Bloemfontein

Related Topics:
Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein (IPA: , Dutch for "flower fountain") 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". Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses" due to the abundance of these flowers and an annual rose festival is held here.

The city is situated on dry grassland at , at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local 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 to house Boer women and children. The 45,000 women and children (including up to 17,000 black people) who died in these camps are paid homage by the National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city.

The South African National Congress (ANC - the now ruling party) was founded to defend the rights of the black majority on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein, and counted John Dube (its first president) and poet and author Sol Plaatje among its founder members.

Geography & Climate

Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the Highveld at an elevation of 1400m, bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo. The area is generally flat with occational hills (koppies: Afrikaans) and the general vegetation is Highveld grassland. Due to its high elevation and distance from the sea, Bloemfontein experiences a continental climate with hot summer days (Jan: max:31ºC min:15ºC) with afternoon thunderstorms and cold, dry winters, often with severe frost (Jul: max:17ºC min:-2ºC).

Suburbs

Bloemfontein suburbs include Bayswater, Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, Fauna, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas, Westdene, Wifgehof and Willows to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park and Waverley.

2010 World Cup

Some of the matches of the Football World Cup 2010 will be played at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium. The local training venues are:

Education

Bloemfontein is the seat of University of the Free State as well as the Central University of Technology

There are also several high schools (secondary schools) in the city, these include:

Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Fichhardtpark
Technical High School Louis Botha,
Hoërskool Jim Fouché
Hoërskool Sand du Plessis
St. Andrew's School
St. Michael's School
Sentraal High School (Hoërskool Sentraal), located in the suburb of Dan Pienaar
Oranje Meisieskool.

The most famous schools are Grey College and Eunice Girls High School which are situated alongside each other.

Recreational

Bloemfontein has an excellent Motocross track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club.

You can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.