Oranjemund

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Oranjemund (German for: "Orange mouth") is a town situated in the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth. It exists purely to service the diamond industry and has a population of approximately 11,000^{[citation needed]}. However, access is restricted to employees and their relatives, and even though it is a border post to South Africa, only persons with passes are allowed in.^{[citation needed]}

It was first established in 1936 following Hans Merensky's discovery of significant alluvial diamond deposits on the north bank of the Orange River and the adjacent northern coastline^{[citation needed]}. Production of mainly gem-quality diamonds has remained in the region of 2 million carats (400 kg) per year since inception of the mine, mainly through improvements in technology.^{[citation needed]}

The town has every facility imaginable, with beautiful gardens, efficient services and a plentiful supply of fresh food in the shops, in order to keep the employees satisfied in this remote place^{[citation needed]}. It is located in a desert fairyland, with no tourist trade or through roads.^{[citation needed]}

The town's airport (IATA: OMD, ICAO: FYOG) has services operated by Air Namibia going to Cape Town, Lüderitz, Walvis Bay and Windhoek.

[edit] External links

• Oranjemund is at coordinates 28°33′04″S 16°25′37″E / -28.551, 16.427 (Oranjemund)Coordinates: 28°33′04″S 16°25′37″E / -28.551, 16.427 (Oranjemund)

Unofficial Home Page Oranjemund online