Sutherland: South Africa's Astronomical Hub and Gateway to the Universe
Discover Sutherland, South Africa's premier astronomical hub, nestled just 50km from Cape Town on the Roggeveld plateau. The town is home to the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Sutherland's clear skies offer breathtaking stargazing experiences, earning it the title 'Gateway to the Universe'.
Established in 1855, Sutherland was named after Rev. Henry Sutherland, a Dutch Reformed Church minister. The town's serene Dutch Reformed Church, built in 1900, was used as a fort and barracks by the British during the Anglo-Boer War.
Today, Sutherland thrives on sheep farming, producing some of the best mutton in South Africa. The town centre comprises two large shops, a café, a service station, two butcheries, and a bank, all adhering to the tradition of closing for an hour over lunch.
Sutherland, located in the heart of the Karoo, is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding desert. Southeast of the town lies Saltpeterkop, a 66 million-year-old extinct volcano that offers a thrilling hike up to the Observatory.
The town is also the birthplace of famous Afrikaans writer/poet brothers N.P. van Wyk Louw and W.E.G. van Wyk Louw. Their childhood home, built in 1861, now serves as the Louw Museum and a literary library, housing several historical items.
Sutherland is known as South Africa's coldest town, with an average annual minimum temperature of -6°C. The coldest day recorded was on 12th June 2003, when the temperature dropped to -16.4°C. Interestingly, it has even snowed in Sutherland on Christmas day!
Local farmers usually own two farms – one in the Roggeveld and one in the lower-lying Karoo. Every winter, they migrate from the Roggeveld to the Karoo, a slightly warmer climate, a journey that can take up to four days. This migration is repeated in September when farmers return to higher ground for the summer.
Sutherland is also the most southerly place in South Africa where diamonds were discovered, and old diamond diggings can still be seen in the area. The region is home to the endangered Riverine Rabbit and the 'sterboom' (Star Tree), which blossoms in September.
