Kalkfeld

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox settlement   |name =Kalkfeld |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type = Settlement |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = 300px |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Namibia  |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize =300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Namibia  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Namibia}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Otjozondjupa Region |subdivision_type2 = Constituency |subdivision_name2 = Otjiwarongo Constituency |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 =  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi =  |population_as_of = 2024 |population_footnotes = <ref name=cries/> |population_note = |population_total = 5,000 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  |timezone = South African Standard Time |utc_offset = +2 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|20|53|S|16|11|E|region:NA|display=inline}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Kalkfeld''' is a settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It is situated halfway between Omaruru and Otjiwarongo on the regional road C33 and belongs to the Otjiwarongo electoral constituency.<ref name=rc>{{Cite web | title=Otjiwarongo Constituency | publisher=Government of Namibia | url=https://otjozondjuparc.gov.na/otjiwarongo-constituency | access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref>

The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of {{convert|346|mm}}, although in the 2010/2011 rainy season {{convert|858|mm}} were measured.<ref name="Nam2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/ |title=Rainy season was one for the record books |last=Menges |first=Werner |date=26 May 2011 |newspaper=The Namibian |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215044804/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/ |archivedate=15 December 2011 }}</ref> Due to its location in former Damaraland, the majority of the inhabitants speak Khoekhoegowab or Otjiherero.

== Economy and infrastructure== Kalkfeld was proclaimed a village in 1991 and governed by its own village council until 1996. It was then downgraded to ''settlement'' due to a lack of growth.<ref name=Park>{{cite news | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/kalkfeld-business-park-under-construction/ | title=Kalkfeld business park under construction | date=18 October 2012 | newspaper=The Namibian}}</ref> ''The Namibian'' national newspaper referred to the settlement as "ghost town", situated in "the middle of nowhere". Since the downgrading living standards have further deteriorated. Of the 5,000 inhabitants ({{As of|2024}}) less than 100 are employed. The settlement is also affected by water and electricity shortages.<ref name=cries>{{Cite news | title=Kalkveld cries for development | last=Nashuuta | first=Lahia | newspaper=New Era | date=12 November 2024 | url=https://neweralive.na/kalkveld-cries-for-development/}}</ref>

Construction of a business complex and a tourist centre started in 2012<ref name=ghost>{{Cite news | title=Ghost town complex cost doubles | last=Mongudhi | first=Tileni | newspaper=The Namibian | date=3 July 2014 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/ghost-town-complex-cost-doubles/ | archive-date=14 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173606/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=14806&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1 | url-status=live}}</ref> but the construction never finished, and the buildings lay dormant as a result. Only the fuel station and a shop were opened in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Inactive Kalkfeld business park expands | newspaper=The Namibian | publisher=Nampa | date=8 November 2019 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/inactive-kalkfeld-business-park-expands/}}</ref>

Kalkfeld has a Police station and a clinic.<ref name=cries/> It is served by a station of the Namibia Railway Network. Local residents often make use of donkey carts to get from point to point.

== Education== There is one primary school, ''Kalkfeld Primary School'' in the location, and one secondary school, G.K. Wahl Combined School downtown, with only one class per grade as there are not a lot of children in the town.

== Tourism== {{Convert|23|km}} east of Kalkfeld lies Otjihaenamparero, a farm where 170-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen.<ref>{{Cite book | title=Southern Africa | last=Murphy | first=Alan | series=Lonely Planet travel guide | year=2007 | page=327 | isbn= 9781740597456 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AijmBeQ9_r8C&q=Otjihaenamparero&pg=PA327}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Populated places in the Otjozondjupa Region