Bloemfontein
|
|
Bloemfontein (Afrikaans for "fountain of flowers") is one of South Africa's three capital cities, along with Pretoria and Cape Town. Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital, as well as the capital of the Free State province. The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "the place where cheetahs dwell".
The city is situated on dry grassland at Template:Coor d, at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the greater Mangaung municipality has a population of 645,455. Bloemfontein is served by Bloemfontein Airport.
History
Historically an Afrikaner settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846, and served from 1854 to 1902 as the capital of the Orange Free State.
A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town.
In 1899, the city was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War.
J. R. R. Tolkien was born in the city on January 3 1892.
On March 13, 1900 during the Anglo-Boer War, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp here during the to house Boer women and children. The 28,000 women and children who died in this camp are paid homage by the National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city.
Suburbs
Bloemfontein suburbs include Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, Fauna, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Langenhovenpark, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas, Westdene, Wifgehof and Willows to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Arboretum, Bays Valley, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar, Helicon Hights, Heuwelsig, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park and Waverley.
External links
- Bloemfontein (http://www.bloemfontein.co.za) The Official Mangaung Local Municipality Website
- Bloemonline (http://www.bloemonline.co.za) The Bloemfontein Business Guide
- Additional information about Bloemfontein Airport (http://www.people.frenet.de/copilot/Flughafen-eng.htm)
Template:South Africa Provincial Capitals Template:SA-geo-stubaf:Bloemfontein de:Bloemfontein es:Bloemfontein fr:Bloemfontein id:Bloemfontein it:Bloemfontein lt:Blumfonteinas nl:Bloemfontein no:Bloemfontein pl:Bloemfontein pt:Bloemfontein fi:Bloemfontein sv:Bloemfontein