Ottosdal

Ottosdal is named after the Otto family who owned the farm, Korannafontein, on which it was built.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Ottosdal is a small settlement on the R507 between Klerksdorp and Migdol and on the R505 between Wolmaranstad and Lichtenburg.

Architecture

An Old Water Mill, built around 1860, is a national monument.

San rock art

San rock art can be viewed in the area. This includes engravings (petrographs) of rhino, elephant, lions, buffalo, baboons and giraffes.

Anglo-Boer War

There are trenches and cemeteries from the Anglo-Boer War era (1899-1902) on the farms Gestoptefontein and Driekuil, as well as a British Fort. The headquarters of the British Major General Walter Kitchener, can still be seen.

Frederick Walter Kitchener (26 May 1858 - 6 March 1912)

Garden of Remembrance is in honor of British soldiers killed during the Anglo-Boer War.

Baberspan Bird Sanctuary

The Baberspan Bird Sanctuary is a RAMSAR Convention-accredited wetland of international importance for migratory birds and waterfowl. Altogether 365 species have been recorded. Large numbers of migrants birds use the pans as a stop-over. Barberspan is about 70Km west of Ottosdal.

Ottosdal Spheres

About 200 of these small spheres, ranging from from 0.5cm to 10cm in diameter have been found near Ottosdal. They consist of Pyrophyllite (see mining below), a kind of metamorphosed clay. They have been dated to being about 2.8 billion years old, and were most likely formed by natural processes, such as volcanic activity. Some paranormal thinkers propose they could not have been the result of natural processes, and have created weird and wonderful alternative theories about prehistoric civilisations who supposedly made these objects.

The spheres are not metallic, but consist of hematite (Fe2O3), wollastonite (CaSiO3), goethite (FeOOH), pyrite (FeS2).

Events

Ottosdal Draf n Trap

21.1km and 42.2km, 40Km off road, Road cycle.

Night Marathon

Things to do

Sport

Tennis, golf, snooker, squash, swimming, rugby, karate, trim gym, hiking, pigeon clubs, angling.

History

Gerhardus Petrus Otto owned a farm Korannafontein (earlier known as Korans Fontyn) in the late 1800s.The location of the farm was first inhabited by the !Korana people. The farm was registered as long ago as 1859. The second owner of the farm, an Englishman Adrian Brill, was married to a Griqua woman.

In 1889 Otto offered a 99-year lease to Samuel Summer, who started the first shop in the area. By the time of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) several houses were already built around the shop.

On 31 March 1901 the Battle of Boschbult took place about 30 kilometers from Ottosdal.

The proper town Ottosdal was eventually laid out in 1913 as a church centre.

The town was proclaimed in 1918.

Siener van Rensburg

Siener van Rensburg (Nicolaas Pieter Johannes called Niklaas Janse van Rensburg) was born in the Potchefstroom district on 30 August 1862, but settled on the farm Rietkuil between Ottosdal and Wolmaranstad as a young adult.

He was a soothsayer or prophet of the Boer people, and it is claimed that many of his prophesies came true. Even today there is a following of Siener, which means Seer, and it is claimed that some of his prophesies have yet to be fulfilled.

He died 11 March 1926.

Climate

Today's Weather Report for Ottosdal

Average annual rainfall: 550 mm

Economy

Farming: Maize, sunflower, ground-nuts. Cattle, sheep, pigs, chicken

Mining: - Pyrophyllite mine, 8Km north of Ottosdal. Wonderstone (or African Stone), the common name for pyrophyllite, which is a kind of metamorphosed clay, is found here. It is a kind of slate which can be used for sculptures and worked into strips as thin as 2mm thin It is used for insulation in spacecraft.

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