Gariep Dam (town)

Gariep Dam (Afrikaans: Gariepdam), founded as "Oranjekrag", is a settlement in Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State (province) of South Africa.

Gariep Dam

Gariepdam
View over Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam
Coordinates: 30.6°S 25.5°E / -30.6; 25.5
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictXhariep
MunicipalityKopanong
Established~1964
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorXolile Mathwa (ANC)
Area
 • Total24.83 km2 (9.59 sq mi)
Elevation
1,320 m (4,330 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,568
 • Density63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African31.0%
 • Coloured47.6%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White19.6%
 • Other1.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans76.9%
 • Xhosa11.1%
 • English4.9%
 • Sotho4.6%
 • Other2.5%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9922

Gariep Dam is a town on the northern bank of the Orange River, 50 km west of Bethulie and 48 km north-east of Colesberg. It was laid out in 1965-66 to accommodate the builders of the dam. The previous name is Afrikaans and means "Orange (River) power".[2] The town acquired its current name in 1996.[3]

References
  1. "Main Place Gariep Dam". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 352.
  3. Elwyn Jenkins (2007-01-01). Falling Into Place: The Story of Modern South African Place Names. New Africa Books. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-86486-689-9.


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