Gariep Dam (town) (original) (raw)

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Place in Free State, South Africa

Gariep Dam Gariepdam
View over Gariep DamView over Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam is located in Free State (South African province)Gariep DamGariep DamShow map of Free State (South African province)Gariep Dam is located in South AfricaGariep DamGariep DamShow map of South Africa
Coordinates: 30°36′S 25°30′E / 30.6°S 25.5°E / -30.6; 25.5
Country South Africa
Province Free State
District Xhariep
Municipality Kopanong
Established ~1964
Government
• Type Municipality
• Mayor Xolile Mathwa (ANC)
Area[1]
• Total 24.83 km2 (9.59 sq mi)
Elevation 1,320 m (4,330 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total 1,568
• Density 63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
Black African 31.0%
Coloured 47.6%
Indian/Asian 0.4%
White 19.6%
• Other 1.3%
First languages (2011)[1]
Afrikaans 76.9%
Xhosa 11.1%
English 4.9%
Sotho 4.6%
• Other 2.5%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street) 9922

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

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]

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