# Ruacana > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ruacana > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ruacana.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruacana > Source revision: 1321947374 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Town in northern Namibia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Ruacana | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = [Town](/source/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Namibia) | 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](/source/Regions_of_Namibia) | subdivision_name1 = [Omusati Region](/source/Omusati_Region) | subdivision_type2 = [Constituency](/source/Constituencies_of_Namibia) | subdivision_name2 = [Ruacana Constituency](/source/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 = | 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](/source/South_African_Standard_Time) | 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](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) | blank_info = [BSh](/source/Semi-arid_climate) | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = | official_name = }} '''Ruacana''' is a town in the [Omusati Region](/source/Omusati_Region) of northern [Namibia](/source/Namibia) and the district capital of the [Ruacana electoral constituency](/source/Ruacana_Constituency). It is located on the border with [Angola](/source/Angola) on the river [Kunene](/source/Cunene_River). The town is known for the picturesque [Ruacana Falls](/source/Ruacana_Falls) nearby, and for the [Ruacana Power Station](/source/Ruacana_Power_Station). [Ruacana](/source/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.{{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](/source/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 }} {{Historical populations|2011|2,985|2023|5,939|percentages=pagr|align=none|footnote=Source:{{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](/source/Namibia_Statistics_Agency) | access-date=1 November 2024 | pages=33–34}}}} ==History== [Ovazemba](/source/Zemba_people) and [Ovahimba people](/source/Ovahimba_people) are native to the area. There are two theories for the origin of the name. Kaure reports that according to [Ovazemba](/source/Zemba_people) oral tradition, the name comes from a local leader named ''Ruhakana'',{{Cite news | last=Kaure | first=Alexactus T | title=To Recognise or Not: Ovazemba Quest For A Chief | newspaper=[The Namibian](/source/The_Namibian) | date=25 November 2011 | page=1 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/to-recognise-or-not-ovazemba-quest-for-a-chief/}} while Olivier claims it is derived from {{native name|hz|orua hakahana}}, "hurrying waters".{{Cite news | last=Olivier | first=Willie | title=Ruacana – The Hurrying of the Waters | newspaper=[The Namibian](/source/The_Namibian) | date=28 March 2025 | page=13 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/ruacana-the-hurrying-of-the-waters/}} [Ruacana](/source/Ruacana) was developed around the [Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station](/source/Ruacana_Hydroelectric_Power_Station), a major underground [hydroelectric plant](/source/hydroelectric_plant) linked to the nearby dam across the border in Angola at [Calueque](/source/Calueque). In the early 1970s, 27 houses were built for employees of the South West Africa Water and Electricity Commission (now [NamWater](/source/NamWater) It was declared a settlement in 1999, granted local government as a village in 2005, and declared a town in 2010.{{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](/source/New_Era_(Namibia)) | publisher=via allafrica.com | url-access=subscription}} The dam and pumping station were bombed in a Cuban airstrike in 1988, during the [Angolan Civil War](/source/Angolan_Civil_War). The facility was partially repaired, and today [NamPower](/source/NamPower) operates three [turbine](/source/turbine)s producing a maximum of 240 [megawatts](/source/megawatts).{{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](/source/The_Namibian)}} ==Politics== Since 2010, [Ruacana](/source/Ruacana) has been governed by a town council that has seven seats.{{Cite news | title=Know Your Local Authority | publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research | newspaper=Election Watch | year = 2015 | issue=3 | page=4}} The [2015 local authority election](/source/Namibian_local_and_regional_elections%2C_2015) was won by [SWAPO](/source/SWAPO), which gained six seats and 826 votes. The remaining seat went to the [National Unity Democratic Organisation](/source/National_Unity_Democratic_Organisation) (NUDO), which gained 53 votes.{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=[Electoral Commission of Namibia](/source/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 }} [SWAPO](/source/SWAPO) also won the [2020 local authority election](/source/2020_Namibian_local_and_regional_elections). It obtained 603 votes and gained five seats. The [Independent Patriots for Change](/source/Independent_Patriots_for_Change) (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, obtained 192 votes and gained the remaining two seats.{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=13 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=[Electoral Commission of Namibia](/source/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}} == Economy and infrastructure == The 1500-acre farm ''Etunda'' is situated near [Ruacana](/source/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.{{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](/source/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 }} The [Ruacana](/source/Ruacana) Vocational High School is located in [Ruacana](/source/Ruacana_Hydroelectric_Power_Station).{{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}} ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruacana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruacana) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruacana?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.