Eastern Cape
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Wild Coast Region, Eastern Cape : "Wild Coast" link correction
{{Eastern Cape infobox}}
The '''Eastern Cape''' is a [[Provinces of South Africa|province]] of [[South Africa]]. Its capital is [[Bhisho]]. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" homelands of [[Transkei]] and [[Ciskei]], as well as the eastern portion of the [[Cape Province]].Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers. It is partly the traditional home of the [[Xhosa]], and the birthplace of many prominent South Africans, such as [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Thabo Mbeki]], [[Steve Biko]] and [[Charles Coghlan]].
==Law and Government==
{{main|Politics of Eastern Cape}}
The current premier of Eastern Cape province is [[Nosimo Balindlela]] of the [[African National Congress]].
== Geography ==
:''See also [[List of cities and towns in the Eastern Cape]]''
The Eastern Cape gets progressively wetter from west to east. The west is mostly semi-arid [[Karoo]], except in the far south, which is temperate rainforest in the Tsitsikamma region. The coast is generally rugged with interspersed beaches. Most of the province is hilly to very mountainous between [[Graaff-Reinet]] and Rhodes including the [[Sneeuberge]] (Afrikaans: Snow Mountains), Stormberge, Winterberge and [[Drakensberg]] (Afrikaans: Dragon Mountains). The highest point in the province is [[Ben Macdhui (South Africa)|Ben Macdhui]] at 3001m. The east from [[East London, South Africa|East London]] towards the [[Kwa-Zulu Natal]] border is lush grassland with intermittent forest. This region, [[Transkei]], is rolling hills punctuated by deep gorges.
Eastern Cape has a [[coast|shoreline]] in the south on the [[Indian Ocean|South Indian Ocean]]. In the northeast, it borders the following [[districts of Lesotho|districts]] of [[Lesotho]]:
*[[Mohale's Hoek District|Mohale's Hoek]] - west of Quthing
*[[Quthing District|Quthing]] - between Mohale and Qacha's Nek
*[[Qacha's Nek District|Qacha's Nek]] - east of Quthing
Domestically, it borders the following provinces:
*[[Western Cape]] - west
*[[Northern Cape]] - northwest
*[[Free State]] - north
*[[KwaZulu-Natal]] - far northeast
== Climate ==
Climate is highly varied. The west is dry with scarse rain during winter of summer, with frosty winters and hot summers. The Tsitsikamma to Grahamstown receives more precipitation, which is also relatively evenly distributed and temperatures are mild. Further east, rainfall becomes more plentiful and humidity increases, becoming more subtropical along the coast with summer rainfall. The interior can become very cold in winter, with heavy snowfalls occurring at times in the mountainous regions between Molteno and Rhodes.
*Port Elizabeth: Jan Max: 25ºC, Min: 18ºC; Jul Max: 20ºC, Min: 9ºC
*Molteno & Barkly East: Jan Max 28ºC, Min 11ºC; Jul Max: 14ºC, Min: -7ºC
== Tourism ==
[[Image:Aloe Ferox between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.jpg|right|350px|thumb|[[Aloe Ferox]] on the R61 route between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.]]
The landscape is extremely diverse. The western interior is largely arid [[Karoo]], while the east is well-watered and green. The Eastern Cape offers a wide array of attractions, including 800 km of untouched and pristine coastline along with some particularly splendid beaches, and "[[Big Five Game|big-five]]" viewing in a [[malaria]]-free environment.
The [[Addo Elephant National Park]], situated 73 km from [[Port Elizabeth]], was proclaimed in 1931. Its 743 km² offers sanctuary to 170 elephants, the last [[Cape buffalo]] and 21 [[black rhino]] of the very scarce [[Kenya]]n sub-species.
The province is the location of South Africa's only ski resort, [[Tiffindell]], which is situated near the hamlet of [[Rhodes, Eastern Cape |Rhodes]] in the Southern [[Drakensberg]] on the slopes of the highest mountain peak in the Eastern Cape (3001 m).
The National Arts Festival, held in [[Grahamstown]] is Africa's largest and most colourful cultural event, offering a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. Every year for 11 days the town's population almost doubles, as over 50,000 people flock to the region for a feast of arts, crafts and sheer entertainment.
The [[Tsitsikamma National Park]] is an 80 km long coastal strip between Nature's Valley and the mouth of the [[Storms River]]. In the park the visitor finds an almost untouched natural landscape. Near the park is the Bloukrans Bridge, which is the world's highest bungee jump.
[[Jeffreys Bay]] is an area with some of the country's wildest coastline, which is backed by some of Africa's most spectacular sub-tropical rainforest. Famous for its "supertubes", probably South Africa's longest and most consistently good wave, it's charged with a surf vibe as relaxed as it is friendly, and this tends to soften the effect of the wealthy set who have made this part of the coast their own.
[[Aliwal North]], lying on a splendid agricultural plateau on the southern bank of the [[Orange River]], is one of the country's most popular inland resorts and is famous for its hot springs.
The rugged and unspoilt [[Wild Coast Region, Eastern Cape|Wild Coast]] is a place of spectacular scenery, and a graveyard for many vessels.
== Economy ==
The Eastern Cape remains one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. This is largely due to the extreme poverty found in the former homelands, where subsistence agriculture predominates. The two major industrial centres, [[Port Elizabeth]] and [[East London, South Africa|East London]] have well-developed economies, based on the automotive industry. [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] and [[Volkswagen]] both have major assembly lines in the Port Elizabeth area, while East London is dominated by the large [[DaimlerChrysler]] plant. The largest construction project in Africa is currently underway at [[Coega]], about 20 km north of Port Elizabeth, where a new harbour is being built. It is expected that this development will give the province a major economic boost. [[Image:ZA Eastern Cape language.gif|thumb|200px|Map showing predominant [[Languages of South Africa|home languages]] in the province.]]
== Formation ==
The Eastern Cape as a South African Province came into being in 1994 and incorporated areas from the former homelands of the [[Transkei]] and [[Ciskei]] as well as what was then the Cape Province. This resulted in several anomalies including the fact that the Province has four superior courts (at Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Bhisho and Mthatha) and enclaves of Kwa-Zulu Natal in the province. The later anomaly has fallen away with the amendments to municipal and provincial boundaries.
== Municipalities ==
The Eastern Cape Province is divided into 46 municipalities:
*[[Aberdeen Plain Municipality, Eastern Cape|Aberdeen Plain Municipality]]
*[[Alfred Nzo Municipality, Eastern Cape|Alfred Nzo Municipality]]
*[[Amahlathi Municipality, Eastern Cape|Amahlathi Municipality]], is seated at [[Stutterheim]]
*[[Amatole Municipality, Eastern Cape|Amatole Municipality]]
*[[Baviaans Municipality, Eastern Cape|Baviaans Municipality]]
*[[Blue Crane Route Municipality, Eastern Cape|Blue Crane Route Municipality]]
*[[Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape|Buffalo City Municipality]] (East London, Bhisho and King William's Town)
*[[Cacadu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Cacadu Municipality]]
*[[Camdeboo Municipality, Eastern Cape|Camdeboo Municipality]]
*[[Chris Hani Municipality, Eastern Cape|Chris Hani Municipality]]
*[[Elundini Municipality, Eastern Cape|Elundini Municipality]]
*[[Emalahleni Municipality, Eastern Cape|Emalahleni Municipality]]
*[[Ngcobo Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ngcobo Municipality]]
*[[Gariep Municipality, Eastern Cape|Gariep Municipality]]
*[[Great Kei Municipality, Eastern Cape|Great Kei Municipality]]
*[[Ikwezi Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ikwezi Municipality]]
*[[Inkwanca Municipality, Eastern Cape|Inkwanca Municipality]]
*[[Intsika Yethu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Intsika Yethu Municipality]]
*[[Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, Eastern Cape|Inxuba Yethemba Municipality]]
*[[King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, Eastern Cape|King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality]]
*[[Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape|Kouga Municipality]]
*[[Kou-Kamma Municipality, Eastern Cape|Kou-Kamma Municipality]]
*[[Lukanji Municipality, Eastern Cape|Lukanji Municipality]]
*[[Makana Municipality, Eastern Cape|Makana Municipality]]
*[[Aliwal North|Maletswai Municipality]]
*[[Mbhashe Municipality, Eastern Cape|Mbhashe Municipality]]
*[[Mbizana Municipality, Eastern Cape|Mbizana Municipality]]
*[[Mhlontlo Municipality, Eastern Cape|Mhlontlo Municipality]]
*[[Mnquma Municipality, Eastern Cape|Mnquma Municipality]]
*[[Ndlambe Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ndlambe Municipality Municipality]]
*[[Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape|Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality]] (Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage & Despatch)
*[[Ngqushwa Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ngqushwa Municipality]]
*[[Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape|Nkonkobe Municipality]]
*[[Ntabankulu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ntabankulu Municipality]]
*[[Nxuba Municipality, Eastern Cape|Nxuba Municipality]]
*[[Nyandeni Municipality, Eastern Cape|Nyandeni Municipality]]
*[[O.R. Tambo Municipality, Eastern Cape|O.R. Tambo Municipality]]
*[[Port St. Johns Municipality, Eastern Cape|Port St. Johns Municipality]]
*[[Quakeni Municipality, Eastern Cape|Quakeni Municipality]]
*[[Sakhisizwe Municipality, Eastern Cape|Sakhisizwe Municipality]]
*[[Senqu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Senqu Municipality]]
*[[Sunday's River Valley Municipality, Eastern Cape|Sunday's River Valley]]
*[[Tsolwana Municipality, Eastern Cape|Tsolwana Municipality]]
*[[Ukhahlamba Municipality, Eastern Cape|Ukhahlamba Municipality]]
*[[Umzimkhulu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Umzimkhulu Municipality]]
*[[Umzimvubu Municipality, Eastern Cape|Umzimvubu Municipality]]
{{Provinces_of_South_Africa}}
==External links==
*[http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/landpeople.htm#ec Eastern Cape National Government information]
*[http://www.ecprov.gov.za/ Eastern Cape Provincial Government]
*[http://www.ectb.co.za/ Eastern Cape Tourism Board]
*[http://www.ecdc.co.za/ Eastern Cape Development Corporation]
*[http://www.eastern-cape.com/ The Eastern Cape]
* [http://www.east-london-local.com/ East London Local Community Website ]
{{Eastern Cape_province}}
[[Category:Eastern Cape Province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of South Africa]]
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[[eo:Orienta Kablando]]
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[[xh:IPhondo yaMpuma-Koloni]]
[[zu:KwaXhosa]]
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[[nn:Eastern Cape]]
[[nov:Est Kabe]]
[[pl:Prowincja Przylądkowa Wschodnia]]
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[[ru:Восточная Капская провинция]]
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[[sv:Östra Kapprovinsen]]
[[vo:Lofüdakepiän]]
[[zh:東開普省]]