History

The Portuguese sailor Bartolomeu Diaz landed 1487 as first Europeans in the neighbouring more southern bay. Before it further-applies, it established traditionally a stone cross with coats of arms to (Diaz POINT). The original cross was strongly eroded and 1929 by a copied cross was replaced. Nearly unrecognizable the original become is issued in the museum in Capetown.

That of Bremen tobacconist Adolf load-cut landed 1883 into the Angra Pequena bay (late loading cutting bay). By its coworker and partner Heinrich bird-sang discussed it to the Orlam chieftain Josef Frederiks approx. 300 km long and 150 km a deep land piece, in order to establish on it a commercial post. The chieftain received 100 gold Pound as well as 250 rifles. Load-cut acquired as worthlessly outstanding country, because it expected to find here Its extensive and very expensive search for it however remained unsuccessful. Load-cut came into economic distress and had his extensive Landbesitz 1885 to the German colonization and administration company for colonies for southwest Africa to sell. A very modest ascent experienced the small place load-cut only 1904 with the stationing here of the colonial force soldiers necessary in the fight against the insurgent Nama (Namakrieg). In this time was the city for before the coast on the shark fish island of established concentration camp admits been. Here in the Namakrieg catches taken Orlam and Nama with their families interned. From approximately 2,000 survived, due to the there dominant hygenic and weather conditions, only approx. 450 master member arrested that. The camp was only closed on energetic urge of the German mission acres active in the country and shifted in the interior.

Only for a long time after the death of load-cut - it remained verschollen since 1886 on an investigation route to the Oranje - 1908 in the area diamond were discovered, what led to a brief boom. With the building of a narrow-gauge railway the black worker Zacharias Lewela discovered a diamond, when he was busy straight section blown with shovel work in one of dunes. It brought it to the course master August tosses, which together with upper engineer Nissen thereupon acquired the prospecting licenses in this area, which made both millionaires. The actual Finder did not get anything. In the future developed load-cut to a flourishing commercial port. To that increasingly industrially operated diamond dismantling, those with it in the country flowing luck knight and building of the diamond settlement Kolmanskuppe brought also for load-cut a steep ascent to one expressed wealthy city with itself.

Starting from 1920 however lost load-cut at meaning, since profitable diamond dismantling had continued to shift ever to the south. And in their surrounding field some boat shipyards were established a modest fishing industry. Far still some smaller Teppichwebereien existed, because in the south of German southwest the sheep breed with some success was operated. But otherwise load-cuts nothing had to offer, which could here have held the inhabitants, so that a similar fate seemed to threaten the once as wealthy city as Kolmanskuppe.

With the discovery of Erdgasvorkommen before the coast (Kudu natural gas field) end 20. Century germinated however new hopes for load-cut. The moreover economic using seized with load-cut into large quantities of washed ashore driving property into the eye: Sea-grass; from this very desired excerpts for the food and Kosmetikindustrie can be won. In addition at the same time a promising oyster breed settled itself on in load-cuts. On the occasion of the 100-Jahr-Feier of the place 1983 the numerous, well, were restored received buildings from the colonial age so that load-cut also optically won and again was able to attract tourists. The out and new building of the port did a remaining, so that with the jobs also young humans came into the place. In the year 2000 opened tourist center "„Waterfront"” is a further indication of after load-cuts returning optimism and lets for the future again hope.

Population and economics

The total population of load-cut from approx. 2,000 inhabitants into the 1970er year on nevertheless approx. 5,800 in the year 2001 more than doubled itself.

Although still diamonds are diminished "„offshore"” direction Oranjemund, the economy concentrates on fishing and tourism. Particularly the catch of Langusten, which are exported among other things to Spain and Japan, has a certain meaning. However had, due to substantial overfishing of waters by foreign catch fleets, which are decreased catch quotas. Germany supports Namibia, by making a monitoring ship available in this situation.

To reach again worth seeing the city become is by airplane (starting from Windhoek or Capetown), or by car. The tar route, which crosses the diamond restricted area which was because of the coast, fatigued over long distances, but becomes about 120 km forwards load-cuts - with the small place out be worth-worth, because one can see here, with something luck, on the left the sagenumwobenen desert horses to the road.

A special can the driver after fast travel on this tar route experience, with which usually a strong transverse wind drives the near the surface over the road - its front characteristic, possibly also the headlight sight glas, is gesandstrahlt, thus no longer readably and/or the glasses is milchig aufgeraut.

Objects of interest

Large parts of the city are received in German art nouveau of the wilhelminischen Kaiser era. Among the most important buildings rank:

• the Goerke house (1909-1911), which in former times the seat of municipal authorities was, it originally as palace for the expected attendance of the Crown Prince one built
• the cape HP hotel (Kapps concert and ballroom)
• those lutherisch Evangelist rock church (1912) with the Diamatenberg lying behind
• the Woermannhaus of the shipping company of the same name in the port route

In addition worth seeing into load-cut is the small museum with exhibits to the history of the city and that animal and Pfanzenwelt in the environment and those approx. 10 km outside of lying spirit city Kolmanskuppe, which around 1910 for some weeks, owing to enrich diamond occurrence, which was wealthiest city of the world. A further - natural - object of interest is the bizarre coastal situation of the city (worth seeing are among other things the "“large bay"” as well as the shark fish island and the landscape round around "„the Diaz POINT"”.

Most taverns close very timely. The hotel to the restricted area contains the only tavern, which opened to midnight. Here one speaks mostly German.

Literature

• Cosmos nature travel guide - southern Africa, T. Barlow and W. Wisniewski, Frankh cosmos, 1998 ISBN 3-440-07665-2

Related links

• Web operational readiness level: http://www.namibia-info.net/suednamibia/luederitz.html

Articles in category "Load-cut (Namibia)"

We found here 5 articles.