| Maclear | |
| Other Name: | Nqanqarhu |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -31.07°N 28.35°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Eastern Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Joe Gqabi |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Elundini |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 9.2 |
| Elevation M: | 1272 |
| Population Total: | 10521 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 93.1% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 4.3% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.2% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 2.0% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 88.3% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 5.1% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 2.7% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 2.1% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 1.8% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 5480 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 5480 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 045 |
| Website: | http://www.maclear.co.za/ |
Maclear, officially Nqanqarhu,[2] is a small town situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, near the Mooi River (a tributary of the Tsitsa River), north of East London and northeast of Elliot.
It lies just north-east of Ugie. The land to the east and south was part of the former homeland of Transkei.
It was founded in 1876 as a military camp, called Nqanqaru Drift and developed rapidly, reaching municipal status in 1916. It is named after Sir Thomas Maclear (1794-1879), a famous astronomer who laid the foundation for a trigonometrical survey of the Cape Colony.
In 2021, the town was renamed Nqanqarhu.[3]
Maclear is a trout-fishing resort.[4]
Maclear lies between Mount Fletcher and Ugie, in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, and at the intersection between the R56 and R396 roads.[5] [6]