Ruacana

{{Short description|Town in northern Namibia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox settlement   | name = Ruacana | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | motto =  | image_skyline = Ruacana - Namibie - panoramio.jpg | 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 = Omusati Region | subdivision_type2 = Constituency | subdivision_name2 = Ruacana Constituency | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 =  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Major | leader_name = Simon Shooya | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | established_title1 = Settlement | established_date1 = 1999 | established_title2 = Village | established_date2 = 2005 | established_title3 = Town | established_date3 = 2010  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 =  | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi =  | population_footnotes = <ref name=nsa2023/> | population_total = 5,939 | population_as_of = 2023 | 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 = SAST | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|17|26|16|S|14|26|9|E|region:NA|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = 1,086 | elevation_ft = 3,563  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = BSh | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = | official_name = }}

'''Ruacana''' is a town in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia and the district capital of the Ruacana electoral constituency. It is located on the border with Angola on the river Kunene. The town is known for the picturesque Ruacana Falls nearby, and for the Ruacana Power Station. Ruacana had a population of 5,939 people in 2023.

==Geography== The place receives annual average rainfall of {{convert|426|mm}}, although in the 2010/2011 rainy season, {{convert|960|mm}} of rain was 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>

{{Historical populations|2011|2,985|2023|5,939|percentages=pagr|align=none|footnote=Source:<ref name=nsa2023>{{cite web | title=4.5 Population by town and census years (2011 and 2023) | url=https://nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf | work=Namibia 2023 - Population and Housing Census. Main Report | publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency | access-date=1 November 2024 | pages=33–34}}</ref>}}

==History== Ovazemba and Ovahimba people are native to the area. There are two theories for the origin of the name. Kaure reports that according to Ovazemba oral tradition, the name comes from a local leader named ''Ruhakana'',<ref>{{Cite news | last=Kaure | first=Alexactus T | title=To Recognise or Not: Ovazemba Quest For A Chief | newspaper=The Namibian | date=25 November 2011 | page=1 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/to-recognise-or-not-ovazemba-quest-for-a-chief/}}</ref> while Olivier claims it is derived from {{native name|hz|orua hakahana}}, "hurrying waters".<ref name=Gondwana>{{Cite news | last=Olivier | first=Willie | title=Ruacana – The Hurrying of the Waters | newspaper=The Namibian | date=28 March 2025 | page=13 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/ruacana-the-hurrying-of-the-waters/}}</ref>

Ruacana was developed around the Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station, a major underground hydroelectric plant linked to the nearby dam across the border in Angola at Calueque. In the early 1970s, 27 houses were built for employees of the South West Africa Water and Electricity Commission (now NamWater It was declared a settlement in 1999, granted local government as a village in 2005, and declared a town in 2010.<ref name=Gondwana/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201109070742.html | title=Ruacana unveils new road, hall | last=Shaanika | first=Helvy | date=7 September 2011 | newspaper=New Era | publisher=via allafrica.com | url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The dam and pumping station were bombed in a Cuban airstrike in 1988, during the Angolan Civil War. The facility was partially repaired, and today NamPower operates three turbines producing a maximum of 240 megawatts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=79260&no_cache=1 |title=Ruacana power plant running at full throttle |last=Smit |first=Nico |date=16 March 2011 |work=The Namibian}}</ref>

==Politics== Since 2010, Ruacana has been governed by a town council that has seven seats.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Know Your Local Authority | publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research | newspaper=Election Watch | year = 2015 | issue=3 | page=4}}</ref> The 2015 local authority election was won by SWAPO, which gained six seats and 826 votes. The remaining seat went to the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), which gained 53 votes.<ref>{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | page=6 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | date=28 November 2015 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | archivedate=10 December 2015 }}</ref>

SWAPO also won the 2020 local authority election. It obtained 603 votes and gained five seats. The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, obtained 192 votes and gained the remaining two seats.<ref>{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=13 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>

== Economy and infrastructure == The 1500-acre farm ''Etunda'' is situated near Ruacana. It is run as a government-supported irrigation scheme and was established in 1993. Half of the farm is commercial irrigation land, while the other half is allocated to 82 small-scale farmers. ''Etunda'' cultivates maize, wheat, watermelons, bananas, and other produce.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mawf.gov.na/Programmes/etunda.html |title = Etunda Irrigation Scheme |publisher = Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Government of Namibia |accessdate = 18 February 2012 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309051700/http://www.mawf.gov.na/Programmes/etunda.html |archivedate = 9 March 2012 }}</ref>

The Ruacana Vocational High School is located in Ruacana.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RUACANA VOCITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL|url=http://educatenamibia.com/listing/ruacana-vocitional-high-school/|website=Educate Namibia|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.nampower.com.na/2005/pages/ruacana-specification.asp Ruacana Hydro's technical specs at Namibia Power's website]

Category:Towns in Namibia Category:Populated places in the Omusati Region Category:Angola–Namibia border crossings Category:1999 establishments in Namibia Category:Populated places established in 1999