Walvis Bay 42895 220216675 2008-06-18T20:29:12Z 99.239.184.130 {{Infobox Settlement <!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available--> <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name =Walvis Bay <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in --> |official_name = |other_name = |native_name = <!-- if different from the English name --> |nickname = |settlement_type = <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.--> |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = 45156420.DSC 2356.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Aerial photo of the harbour area |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Namibia |pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption =Location within Namibia |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Namibia}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = [[Erongo Region]] |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government --> |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title =Mayor |leader_name =[[Ulika Nambahu]] |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = Established |established_date = 1840 <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =1124 |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =65000 |population_density_km2 =30.4 |population_density_sq_mi =65.2 <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] |utc_offset = +2 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coor_type = <!-- can be used to specify what the coordinates refer to --> |latd=22 |latm=57 |lats=22 |latNS=S |longd=14 |longm=30 |longs=29 |longEW=E <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }} <!-- end box --> </div><!-- end of floated right section; article starts here --> '''Walvis Bay''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]/[[Afrikaans]] ''Walvisbaai'', [[German language|German]] ''Walfischbucht'' or ''Walfischbai'', all meaning "Whale Bay"), is a [[port]] in [[Namibia]] and the [[bay]] on which it lies. The bay has been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deepwater harbour, protected by the [[Pelican Point (Namibia)|Pelican Point]] [[sand spit]]. Being rich in [[plankton]] and [[marine life]], these waters drew large numbers of [[whale]]s attracting whalers and fishing vessels. The Dutch referred to it as Walvisch Baye and the English as Whale Bay, and in its eventual proclamation it came to be called Walfish Bay, and eventually Walvis Bay. A succession of colonists exploited the location and resources of this strategic harbour settlement. The harbour's value in relation to the sea route around the [[Cape of Good Hope]] had caught the attention of world powers since it was discovered. This explains the complicated political status of Walvis Bay down the years. The town is situated in the Kuiseb river delta and lies at the end of the [[TransNamib|TransNamib Railway]] to [[Windhoek]], and on the [[B2 road (Namibia)|B2 road]]. Walvis Bay, with its large bay and sand dunes, is the tourism activity centre of Namibia. Other attractions include the artificial [[Bird Island (Namibia)|Bird Island]], centre of a [[guano]] collection industry, the [[Dune 7]] [[sand dune]], [[salt works]], [[birdlife]] and a [[museum]]. [[Kuisebmund Stadium]], home to two clubs in the [[Namibia Premier League]], is also located in the city. == History == [[Image:Walvis Bay map.jpeg|thumb|left|Map showing location of Walvis Bay and reference to [[South Africa]] before the handover to [[Namibia]]]] The [[Portugal|Portuguese]] navigator [[Bartolomeu Dias]] anchored his flagship ''São Cristóvão'' in Walvis Bay on [[8 December]] [[1487]], on his expedition to discover a sea route to the East via the [[Cape of Good Hope]]. He named the bay "O Golfo de Santa Maria da Conceição." However, the Portuguese did not formally stake a claim to Walvis Bay. Little commercial development occurred in the city until 1840, when in the [[scramble for Africa]], [[United Kingdom|Britain]], the dominant seafaring nation at the time, annexed Walvis Bay and a small area surrounding the territory in 1878 as part of Cape Colony both to forestall [[Germany|German]] ambitions in the region and to ensure safe passage of British ships around the Cape. In 1910, Walvis Bay, as well as the [[Cape Colony]], became part of the newly formed [[Union of South Africa]]. However, a dispute arose with Germany over the [[enclave]]'s boundaries. This was eventually settled in 1911 and Walvis Bay was allocated an area of {{convert|434|sqmi|0}}. The enclave was overrun by the Germans during the [[South-West Africa Campaign]] early in [[World War I]]. But South African Forces eventually ousted the Germans in 1915 and Walvis Bay was quickly integrated into the new martial law regime established in [[South-West Africa]]. South Africa was later awarded control (a "C" class mandate) over South-West Africa by the [[League of Nations]] to administer SWA as an integral part of South Africa. Civilian rule was restored in South-West Africa in 1921 and administration of Walvis Bay was transferred to SWA by Act of the South African parliament in 1922. Anticipating an imminent ceding of its control over South-West Africa, South Africa transferred power over Walvis Bay back to its Cape Province in 1971. In an attempt to avoid losing control of Walvis Bay in 1977 to a possibly hostile [[South-West Africa People's Organisation|SWAPO]]-led government, the then South African Government reimposed direct rule and reasserted its claim of sovereignty based on the original annexation. In 1978, the [[United Nations Security Council]] provided for bilateral negotiations between South Africa and a future Namibia to resolve the political status of Walvis Bay. In 1990, South-West Africa gained independence as Namibia, but Walvis Bay remained under South African sovereignty. It was not until midnight on [[28 February]] [[1994]] that sovereignty over Walvis Bay was formally transferred to Namibia. {{-}} ==See also== *[[HMS Packington (M1214)|SAS Walvisbaai]] ==Literature== * Silverman, Melinda: [http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=1852''Between the Atlantic and the Namib. An Environmental History of Walvis Bay''], NWG, Windhoek 2004 - Namibiana Buchdepot * de Beer, Charles: [http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=519''Namibia Marine Life''], @tidude Graphix, Swakopmund o.J. - Namibiana Buchdepot * Heemstra, Phillip; Smith, Margaret M.: [http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=2015''Smith's Sea Fishes''], Struik Publishers, Cape Town 2003 * Bridgeford, P. and M.: [http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=624''Cape Cross''], Walvis Bay 2002 - Namibiana Buchdepot * Vogt, Andreas: [http://www.namibiana.de/index.cfm?action=ViewDetails&ItemID=2220''National Monuments in Namibia''], Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek 2004 - Namibiana Buchdepot ==External links== * [http://www.pgoimages.com/gallery.php?gall=g_namibia_swakopmund Images from Walvis Bay] * [http://www.kuisebonline.com Activities from Walvis Bay] * [http://www.ports.co.za/walvis-bay.php Walvisbay Port Information] * [http://www.walvisbaycc.org.na/ Walvis Bay City Council] * [http://africa.cwsurf.de/WalvisBay.htm Walvis Bay Airport Information] * [http://www.info.gov.za/acts/1993/a203-93.pdf Transfer of Walvis Bay To Namibia Act, 1993] [[Category:Coastal cities]] [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Namibia ]] [[Category:Southern Africa]] [[Category:History of South Africa]] [[Category:Walvis Bay]] [[Category:Port cities in Africa]] [[Category:WikiProject Namibia]] [[af:Walvisbaai]] [[ca:Walvis Bay]] [[da:Walvis Bay]] [[de:Walfischbucht]] [[et:Walvis Bay]] [[es:Walvis Bay]] [[fr:Walvis Bay]] [[is:Walvis Bay]] [[it:Walvis Bay]] [[nl:Walvisbaai]] [[ja:ウォルビスベイ]] [[no:Walvis Bay]] [[pl:Walvis Bay]] [[pt:Walvis Bay]] [[ro:Walvis Bay]] [[ru:Волфиш-Бей]] [[sr:Валвис Беј]] [[fi:Walvis Bay]] [[sv:Walvis Bay]] [[uk:Волфіш-Бей]]87rk8k789k79dkuidkuku