Grootfontein
is a city in Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia. It lies on the B8, a
Namibian National Road that leads
from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip,
in the Otavi triangle. In Afrikaans,
its name means "Big Spring"
- there is indeed a large hot
spring near the town.
Like all the towns
in the Otavi triangle, Grootfontein
is very green in summer but drier
in winter. In spring, jacaranda
and flamboyant trees bloom in
profusion. The town has an old
German Schutztruppe fortress from
the year 1896, which today houses
a museum that expounds on the
local history. The economic mainspring
of the area were for many decades
the Berg Aukas and Abenab mines
to the north east of the town.
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