Sutherland is a town located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is known for having some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the world, primarily due to its remote and arid location as well as its altitude of 1 458 metres above sea level. For this reason, Sutherland hosts the telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatory nearby at , which includes the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. Sutherland is also known as being one of the coldest towns in South Africa (although Buffelsfontein holds the official honour[1]), with winter snow a common occurrence. The coldest temperature recorded in Sutherland was -16ºC, on 12 July 2003. The average yearly temperature is 11.8ºC, with an average minimum yearly temperature of 3.4ºC The town has recently gained in popularity, with many Capetonians buying property in the town and many more visiting on weekends and vacations.
See also
External links
- ^ South African Weather Bureau, "Coldest Place in South Africa", 30 June 2005.
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Municipalities and Communities of Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape District Seat: Springbok |
|---|---|
| Local municipalities |
Nama Khoi • Hantam • Khâi-Ma • Kamiesberg • Karoo Hoogland • Richtersveld • Namaqualand |
| Cities and towns |
Springbok • Aggenys • Alexander Bay • Brandvlei • Calvinia • Concordia • Fraserburg • Garies • Hondeklip Bay • Kamieskroon • Kleinzee/Koingnaas • Leliefontein Area • Loeriesfontein • Nababeep • Nieuwoudtville • Okiep • Pella • Pofadder • Port Nolloth • Richtersveld Area • Steinkopf • Sutherland • Vioolsdrift • Williston |
