Ceres, situated on the Dwars River in a very fertile valley, is named after the old Roman goddess of agriculture. The little town is surrounded by hills up to 2,000m/6,560ft in height. The scenery in this area is so picturesque that it has been called the Switzerland of South Africa. The town's prosperity depends mainly on
its plantations of fruit, and after the harvest the crop is processed in one of the largest canning plants in the whole country. Ceres is also a popular holiday resort, and there are a number of holiday complexes in the area offering a wide range of leisure activities.