Oil painting of Omatako by Helmut Lewin

The Omatako Mountains (German: Omatakoberge) are two mountains in central Namibia's Otjozondjupa Region, located some 90 km (56 mi) north of Okahandja.[1] Their name in the Herero language literally means "buttocks".[2] Omatako Constituency, where the mountains are situated, derives its name from them.

The northwesterly of the two peaks, the Great Omatako (German: Omatako-Spitze), is 2,300 m (7,500 ft) in height, considerably higher than the other peak. The first European to record the locality was C. J. Andersson in 1851.[3]

Geology

The uppermost 300 m (980 ft) of each Omatako mountain is made of basalt and dolerite respectively; the darker, more spherical southeastern summit is made of dolerite, while the smooth slopes of the higher northwestern summit are made of basalt.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Schneider, Gabi (2004). The roadside geology of Namibia. Gebr. Borntraeger. p. 217. ISBN 9783443150808.
  2. ↑ Cubitt, Gerald; Joyce, Peter (1999). This is Namibia. Struik. p. 16. ISBN 9781859742815.
  3. ↑ Standard encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. NASOU. 1973. p. 329. ISBN 9780625003242.
  4. ↑ Namibia--fascination of Geology: A Travel Handbook. Klaus Hess Publishers. 2000. p. 34. ISBN 9783933117137.

21°12′11″S 16°42′43″E / 21.2031°S 16.7119°E / -21.2031; 16.7119


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