KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu -Natal (Natal on the second syllable stressed ) is a province on the east coast of South Africa. It is bordered to the north by Swaziland, Mozambique and Mpumalanga, on the south by the Eastern Cape, on the west by Lesotho and the Free State and to the east by the Indian Ocean. The province was created in 1994 from the merger of the former KwaZulu homeland and the former province of Natal. It includes the traditional settlement area of ​​the Zulu and is the only province that bears the name of an ethnic group in their name.

Geography

KwaZulu -Natal province of South Africa called the Garden. The landscape can be divided into three zones: shallow coastal areas, hilly plains in the domestic as well as two mountain zones: the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Limpopo mountains in the north. The climate is generally hot and humid, but in the higher inland it can be very dry and very cold in winter. In the coastal strip previously were tropical forests - today sugar cane is planted here frequently. In this climate, but also thrive, many tropical fruits such as banana, mango, lychee, pineapple and guava.

The sandy beaches on the north coast (north of Durban ) and on the south coast (south of Durban ), with its warm waters are popular holiday destinations for many citizens and foreigners.

Districts

The province is divided into the following districts:

  • Amajuba
  • eThekwini
  • Ilembe
  • Sisonke
  • Ugu
  • UMgungundlovu
  • Umkhanyakude
  • Umzinyathi
  • Uthukela
  • Uthungulu
  • Zululand

Cities

  • Durban was originally called Port Natal, and was already, as the Boers in 1838 came to Natal. Later, the city was renamed after the British Governor d' Urban. Today, Durban is with 2 million inhabitants, the largest city in KwaZulu- Natal. Within lie Kloof and Hillcrest.
  • Pietermaritzburg was founded in 1838 by the Boers as the capital of their republic Natalia. From 1994 to 2004, she shared the title of the provincial capital with the traditional capital of Ulundi Zululand.

More cities are Newcastle, Dundee, Vryheid (Freedom) and Hluhluwe in the north of the province, Port Shepstone and Kokstad in the south.

Population

The majority of the population account for the Zulu. They speak isiZulu, a Bantu language. The tribes that lived in the area of today's province, were united into one nation in the 19th century by the Zulu king Shaka.

Although the Republic of Natalia was founded by Boer, now outweighs the English influence in KwaZulu -Natal. The Boers moved further into the country, after the United Kingdom of Natal had been annexed in 1842. From that time many British immigrants settled in this fertile area.

In the 19th century, many Indians were brought as laborers for the sugar plantations in South Africa, but moved mostly in the cities. They represent the majority of the Hindus in South Africa, but there are also many Muslims among them. Durban should be the city with the largest ethnic Indian population outside of the Indian subcontinent.

It also German immigrants settled in what is now KwaZulu -Natal. In the area around Wartburg, Harburg and Hermannsburg still live German -speaking South Africans.

Parks and Nature Reserves

National Parks

  • ISimangaliso Wetland Park ( World Heritage Site )
  • Royal Natal National Park
  • UKhahlamba -Drakensberg Park (World Heritage Site )
  • Hluhluwe- Umfolozi Park

Nature Reserves

  • Albert Falls Nature Reserve
  • Amatigulu nature reserve
  • Cobham Nature Reserve
  • Coleford Nature Reserve
  • Craigie Burn Nature Reserve
  • Didyma Conservation Area
  • Dr Alden Lloyd nature reserve
  • Dragon Peaks Nature Reserve
  • Enseleni nature reserve
  • Entumeni nature reserve
  • Garden Castle Nature Reserve
  • Harold Johnson Nature Reserve
  • Hazelmere Nature Reserve
  • Highmoor Wilderness Reserve
  • Himeville Nature Reserve
  • Impofana nature reserve
  • Itala Nature Reserve
  • Kamberg Nature Reserve
  • Karkloof Nature Reserve
  • Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
  • Kranskloof nature reserve
  • Eteza Lake Nature Reserve
  • Loteni nature reserve
  • Malekgonyane Wildlife Reserve
  • Mapelane nature reserve
  • Mdedelelo Wilderness Area
  • Midmar Nature Reserve
  • Mihobi nature reserve
  • Mkomazi Nature Reserve
  • Mount Currie Nature Reserve
  • Mzimkhulu Wilderness Area
  • Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
  • Pongolapoort nature reserve
  • Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve
  • Richards Bay Nature Reserve
  • Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve
  • St Lucia Marine Reserve
  • Tembe Elephant Reserve
  • The Swamp Nature Reserve
  • Tugela Drift Nature Reserve
  • Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve
  • Umlalazi nature reserve
  • Umtamvuna nature reserve
  • Vergelegen Nature Reserve
  • Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
  • Wagendrift nature reserve
  • Weenen Nature Reserve
  • Wilfred Bauer Nature Reserve

Economy

In Dundee and Newcastle coal deposits exist, whose mines supply their products to the coal terminal to Richards Bay. In the north at Pongola there are gold deposits, which are of only minor importance. Furthermore, heavy mineral sands are produced in coastal areas and types of natural stone in different places.

A regional economic center of gravity makes the port area of ​​Richards Bay and the surrounding industrial sites.

493213
de