Uis | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 21°13′7″S 14°52′3″E / 21.21861°S 14.86750°E | |
Country | Namibia |
Region | Erongo Region |
Constituency | Dâures Constituency |
Established | 1958 |
Population (2010)[1] | |
• Total | ca. 3,600 |
Time zone | UTC+2 (South African Standard Time) |
Uis is a settlement located in the Erongo Region, Namibia. It belongs to the Dâures electoral constituency. Located in the former Damaraland, it is known for the local mineral wealth. The settlement was established in 1958 as workers' settlement to exploit local tin deposits.[2] It has approximately 3,600 inhabitants and, before being downgraded from "village" to "settlement" in 2010, owned 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) of land.[1]
Uis is located at the foot of the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain. The Brandberg is home to the world famous The White Lady rock painting, said by some to be over 20,000 years old. Being also situated on the C36, the main road between the coast and the Damaraland interior, there is a reasonable amount of traffic, by far the main source of economic activity in Uis. The settlement holds a small supermarket, guesthouses and a restcamp, a bakery and a petrol station, together with a few other small shops. The ephemeral Uis River, a tributary to the Ugab River, passes the settlement.[3]
Uis is home to the Brandberg Primary School and Petrus ǃGaneb Secondary School, both for about 300 learners.[4] Petrus Ganeb SS was built before Namibian independence; its facilities are old and dilapidated.[5]