East London
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- This article is about the city in South Africa. For the area of London, United Kingdom, see East London, England.
East London (Afrikaans: Oos-Londen, Xhosa: Imonti) is a city in southeast South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province at 32.97°S and 27.87°E.[1] (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/africa/south-africa/cities.htm). The city is situated on the Indian Ocean coast, the Buffalo River, and the Nahoon River, and is the country's only river port. East London has a population of 250,000. (700,000 in metro)
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History
A British fort, Fort Glamorgan, was built at the site of the city in 1847, and annexed to the Cape Colony that same year. Three villages grew around the fort, and were eventually combined to form the town of East London, which was elevated to city status in 1914.
In the late 1850s the population of East London was boosted by the introduction of some German settlers, most of whom were bachelors. In 1857 the British Government took pity on them and a cargo of 157 Irish girls arrived to help lift morale. The unusual double Decker Bridge over the Buffalo River was completed in 1935 and to this day, is the only bridge of its type in South Africa. Modern day attractions include the East London Museum housing the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to be extinct and numerous memorial statues. The city is well-known as a surfing mecca, and its beaches are among the best in the country.
In 1959, the Prince George Circuit race circuit opened; it hosted three Formula One South African Grand Prix races in the 1960s. In 2000, East London became part of the municipality of Buffalo City, also consisting of King William's Town and Bisho.
Economy
The city is the second largest industrial centre in the province. The motor industry is the dominant employer. A major DaimlerChrysler plant is located near the harbour, manufacturing Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the local market, as well as exporting to the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan. Other industries include clothing, textiles, pharaceuticals and food processing.
Demographics
The main languages spoken are English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. The city is home to a large number of retirees, thanks to the mild climate and holiday atmosphere.
On 26 December, 2004 a death attributed to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake's tsunami occurred at Gonubie, outside East London, 7 800km (4 800 miles) away from the earthquake that caused the giant wave. The epicenter of the earthquake was below the sea, off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.[2] (http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=2357542)
External links
- Official website of Buffalo City (http://www.buffalocity.gov.za)
- Tourist Information for East London (http://eastlondontourism.co.za/)af:Oos-Londen