Omatako Dam

Omatako Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It is named after the Omatako Mountains, and it dams the ephemeral Omatako River, with Omatako meaning "butt" in Oshiwambo, the name referring to the shape of the Omatako Mountains.[1] The dam has a capacity of 43.49 million cubic metres (56,880,000 cu yd).[2]

Omatako Dam
Location of Omatako Dam in Namibia
Official name	Omatako Dam
Country	Namibia
Location	100 km (62 mi) north of Okahandja, Otjozondjupa Region
Coordinates	21°8′53.87″S 17°10′40.57″E
Construction began	1978
Opening date	1981
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Earth fill embankment
Impounds	Omatako River
Height	16 m (52 ft)
Length	3,460 m (11,350 ft)
Width (crest)	5 m (16 ft)
Spillway type	Side chute
Spillway capacity	2,000 cubic metres per second (71,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	43.49 million cubic metres (56,880,000 cu yd)
Surface area	11.12 km2 (1,112 ha)

Completed in 1981, it was originally envisaged to become part of the Eastern National Water Carrier, a scheme to supply water to Namibia's capital Windhoek from the Okavango River, 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) to the north on the Angolan border.[3] The scheme was never completed. Omatako Dam today only contains floods and supplies water to the Von Bach Dam.[2][4] As such, it is one of three dams supplying the capital Windhoek with water.[5]