Windhoek
Windhoek (/[unsupported input]ˈvɪnt.hʊk/ VINT-huuk; German: Windhuk (help·info)) is the caipital an lairgest ceity in Namibie. It is locatit in central Namibie in the Khomas Highland plateau aurie aroond 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) abuin sea level. It haes an offecial population o 233,529 (accordin tae the hindermaist census), but it is nou beleved tae hae aboot 300,000 indwallers.
Windhoek Windhuk, ǀAiǁGams, | |
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Ceety | |
Coordinates: 22°34′12″S 17°5′1″E / 22.57000°S 17.08361°ECoordinates: 22°34′12″S 17°5′1″E / 22.57000°S 17.08361°E | |
Kintra | Namibie |
Region | Khomas Region |
Established | 18 October 1890 |
Govrenment | |
• Mayor | Agnes Kafula[1] |
• Deputy Mayor | Muezee Kazapua[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 645 km2 (249 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 322,500 |
• Density | 356.6/km2 (924/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (WAST) |
Etymology
eeditIts name comes frae the Dutch "Wind" (wind) an "hoek" (lit: corner, bat an aa place, etc.) "The place whaur winds blaws".
History
eeditThe ceety wis oreeginally foondit bi the native Nama an Herero fowk, wha noted it's het springs. The early Afrikaners sattled thare in the 19t century acause o it's het springs an aw. Thay biggit a kirk thare, an Windhoek stairtit tae come guid. Houaniver, weirs atweesh the Nama an Herero fowk shent the toun. In 1884, it becam pairt o the German Empire, an a German airmy base wis biggit thare. This is conseedered the foondin o the modren Windhoek. Windhoek wis slaw tae develop, wi anerly necessar biggins bein biggit. It wis mainly a smaw fermin toun. Efter 1907, fowk stairtit tae flit tae the ceity frae the landwart, an mony fowk frae Germany an Sooth Africae an aw. Durin Warld War I, Sooth Africae invadit an occupee'd Namibie, an Windhoek. Efter 1955, Windhoek developit verra fest, an it's watter supplee an roads war impruiven. When Namibie unthirled fare Sooth Africae in 1990, it becam the foremaist caipital o the Republic o Namibie.
Notable landmarks
eedit- Christ Church - A Lutheran kirk. Construction on the kirk wis stairtit unner Pastor Wilhelm Anz in Aprile 1896. Efter the end o the wars atween the Germans an the Khoikhoi, Herero, an Ovambo, it wis dedicatit as the Church of Peace in 1910. The Lutheran Kirk, which wis biggit in the gothic revival style wi Art Nouveau elements, staunds in the historic centre o Windhoek. Its 24 m heich spire wis made, lik the rest o the kirk, oot o quartz saundstane. The exception is the portal an the altar, which are made o marble. The colourful stained-glass windaes in the sanctuary wur a gift frae Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kirk is next tae the Parliament Gardens an Tintenpalast.
- St. Mary's Cathedral
- Zoo Park - a public pairk on Independence Avenue in dountoun Windhoek. The current pairk is landscaped an features a pond, childer's playground an open-air theatre.
- Tintenpalast - German for "Ink Palace", is the seat o baith chambers o the Namibian legislature, the Naitional Cooncil an the National Assembly. It is locatit juist north o Robert Mugabe Avenue, ad wis designed bi the airchitect Gottlieb Redecker an biggit bi the company Sander & Kock atween 1912 an 1913 oot o regional materials as an admeenistration biggin for the German govrenment, which colonised Namibie at the time. The biggin is surroondit bi the Parliament Gardens.
- Alte Feste- German for "Auld Fortress". Built in 1890, the day hooses the Naitional Museum
- Supreme Court o Namibie
- The three castles o Windhoek biggit bi airchitect Wilhelm Sander: Heinitzburg, Sanderburg, an Schwerinsburg
- National Library of Namibia
- Windhoek Railway Station
- Holy Cross Convent School - biggit in 1906
- Daan Viljoen Game Reserve -situatit near Windhoek
- Windhoek Public Library - biggit in 1925, next tae the Alte Feste
Sport
eeditThe ceety haes several fitbaa clubs which include African Stars F.C., Black Africa F.C., F.C. Civics Windhoek, Orlando Pirates F.C., Ramblers F.C. an SK Windhoek.
Mony boxers such as Paulus Moses, Paulus Ambunda an Abmerk Shindjuu are frae the ceety.
Cooperation agreements
eeditWindhoek haes cooperation agreements an pairtnerships wi the follaein ceeties an touns:
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See an aw
eeditWikimedia Commons haes media relatit tae Windhoek. |
References
eedit- ↑ a b Jason, Loide (28 November 2012). "Windhoek elects new mayor". New Era. Archived frae the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 5 Mey 2013.
- ↑ Republic of Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census (Basic Analysis with Highlights ed.). Windhoek: Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission. Julie 2003. p. 21. ISBN 0-86976-614-7.