Outjo

Outjo
City
Outjo

Location in Namibia

Coordinates: 20°06′32″S 16°09′17″E / 20.10889°S 16.15472°E / -20.10889; 16.15472Coordinates: 20°06′32″S 16°09′17″E / 20.10889°S 16.15472°E / -20.10889; 16.15472
Country  Namibia
Region Kunene Region
Constituency Outjo Constituency
Government
 • Mayor Kleophas Geingob[1]
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 8,445
Climate BSh

Outjo (Otjiherero: small hills) is a city[3] of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency. It is best known as a main gateway to Etosha National Park.[4]

Overview

The town was founded by Germans under the command of Colonel Theodor von Leutwein in 1897 as a small military base in order to explore the northern area of German South-West Africa. The local historical museum (Franke Haus Museum) details the campaign of Major Viktor Franke in Ovamboland.

The "Impalila monument" commemorates the small expedition on the Portuguese fort of Impalila in Angola by Major Viktor Franke in October 1914 following the massacre of a German delegation which had been sent to negotiate a treaty of non-aggression.

The town lies near Gamkarab Cave, known for its stalactites and stalagmites and its pietersite. The caves are on private ground and not open to the public.

Politics

Outjo is governed by a municipal council that currently has seven seats.[5]

Transport

Outjo is the Gateway to the Etosha National Park. Situated on the C38, +/-90 Southwest of the Southern entrance, the Anderson Gate. Outjo is also the last frontier before going into Damaraland (C39 towards Khorixas) and Kaokoaveld (C40 towards Kamanjab). It has an airstrip that accommodates small fixed winged planes +/-10 km from the CBD. Outjo is the terminus of a branch railway of the Namibian railway system, but there is no railway service the moment.

References

  1. ↑ New mayor warns of ‘rush hour’ New Era, 6 December 2010
  2. ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Local Authorities". Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN). Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Outjo - town in Namibia". namibweb.com. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3) (Institute for Public Policy Research). 2015. p. 4.

External links

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