Sutherland, Northern Cape

Sutherland
Top left: Fort Steenbok, a fortification from the Second Boer War. Top right: an aerial view of the South African Astronomical Observatory. Middle left: the main church in the town centre. Middle right: a view of the stars in the nights sky in Sutherland. Bottom: a panoramic view of the town centre facing away from the main church.
Sutherland Show map of Northern Cape Sutherland Show map of South Africa Sutherland Show map of Africa  Sutherland shown within Northern Cape
Coordinates: 32°23′37″S 20°39′41″E / 32.39361°S 20.66139°E / -32.39361; 20.66139Coordinates: 32°23′37″S 20°39′41″E / 32.39361°S 20.66139°E / -32.39361; 20.66139
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	Namakwa
Municipality	Karoo Hoogland
Established	1858
Area
• Total	35.98 km2 (13.89 sq mi)
Elevation	1,460 m (4,790 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	2,836
• Density	79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	8.0%
• Coloured	78.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.8%
• White	12.7%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	96.0%
• English	1.9%
• Other	2.1%
Postal code (street)	6920
PO box	6920
Area code	023

Sutherland is a town with about 2,841 inhabitants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It lies in the western Roggeveld Mountains in the Karoo.

Sutherland was founded in 1723 as a church and market town to serve the area's sheep farmers. By 1872 the town had a population of 138 registered citizens living in 19 houses. The large Dutch Reformed church in the centre of Sutherland was built in 1899.

During the Anglo Boer War the church was used as a fort by garrisoned British soldiers. During the war a number of engagements between British and Boer forces occurred in the town. In one such engagement a force of 250 Boer commandos attacked the local British garrison for 10 hours. The ruins of a fort can be found on the outskirts of town -on the hill called Rebelskop- was named after this engagement.

Major economic activities include tourism and sheep farming. The area includes at least twelve registered B&B's, guest houses and guest farms. The nearby South African Astronomical Observatory also plays a significant role in the town's economy and is a major driver of tourism to the area. The town also has a number of bars, restaurants and an amateur astronomy observatory that service the tourism sector.

Sutherland has recently gained in popularity, with many Capetonians buying property in the town and many more visiting on weekends and vacations.

Sutherland's arid climate and remote location 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) above sea level make its night skies among the world's clearest and darkest. The telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatory are nearby at 32°22′46″S 20°48′38.5″E / 32.37944°S 20.810694°E / -32.37944; 20.810694 (SAAO). These include the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.