Port Elizabeth
Province
Port Elizabeth ( Xhosa: Ibhayi ) (in short PE) is the fifth largest city of the Republic of South Africa, with around 737 600 inhabitants in the city proper and about 1.2449 million inhabitants in the agglomeration (as of 2005 ) is the largest city in the Eastern Cape Province. The cities of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch form Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality District since 2001 ( Afrikaans: Nelson Mandela Baai ).
Geography
The city lies on the Indian Ocean at Algoa Bay, 770 kilometers east of Cape Town and between zero and 60 meters above sea level. It extends over 16 kilometers along the coast. Well known are the expansive white sand beaches, such as Kings, Humewood, Hobie and Pollock, situated partly in the middle of the city. The city is in South Africa ( The windy city), as well as " The Friendly City" both " The Windy City" ( The friendly city).
Traffic
Port Elizabeth lies on the N2 national road, the via Durban to Ermelo more or less follows the coastline of Cape Town, and is connected to the South African rail network.
Port Elizabeth airport was modernized in 2004 and expanded to handle up to two million passengers a year can. It is called a " 10 - minute -Airport ", as it should be accessible from most points of the city in a few minutes.
The city is connected to the national railway network with Cape Town and Johannesburg. Metrorail operates on the route towards Bloemfontein to Swartkops Uitenhage and from there to a local operation. A second line after Motherwell and in the industrial area of Coega is planned. Port Elizabeth is also the starting point of the 285 km long Avontuur Railway, a narrow-gauge train to Avontuur.
History
The area around present-day Port Elizabeth was originally inhabited by the Khoikhoi, which operated there grazing. The Portuguese navigator, explorer and adventurer Bartolomeu Diaz landed probably the first Europeans in 1488 east of the present town and erected at the landing a stone cross. This was found mid-19th century and is now in a museum in Johannesburg. A copy of the Cross was erected in the city center. Many centuries the bay just as a supply station for water, food and wood. Almost all major European commercial fleet came by here on their way from Europe to Asia or on the return journey.
In 1799 the place of British soldiers to the stone Fort Frederick was extended as a protection against a possible attack by the French. The fort is the oldest stone building in today's Eastern Cape Province and was named after the then Duke of York. In 1820, the city of Port Elizabeth was founded by Sir Rufane Donkin, the Acting Governor of the Cape Colony. He named the small settlement at the harbor after his early deceased wife, Elizabeth. After the arrival of 4,000 British emigrants way, the town quickly became a center of trade. 1861 Port Elizabeth received the status of an autonomous municipality.
In 2001, Port Elizabeth was merged together with Uitenhage and Despatch Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality for.
Economy
The Port of Port Elizabeth is the economic center of the province and the third largest port of South Africa. A second seaport, which was begun in 2003, is about 20 kilometers north of the city since 2009 at Coega in operation.
The region around Port Elizabeth is also focus on the South African automotive industry and is called " Detroit of South Africa " also. 37 km away is the town of Uitenhage in the work of the Volkswagen Group, with around 6,500 employees, the largest in all of Africa. In addition to VW also General Motors, Ford, Continental, Johnson & Johnson and several other manufacturers and suppliers have settled in the area. Hi- Tech Automotive & Superformance and Perana Performance Group have their headquarters in the region of Port Elizabeth. The most important car manufacturers in the city is General Motors since the creation of the brand GM Ranger in the 1960s. Since the demise of the Ranger brand vehicles from Chevrolet and Opel there be mounted. For the industrial landscape of the city include the numerous mills.
With its rich water sports Port Elizabeth each year attracts numerous tourists from home and abroad. In March / April addition of the Ironman South Africa takes place in the Nelson Mandela Bay annually.
Education
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University ( NMMU ) was formed in 2005 through the merger of the University of Port Elizabeth and the Port Elizabeth Technikon. It is the largest university in the Eastern Cape. Approximately 25,000 students are enrolled there.
The NMMU has seven faculties: Arts, Business and Economic Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law and Science.
Culture and sights
- Campanile: 53 m high observation tower with a panoramic view over the city, built in 1923
- Donkin Reserve: Small park with views of the city in which reminds a stone pyramid at Elizabeth Donkin. The lighthouse was built in 1861.
- Jewish Pioneer 's Memorial Museum: A museum about Jewish life in the city and its region in a former synagogue
- Market Square and City Hall: Built in 1885, " City Hall " was rebuilt after a fire in 1977. Today there is a known flea market.
- Oceanarium and Museum: A larger complex with an oceanarium and reptile house, and scientific exhibitions.
- The Boardwalk Casino & Entertainment World: Great leisure facilities with numerous international restaurants, cinemas, shops and a casino.
- Greenacres Shopping Centre: Port Elizabeth's biggest shopping mall in the Green Acres area.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Dudu Pukwana (1938-1990), jazz musician
- Danny Williams (1942-2005), singer
- Elizabeth Connell (1946-2012), opera singer
- Wayne Taylor ( born 1956 ), race car driver
- Zim Ngqawana (1959-2011), jazz musician
- Siphiwo Ntshebe (1974-2010), opera singer
- Alex van Heerden (1974-2009), jazz musician
- Jeanne Nell (1983-2014), racing cyclist