Dunedin

According to archaeological studies the first humans appeared on the territory of today Dunedin, were the Maori , whose team reached here at the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries in search of survivors moa . After the destruction of the giant birds Maori have moved to a settled life on fishing, hunting and gathering. According to the British sailors, at the beginning of the XIX century village located here the natives was the largest in the South Island.

The first white stepped onto the shore of Otago Bay was James Cook , whose ship was anchored here from February 25 to March 5, 1770. In the logbook, Cook indicated that in the vicinity he observed many penguins and fur seals . Between who came in search of the latest European sailors and living on the shores of the bay natives gradually escalating conflict, which led eventually to the t. N. "Fur Seal" (English Sealers' War ) 1810-1823. The war ended after the disappearance of disputes subject - seals were exterminated.

In 1815, a small group of English settlers led by William Tucker founded a village on the coast. At first, their relationship with the Maori was friendly, Tucker even married a Maori girl who settled in his house. But in December 1817 one of the neighboring chiefs came with his men to the village and demanded tribute from the colonists. Residents gave him the property which is attracted to the leader, and how they thought the storm had passed. However, the next day, the savages suddenly attacked the settlers. Only one managed to escape and get to the English ship, standing in the harbor. Everyone else, including Tucker, was killed and eaten . Chronicles of the Maori indicate the dissatisfaction of the leader with gifts as the reason for the attack.

More successful attempt of colonization was undertaken in 1831, when three whalers from Sydney, Brooks Brothers, founded a whaling station. By that time, a significant part of the Māori living in the area had either died out from diseases that came with the Europeans, or died in tribal battles, which became much more bloody after the fire of the natives. Thus, the area has become safe for living. The little station quickly became a major whaling port, and in 1840 in the vicinity of the city there were the first in the South Island farm.

In 1848, Presbyterians from Scotland, led by Frederick Tucket, founded a colony, which was given the name Dunedin in honor of the Gaelic name of Edinburgh ( Dùn Èideann ).

The discovery of gold deposits in the South Island in 1861 and the ensuing gold rush led the rapid growth of the city. In 1865, Dunedin became the largest most populous city in New Zealand, and held that title until 1900. In 1869, the University of Otago was opened - the first in New Zealand; in 1878, the Dunedin- Christchurch railway line was put into operation.

The gold rush came to naught by the beginning of the 1880s, and the rapid growth of Dunedin stopped. Since then, the basis of the urban economy has become agriculture (primarily cattle breeding ), fishing and tourism .

The city is located in the hills and valley surrounding the bay of Otago. Harbor and hills ( Mount Cargill , Flagstaff ) formed residues extinct volcano . Dunedin is the most distant city in the world from London , Moscow and Berlin .

The climate of Dunedin is characterized by a considerable variety due to the interaction of the air masses of the “roaring forties” with a hilly relief. In some areas of the city climate sea , in others - is temperate continental . Rainfall in Dunedin lower than in other major cities of New Zealand, but the number of cloudy and foggy days - above.

The population of Dunedin is more homogeneous in racial-ethnic terms than the population of the country as a whole:

• white - 78.7%
• Maori - 6.4%
• Asians - 5.3%

The average age of citizens is 35 years, the average income per year per capita is 23,300 New Zealand dollars.

The basis of the economy of Dunedin is the processing of agricultural and fishery products, biotechnology, information technology, education and tourism.

Dunedin is served by the Dunedin International Airport ( IATA : DUD , ICAO : NZDN ), located 22 kilometers southwest of the city center, with a passenger turnover of 850 thousand people per year (2012) ^[3] . International flights are operated to Sydney , Melbourne and Brisbane , domestic flights - to Auckland , Wellington and Christchurch .

Passenger traffic by rail was discontinued in 2002. National Highway No. 1, the New Zealand main road, runs through the city.

Public transport in the city is represented by 18 bus routes.

In contrast to Murmansk , where the world's northernmost trolleybus runs, Dunedin operated the southernmost network of this type of public transport until 1982 .

In Dunedin is the University of Otago , the oldest in the country.

Founded in 1869 by the Committee, which included ^[4] , the University opened in July 1871. The motto "University Sapere aude » (dare to be wise), was subsequently taken over by the New Zealand University . has its own motto, “Audeamus” (“let's dare”). At the graduation ceremony sounds anthem Gaudeamus igitur , iuvenes dum sumus ... ( «we have fun while we're young ..."). From 1874 to 1961 University of Otago was a part of New Zealand's University .

The University conducts the highest quality research in New Zealand, and the University is in second place after Auckland University in terms of the number of academic researchers ^[5] . The New Zealand Higher Education Commission (Government Tertiary Education Commission ), a government- (PBRF), placed the University of Otago in first place in its ranking in 2006 ^[6] .

The university has a large number of foreign students from Australia , the UK , Ireland , Canada , USA , China , Malaysia , India , Sri Lanka , South Korea , Japan , Singapore and other countries. University students often live with their comrades in substandard houses. The Otago University’s nickname “Scarves” came about as a result of the tradition of wearing scarves during the cold southern winters ^[7] . It's nickname is mentioned in the film ^[8] .

Baldwin Street is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the steepest street in the world.

At 359 meters long, the street rises almost 80 meters. Thus on the steepest segment at 161.2 meters it rises to 47.22 meters, which creates a bias of 19 degrees. ^[9]

Other attractions:

• St. Joseph's Cathedral
• Knox Church
• Cadbury world
• Dunedin Town Hall

•   Portsmouth , Virginia , United States (1962)
•   Edinburgh , Scotland , UK (1974)
•   Otaru , Hokkaido , Japan (1980)
•   Shanghai , China (1994)