and check their position. - SA History.org.za”
The fresh water well at St Helena Bay as it is called today was found in November 1497 by Vasco Da Gama's explorers as they searched for water in the area.
Another historical event took place on the 3 May 2023. The Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well was activated as a significant heritage site in South Africa by Matthys (Thys) Louw ZS1TBP.
Image: Thys ZS1TBP doing what he does best!!
Not only as a heritage site but also the first ever activation of a HOTA site by means remotely controlling the HF Amateur Radio Station of Jacques ZS6WDL. I will let Christie ZS4CGR explain how the activation was done:
REMOTE HAMS - Christie ZS4CGR - Radio ZS June 2023 (Click to download PDF)
And this is how the Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well (November 1497) was activated via amateur radio as a HOTA site registered as HP 0005.
(Click on image for larger view)
What is HOTA?
H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.
Finally: Thys ZS1TBP would like to thank all those who contacted the station and also who assisted him during the activation. A special thanks to Christie ZS4CGR, Tjaart ZS3DR and Jacques ZS6WDL for assisting and allowing amateur radio to activate the oldest heritage site in South Africa, 1497?
