Sutherland is a town in western Roggeveld Mountains in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Northern Cape |
| District: | Namakwa |
| Municipality: | Karoo Hoogland |
| Established: | 1855 |
| Named After: | Reverend Henry Sutherland |
| Total Area: | 35.98 km² (13.89 sq mi) |
| Population: | 2,836 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 78.82/km² (204.1/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 6920 |
| PO Box: | 6920 |
| Area Code: | 023 |
About Sutherland
Sutherland was established in 1855 when everything centred on pioneer farmers and the Dutch Reformed Church. The town’s current Dutch Reformed Church was built of local stone in 1899.
The town originated on the farm De List and was named after Reverend Henry Sutherland, a minister in the church who annually came to the Roggeveld from Worcester for church services. In 1855, it was decided to establish a congregation here. On 8 November 1858, 30 of 50 plots were sold.
Sutherland is located approximately 136 km from Williston (the Local Municipal seat) via the R354 Regional Route, 542 km from Springbok (the District seat) via the N7 National Route and R354, 663 km from Kimberley (the provincial capital) via the N12 National Route.
This remote town is situated approximately 346 km on the tar road from Cape Town (the closest large city) at a height of 1,450 metres (4,757 feet) above sea level on the southwest escarpment of the inland plato. At this height, the area is exposed to all the cold air coming from the southwest. Due to the low moisture levels and thin air, heat radiation at night is high. The heavy cold air flows down to the lower valley where Sutherland is situated.
Because Sutherland is so far from other cities, there is little air pollution and little light at night, making the air so clear that scientists and astronomers chose to build a large observatory, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), on a mountain top, 14 km out of town. The telescope is the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere and so powerful that one could see a candle flame on the moon. This obviously makes Sutherland a world-renowned astronomical centre in South Africa.
Sutherland is the place to stargaze, being one of the best star-viewing destinations in the southern hemisphere.
Astronomy has the unique capability to spark the imagination of young and old, and provides the Municipality of Karoo Hoogland with exciting opportunities in the development of a unique tourism industry associated with astronomy in and for South Africa.
Sutherland is the coldest place in South Africa. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, and snow sometimes falls. The lowest temperature in 33 years of minus 16.4°C was experienced on 12 July 2003.
The average minimum temperature in Sutherland is 3°C over the whole year and the average maximum is 20.5°C.
Sutherland has a notable tulip farm and the growing of tulips in South Africa was pioneered by Rev M B Brink right here in Sutherland.
In 1925, Rev M B Brink arrived in Sutherland during a snowstorm. After studying for several years in Holland, he immediately realised the climate in Sutherland was approximately the same as in Holland, therefore ideal for tulip growing. He requested a friend of his to send him seventy five tulip bulbs. He stayed in Sutherland and for a period of twenty five years he distributed one hundred thousand yellow tulip bulbs throughout South Africa.
It can be said that Rev M B Brink made the Dutch tulip also a well known South African flower. Today tulips are mainly cultivated in Sutherland to produce bulbs for the market.
Sutherland is also home to a very scarce and endangered animal, the Riverine Rabbit.
The Louw Museum is in Sutherland. It was named for N.P. van Wyk Louw and W.E.G. Louw, two of the most famous poets in the Afrikaans language. Both were born in Sutherland.
These days, Sutherland continues to be a strong livestock-farming area, with sheep farming dominating. Some farmer in the area still trek with their sheep, from winter grazing in the lowlands to summer grazing at more elevated altitudes.
Tourism also became more important in Sutherland, especially because the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is close to the town.
