Prince Albert, Western Cape

Province

The city of Prince Albert ( English) or Prins Albert ( Afrikaans ) is located in the same municipality, district, Central Karoo, Western Cape Province, South Africa, in the Great Karoo. 400 km northeast of Cape Town branches off the R328 from the N1 highway. The city is located 44 km east at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains to the Swartberg Pass. Prince Albert is located 650 meters above sea level, has more than 300 sunny days and an average of only 220 mm of precipitation per year. Today, 7,054 people ( as of 2011). Neighboring towns are Beaufort West (159 kilometers ), Willowmore (134 km) and Oudtshoorn (72 km).

History

Rock paintings are evidence that the San were already established many years ago. The present city is located on a farm that was assigned in 1762 as a fief Zacharias De Beer, orchards, vineyards and wheat fields docked here. By all year assured water supply from the Swartberg mountains, there were abundant crops. Soon the farm for a stopover for travelers who had to recover from their strenuous rides through the Karoo was. Until 1842 it was known as Albert Mountain. 1842 Dutch Reformed Church congregation was established in the city. In the same year was renamed the place to Prince Albert, after Queen Victoria's husband of Britain, Prince Albert of Saxe- Coburg and Gotha. 1881 construction began on the Swartberg Pass, which was completed in 1886 by Thomas Baine. 1891 there was a gold discovery by a shepherd. A brief gold rush began, which was however quickly ended after 504 oz. 1901 Prince Albert received a city charter.