Bethlehem, Free State

Province

Bethlehem is a town in the municipality Dihlabeng, Thabo Mofutsanyane district, Free State Province in South Africa. It has 76 667 inhabitants (as of 2011; census ) and is located in 1706 meters at the northern foot of the Rooiberg, a promontory of the Drakensberg. Bethlehem is an agricultural center ( wheat, sheep farming ).

The city was founded in 1864 by devout Voortrekkers. It is named after the Hebrew Beit Lehem term ( " house of bread "). The current flowing through the river town was named appropriately to Jordan.

Bethlehem is situated on the railway line from Bloemfontein to Durban and is operated in freight and passenger traffic. Another, operated only in freight transport route leads north towards Johannesburg.

Attractions

• Pretoriuskloof Nature Reserve be seen on the banks of the Jordan, many species of birds
• Wolhuterskop Nature Reserve 4 km, 800 hectares; to see are antelopes, gazelles, birds, 15 km of hiking trails
• National Hot Air Balloon Championship Every year in May / June