Bloemfontein

The farm on the site of the future city was founded in 1840 by the drill Johannes Brits ^[4] , a member of the Great Trek . He narek his farm - "fountain of flowers" ^[5] In 1846, English Major Henry Douglas Warden, who bought the farm from Brits, laid the fort here.

On February 3, 1848, the Bloemfontein tract was annexed by the British government. In July 1848, Andris Pretorius began the war of liberation against Britain. July 20 Pretorius knocked the British out of Bloemfontein . And he began the construction of the Reformed church (it was solemnly opened only in May 1852). However, in August 1848, Governor Harry Smith defeated Pretorius’s army at the Battle of Complats . For a while Bloemfontein became British again.

From 1854 to 1902 Bloemfontein was the capital of the Orange Republic . The railway was built in 1890 and connected Bloemfontein with Cape Town.

In 1899, the city hosted the Bloomfontein Conference, which could not prevent the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War . During the war, a concentration camp was organized in Bloemfontein, in which the Boer girl Lizzy Van Zeil , the victim of the inhumanity of the English doctors and nurses, died. Her death attracted much attention.

On January 8, 1912, the African National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein, the purpose of which was to enact laws that would protect the rights of the black population, which constituted the majority of the population of South Africa. The poet John Dube , who later became his first president, took part in the meetings of the Congress.

Bloemfontein is located in the south of the High Veld region (a vast steppe hilly plateau lying at an altitude of 1300–2000 meters above sea level), which, to the south-west of the city, passes into the semi-desert region of Karra .

The climate is semi-desert with hot summers and cool, dry winters. Snow falls every few years (most recently in 2007). The average annual rainfall is 559 mm.

The last census was held in 2011. According to her data, the population of Bloemfontein numbered 256,185 people ^[1] , of whom 56.11% were black , 29.79% were white (mostly Afrikaners ), and 12.81% were in color .

It should be borne in mind that the main demographic trends in South Africa after the fall of apartheid and the transfer of power to the black majority are the decrease in the number of whites (mainly due to emigration), the transfer of color to major cities ( Johannesburg , Cape Town , Durban ), the increase in the number of blacks (primarily , at the expense of immigrants from nearby African countries). Thus, at present, the number of white and colored people is lower, and the black number is higher than the census data.

The main language of administration, business and inter-ethnic communication in the city is Afrikaans (native for approximately 1/4 of the population, mostly white and colored). The black population in everyday life uses local languages ​​( Soto , Tswana , Spit ). The authorities are taking steps to oust Afrikaans with English as the language of the administration and business, with the result that a significant portion of young people are more or less fluent in English.

The development of gold - uranium deposits in the province contributed to the transformation of Bloemfontein into a significant industrial center. Enterprises of the metalworking, glass, food, tobacco, leather industry. University. Boyden Observatory .

Bloemfontein is a large junction of railways and automobile roads, national roads N1 ( Cape Town - Baybridge ), N6 ( East London - Bloemfontein) and N8 ( Kimberley - Maseru ) pass through it. The city is served by the Municipal Airport. Brahm Fischer ( Afrik. Bram Fischer ; IATA : BFN , ICAO : FABL ) with a passenger turnover of 400 thousand people per year (2011). Direct scheduled flights are available to Johannesburg , Cape Town , Durban and Port Elizabeth .

Today Bloemfontein is the capital of Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa . The view of the city opens from a viewing platform located on a high hill, the name of which - Naval Hill - comes from the designation of the battery of English ship guns, which were installed here during the Anglo-Boer War .

• The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located at the foot of the Maluti Mountains in the province of Free State. It is famous for its steep sandy cliffs, which, under the influence of wind and rain, acquired freakish outlines. Rare bearded hawks , bald ibis and black eagles live in the park.
• The first town hall, built in 1849, the fourth town hall, the construction of which was completed in 1893 and which is often called the pearl of Free State architecture; old presidential residence; Buildings of the Appellate and Supreme Courts.
• The National Museum is famous among scientists all over the world: an elephant's embryo weighing 11 g, a meteorite of 48.89 kg and other rarities are kept here.
• The Women's Memorial is a fascinating obelisk of 36.5 meters high sandstone, erected in honor of the 26,000 Boer women and children who died in British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War.
• Military Museum of the Boer Orange Republic.
• Afrikaans National Literary Museum.
• Cherry Orchard in Hamilton Park has over six thousand cherry trees; There are over four thousand rose bushes in the Royal Rose Park.
• Basuto village will give an idea of ​​the history, culture and lifestyle of the soto .

• Bloemfontein on the Pro South Africa website