Keetmanshoop
Mayor / in: Moses Nicky Titus
Chief Executive Officer: Paul Vleermuis
Last election: 2010
Next election: 2015
Address of the city administration: Private Bag 2125 Keetmanshoop
Geographic coordinates: 26 ° 34 'S, 18 ° 8'O
Height: 1.000m
Keetmanshoop ( " hoop" in Afrikaans means "hope" ) is the capital of the region ǁ Karas Region of Namibia and lies about 500 kilometers south of the capital Windhoek. The place was named after the German merchant and banker Johann Keetman and today - together with the lying before Keetmanshoop Krönlein - 18,900 inhabitants.
- 3.1 municipal
- 5.1 Attractions
Geography
Keetmanshoop is located in the center Südnamibias and in the western foothills of the Kalahari Basin. About 30 kilometers west of the city extend the Boguberge belonging to the Great Escarpment, and by the hills also runs the Fish River. Here is to 2013 the Neckar Valley Dam arise. The eastern surrounding area of the city is largely flat, with only isolated mountain massifs such as the Düsel Dorn ( 1116 meters) or gray cap ( 1022 meters).
Northeast of the city are the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant's Playground.
Boroughs
Keetmanshoop is divided into several districts, including but not
- Krönlein (east of the National Road B1)
- Noordhoek (north of the railway line )
- Tseiblaagte, also recently Hendrik Tseib (south of Krönlein )
- Westdene ( center of town)
Climate
So how much of Südnamibias, Keetmanshoop has an arid climate with only little precipitation.
History
The town's origins date back to colonization by a strain of the Nama end of the 18th century. This was from the other sitting in Hoachanas main stem ( the "Red Nation" ) separately and under his leader Tseib (hence " Tseib'scher tribe" called ) a new grazing area based on the banks of Swartmodder - then " Modderfontein " called. The actual place Keetmanshoop was founded in 1866 as a station of the Rhenish Mission. It was named after the German industrialist Johann Keetman, the fitting out the Mission with the necessary financial means, but has never even visited the place. Thanks to his support the mission grew gradually to a German settlement: The missionary Tobias fennel left in 1888 to build the first school. 1894 a military post in Keetmanshoop was stationed under Lieutenant Bethe. The latter began in the same year with the construction of a fort for the German " protection force ", which was completed in 1898. Later, it had to make way for the local police station, however, again.
Starting from 1895, designed by Wilhelm Sander stone church was built. With its financial commitment Keetman joined the hope (hence the Afrikaans name " Keetmanshoop " ), the resident by the Christianization in Namaland and warring tribes to achieve their pacification.
During the 1960s were, according to the South African policy of apartheid, created residential areas for various ethnic groups in the city, which were strictly separated from each other and are embossed so in part to this day. Here, the residential area Tseiblaagte was named after the local Kaptein Henderik Tseib. Krönlein however, bears the name of an early German missionary, who was active in the area.
In 1994, the former Vicariate Apostolic was raised to the bishopric of Keetmanshoop Keetmanshoop.
Policy
Parish council
In the 2010 local elections the following official result was determined.
Economy and Transport
Keetmanshoop was an important stop for traders from the Cape Province northwards during its inception. Today's National Road B1 between Windhoek and Vioolsdrift builds on this track. In 1908, the existing railway line Windhoek - Keetmanshoop was extended by the Lüderitz Lüderitz railway to the Atlantic Ocean. This Keetmanshoop received a rail link to the Atlantic Ocean and the port of Lüderitz. Only much later, the current national road B4 was created by the diamond restricted to the coast. Today the city is the most important hub of road and rail traffic in southern Namibia and the Republic of South Africa, as well as with the airport Keetmanshoop also a local hub for air traffic.
Keetmanshoop is the economic and administrative center of the Karas region in southern Namibia and is therefore also the capital of the South called. The main economic activities are tourism and the breeding of Karakul sheep. A more extensive agricultural land use in this region is not possible due to the arid climate; Keetmanshoop lies on the edge of both the southern winter rainfall as well as the northern summer rainfall area, which has the consequence that place and region receive no rains frequently over the years. In the long-term average fall here each year only 100-200 mm of rain, so that the drinking water supply of the place can only be ensured by the approximately 50 kilometers away " Naute Dam ".
Culture and sights
As evidence of the founding history of Keetmanshoop still exist some buildings from the period of German colonial rule: Built in 1895 by missionary Tobias fennel granite church of the Rhenish Mission now houses a museum of local history, which gives a detailed overview of the city's history.
The Imperial Post Office from 1910 now houses the tourist information center in the city. Also preserved is the station building from the year 1908. J. Stephen The Stadium is a sports venue.
Attractions
A special tourist attraction is the nearby north-east of Keetmanshoop Quiver Tree Forest ( Afrikaans: Kokerboom Forest). These mostly located on private farms groves of Aloe dichotoma are under protection since 1955. The name refers to the condition of the wood. Since this is easily undermine the peoples of the San and Khoi Khoi from the branches of this tree quiver made for their hunting arrows.
Twinning
Educational institutions
The following schools are in Keetmanshoop:
- Keetmanshoop Primary School
- Krönlein Primary School
- St. Matthias Primary School ( RKK Namibia)
- Don Bosco Catholic Primary School ( RKK Namibia)
- M. Sachs Primary School
- Keetmanshoop Secondary School
- Suiderlig Secondary School
- P. K. de Villiers Secondary School
- J. A. Nel Secondary School
In the city, a new campus of the University of Namibia, scheduled to open in 2014.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Ingeborg Körner ( born 1929 ), German actress
- Gerhard Sandner (1929-2013), German geographer and professor
- Hans -Günther Toetemeyer (* 1930), German politician ( SPD), Member of Parliament, Member of Parliament
- Kaujeua Jackson (1953-2010), Namibian musician
- Virgil Vries (* 1991), Namibian football player
- Lorraine Jossob (* 1994), Namibian football national team