Gaborone

District

Gaborone ( until 1969 Gaberones ) is the capital of the State of Botswana in southern Africa. It has 236 992 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2010), making it the largest city in the country.

Geography

Gaborone is located in southeastern Botswana Notwane the river and is the capital of the South - East District. The city is located at 1,000 meters above sea level. In the southwest of Gaborone, the 1,287 meter high Kgale Hills lie. Otherwise, the landscape around Gaborone is largely flat.

The city center is designed as a half circle, with the government district is the center, radiating roads lead from the from the east. The Mall, a large-scale pedestrian zone, forms the main axis. Besides the city, which has about one-third of the city area, there are the districts of Gaborone West in the West, Broadhurst North in the North Broadhurst South and south of Village in the southeast. To the south lies the Gaborone Dam, a reservoir of Notwane.

At times, the town was considered as one of the fastest growing cities of the earth.

History

The city was founded in 1890 by Chief Kgosi Gaborone. Of the British colonial authorities in the city Gaberones was called. In 1965 the seat of government of the then Bechuanaland from Mafikeng in South Africa (today Mahikeng ) moved to Gaberones. Thus, the expansion of the city, which then had only about 1,000 inhabitants began. In 1966, the then Gaberones capital of the newly independent Botswana. In 1969, the city was renamed in Gaborone.

In the 1980s, several raids by the South African army took place on exiled members of the ANC. In this case, 15 people died.

Attractions

Other attractions in Gaborone Founded in 1968, the National Museum is a Art Gallery. There ethnographic and archaeological exhibits Botswana are shown and exhibited works of contemporary artists.

Economy and infrastructure

The function as the capital of an economically successful country cared for economic growth.

Gaborone is the headquarters of the University of Botswana, which was founded in 1982. It is the only university in the country. The Gaborone campus is located between the city center and the suburb Village.

The Southern African Development Community (Southern Africa Development Community, SADC) has its headquarters in Gaborone. This organization was founded in 1980 to promote economic cooperation between Member States and reduce dependence on South Africa. After the end of apartheid in that country South Africa is also a member of the Community.

As far the only car manufacturer companies Swedish Motor Corporation and The Motor Company of Botswana was established in the city in the 1990s.

Traffic

Gaborone is situated on the railway line from Cape Town to Harare. The passenger in Botswana, however, was set in 2009. North of town is the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Highways run parallel to the railway line north to Francistown and Lobatse south direction and Mahikeng. Other major roads lead to Zeerust in South Africa and after Molepolole and in the Kalahari.

Sports

The Notwane FC is a successful football club from Gaborone, which already has several times qualify for African Cup competitions. He wears his games at the 22,500 -seat National Stadium from ( " National Stadium ").

Twinning

Others

A series of detective novels of the Scotsman Alexander McCall Smith that have been translated into German, playing in Gaborone. They were filmed as a television series. The focus is on the first fictional private detective in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe Precious.