Karasburg
Encyclopedia
Karasburg is city of 4,000 inhabitants in the Karas Region
of southern Namibia
and the district capital of the Karasburg electoral constituency
. It lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.
in the west, Onseepkans
in the south and the B3 main road that leads to the South Africa
n border in the east. The town lies 710 kilometres (441.2 mi) south of Windhoek
, 862 kilometres (535.6 mi) north of Cape Town
and 110km West of the Ariamsvlei
border post. Karasburg is the only relatively large town south of Keetmanshoop
in Namibia.
from the South African border. The town supports several massive farms in the area. The town also has its own airport Karasburg Airport: (IATA:KAS) which is used mainly for light aircraft or as an emergency landing strip for larger planes. Karasburg has the busiest train station in Southern Namibia and is also the last significant stop before Upington. Bondels Dam
, built in 1959, lies 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the town.
Karasburg is scheduled to be downgraded to "town" status before November 2010.
The German association “Fahrräder für Afrika e.V.” (Bicycles for Africa) is working together with the Catholic Aids Action (CAA) and the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Namibia to build a “Bicycle Empowerment Centre” in Karasburg. Local people infected with the HI-virus will be trained to repair and build bikes and also receive the know-how to run the workshop on their own. Bicycles will be sold at low prices to the inhabitants of the region, allowing easy travel and transportation, while the income from the workshops is also used to finance local aid projects. The project is supported by governmental agencies in Germany and Namibia
in Karasburg, a total of 808 votes were recorded. SWAPO won with approximately 46% of the vote. Of the three other parties seeking votes in the election, RDP
received approximately 33% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Party
(14%) and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (6%). The resulting local council including three SWAPO members, three RDP members and one DPN member. The DPN's Caroline Arendse was elected mayor as the result of an alliance with SWAPO on 3 December, 2010. However, the national Democratic Party condemned the alliance and called the swearing-in ceremony fraudulent. On 8 December, Arendse was recalled from her position in the council and replaced with Ernest Willem Anderson.
and Springbok to Duiker
, Klipspringer
, Steenbok
, Jackal
and Caracal
. The Kudu
are abundant among the 'koppies' and roam free, leaping over any fence that may come in their way whereas the Springbok on the other hand are bound to single encampments, because they lack the suppleness and length to jump over fences. Caracal
s are widely hunted down by farmers, because they prey on the lambs of sheep. Gemsbuck are also widely scattered across the region in addition to Zebra
and Red Hartebeest
.
Karas Region
The Karas Region is the southernmost region of Namibia. The name assigned to the region reflects the prominence of the Karas mountain range in its southern part...
of southern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and the district capital of the Karasburg electoral constituency
Karasburg Constituency
Karasburg is a constituency in the Karas Region of Namibia, with a population of 16,000. The main towns are Karasburg and Grünau; other populated places include Warmbad and Aussenkehr, and the border settlements of Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer...
. It lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.
Location
There are three main routes that lead into Karasburg. From GrünauGrünau
-Places:Austria* Grünau im Almtal, a gemeinde in the bezirk of Gmunden, Oberösterreich* Hofstetten-Grünau, a marktgemeinde in the bezirk of Sankt Pölten-Land, NiederösterreichGermany...
in the west, Onseepkans
Onseepkans
Onseepkans is a small settlement on the banks of the Orange River in Northern Cape Province, South Africa. It is at the border post with Namibia for traffic between Pofadder in South Africa and Keetmanshoop in Namibia...
in the south and the B3 main road that leads to the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n border in the east. The town lies 710 kilometres (441.2 mi) south of Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, 862 kilometres (535.6 mi) north of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and 110km West of the Ariamsvlei
Ariamsvlei
Ariamsvlei is a small border post between Namibia and South Africa, located 70 km east of Karasburg on the national road B3. It lies at 804 metres above sea level. The border post on the South African side is called Nakop....
border post. Karasburg is the only relatively large town south of Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is a city in Karas Region, southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and founder of the city....
in Namibia.
Economy
Karasburg's main industry is sheep farming, but it is also an important truck stop for transport vehicles streaming into NamibiaNamibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
from the South African border. The town supports several massive farms in the area. The town also has its own airport Karasburg Airport: (IATA:KAS) which is used mainly for light aircraft or as an emergency landing strip for larger planes. Karasburg has the busiest train station in Southern Namibia and is also the last significant stop before Upington. Bondels Dam
Bondels Dam
Bondels Dam is a dam outside of Karasburg, Karas Region, Namibia. Located 7km west of Karas, it dams the Satco River and was built to enhance the recharge of the Bondels Dam aquifer. It has a capacity of 1.105 Mm3 and was completed in 1959 while Namibia was known as South West Africa....
, built in 1959, lies 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the town.
Karasburg is scheduled to be downgraded to "town" status before November 2010.
The German association “Fahrräder für Afrika e.V.” (Bicycles for Africa) is working together with the Catholic Aids Action (CAA) and the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Namibia to build a “Bicycle Empowerment Centre” in Karasburg. Local people infected with the HI-virus will be trained to repair and build bikes and also receive the know-how to run the workshop on their own. Bicycles will be sold at low prices to the inhabitants of the region, allowing easy travel and transportation, while the income from the workshops is also used to finance local aid projects. The project is supported by governmental agencies in Germany and Namibia
Climate
Karasburg has an extreme climate most times of the year with temperatures rising to 48 degrees Celsius in the rainy season and dropping to 2 degrees in the dry season. Low rainfall is seen in this region (annual average rainfall: 128 millimetres (5 in) at the Karasburg weather station), but the rains usually come in early January and leave as late as early April, depending on the previous season's nature.Local authority results, 2010
In the 2010 local authority electionNamibian local and regional elections, 2010
Namibia held elections for their local and regional councils on 26 and 27 November 2010. The terms of regional councillors and local authority representatives were originally set to expire in 2009...
in Karasburg, a total of 808 votes were recorded. SWAPO won with approximately 46% of the vote. Of the three other parties seeking votes in the election, RDP
Rally for Democracy and Progress
Rally for Democracy and Progress can refer to:* Rally for Democracy and Progress * Rally for Democracy and Progress * Rally for Democracy and Progress * Rally for Democracy and Progress * Rally for Democracy and Progress...
received approximately 33% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Namibia
The Democratic Party of Namibia is a political party in Namibia, launched in July 2008 at Keetmanshoop.Although it constitutes an initiative of the Nama people, the party plans to focus on all ethnic minorities in Namibia. It positions itself in clear opposition to SWAPO, the currently ruling party...
(14%) and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (6%). The resulting local council including three SWAPO members, three RDP members and one DPN member. The DPN's Caroline Arendse was elected mayor as the result of an alliance with SWAPO on 3 December, 2010. However, the national Democratic Party condemned the alliance and called the swearing-in ceremony fraudulent. On 8 December, Arendse was recalled from her position in the council and replaced with Ernest Willem Anderson.
Wildlife
The Karasburg region hosts a variety of large to small game, ranging from KuduKudu
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus:*Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis*Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Etymology :...
and Springbok to Duiker
Duiker
A duiker is any of about 21 small to medium-sized antelope species from the subfamily Cephalophinae native to Sub-Saharan Africa.Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear...
, Klipspringer
Klipspringer
The Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.-Name:The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch...
, Steenbok
Steenbok
The Steenbok, Raphicerus campestris, is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the Steinbuck or Steinbok.- Description :...
, Jackal
Jackal
Although the word jackal has been historically used to refer to many small- to medium-sized species of the wolf genus of mammals, Canis, today it most properly and commonly refers to three species: the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal of sub-Saharan Africa, and the golden jackal of...
and Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
. The Kudu
Kudu
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus:*Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis*Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Etymology :...
are abundant among the 'koppies' and roam free, leaping over any fence that may come in their way whereas the Springbok on the other hand are bound to single encampments, because they lack the suppleness and length to jump over fences. Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
s are widely hunted down by farmers, because they prey on the lambs of sheep. Gemsbuck are also widely scattered across the region in addition to Zebra
Burchell's Zebra
Burchell's Zebra is a southern subspecies of the Plains Zebra.-Range:Formerly Burchell's zebra ranged north of the Vaal/Orange river system, extending northwest via southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld, southeast to Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal...
and Red Hartebeest
Red Hartebeest
The Red Hartebeest is a species of even-toed ungulate in the Bovidae family. It is found in Southern Africa. There are more than 130,000 individuals left. The Red Hartebeest is closely related to the Tsessebe and the Topi....
.