Clarens is a small farming town situated in the foothills of the Rooiberge in the Free State Province of South Africa and called the "Jewel of the Free State". It was established in 1912 and named after the town of Clarens in Switzerland where exiled Paul Kruger spent his last days. Today it has a flourishing tourist trade, and an artist community. Close to Clarens is the outlet from the Highlands Water Project, that brings fresh water from Lesotho to feed into the As (Afrikaans for "axle" because the river turns, but has been mistakenly translated into English as "ash"), Liebenbergsvlei and Wilge Rivers into the Vaal Dam. Water from the Vaal Dam is then abstracted, treated and pumped to the various users in the Rand Water supply area.
