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Lüderitz, Namibia
| Area | xxx km² (xxx mi²) | |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 1883 | |
| Population | 12,900 | |
| Population Density | xxx/km² (xxx/mi²) | |
| Administrative Division | Karas | |
| Mayor | E Amupewa | |
| Time Zone | South African Standard Time: UTC+1 | |
| Latitude and Longitude | Latitude: 26.64°S | Longitude: 15.15°E |
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Lüderitz, Namibia is a harbour town on one of the least hospitable coasts in Africa. It was founded in 1883 when Heinrich Vogelsang purchased Angra Pequeña and some of the surrounding land on behalf of Adolf Lüderitz, a hanseat from Bremen, Germany, from the local Nama chief. Lüderitz began its life as a trading post, with other activities in fishing and guano-harvesting. In 1909, after the discovery of diamonds nearby, Lüderitz enjoyed a sudden surge of prosperity. Today, however, diamonds are mostly found elsewhere and offshore, and Lüderitz has lost a lot of this interest.
The harbour has a very shallow rock bottom, making it unusable for modern ships; this led to Walvis Bay becoming the centre of the Namibian shipping industry. Recently, however, the addition of a new quay has allowed larger fishing vessels to dock at Lüderitz. The town has also re-styled itself in an attempt to lure tourists to the area, which includes a new waterfront area for shops and offices.
Just outside of Lüderitz lies the ghost town of Kolmanskop. This previously bustling diamond town is now abandoned, and fights a constant struggle against being buried under the shifting sand dunes of the Namib desert.
External links
- Lüderitz information in an online Namibia guidebook (http://www.orusovo.com/guidebook/content12.htm)af:Lüderitz