Gariep Dam (town)

Gariep Dam
Gariepdam
View over Gariep Dam
View over Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam is located in Free State (South African province)
Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam is located in South Africa
Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam
Coordinates: 30°36′S 25°30′E / 30.6°S 25.5°E / -30.6; 25.5
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictXhariep
MunicipalityKopanong
Established~1964
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorXolile Mathwa (ANC)
Area
 • Total
24.83 km2 (9.59 sq mi)
Elevation
1,320 m (4,330 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
1,568
 • 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 (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.