Windhoek

Windhoek (German: Windhuk) is the caipital an lairgest ceity in Namibie. It is locatit in central Namibie in the Khomas Highland plateau aurie aroond 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) abuin sea level. It haes an offecial population o 233,529 (accordin tae the hindermaist census), but it is nou beleved to hae aboot 300,000 indwallers.

[edit] Etymology

Its name comes frae the Dutch "Wind" (wind) an "hoek" (lit: corner, bat an aa place, etc.) "The place whaur winds blaws".

[edit] History

The ceety wis oreeginally foondit by the native Nama an Herero fowk, wha noted it's het springs. The early Afrikaners sattled thare in the 19t century acause o it's het springs an aw. Thay biggit a kirk thare, an Windhoek stairtit tae come guid. Houaniver, weirs atweesh the Nama an Herero fowk shent the toun. In 1884, it becam pairt o the German Empire, an a German airmy base wis biggit thare. This is conseedered the foondin o the modren Windhoek. Windhoek wis slaw to develop, wi anerly necessar biggins bein biggit. It wis mainly a smaw fermin toun. Efter 1907, fowk stairtit tae flit tae the ceity frae the landwart, an mony fowk frae Germany an Sooth Africae an aw. Durin Warld War I, Sooth Africae invadit an occupee'd Namibie, an Windhoek. Efter 1955, Windhoek developit verra fest, an it's watter supplee an roads war impruiven. When Namibie unthirled fare Sooth Africae in 1990, it becam the foremaist caipital o the Republic o Namibie.

Independence Avenue

[edit] Notable landmarks

Christ Church - A Lutheran kirk. Construction on the kirk wis stairtit unner Pastor Wilhelm Anz in Aprile 1896. Efter the end o the wars atween the Germans an the Khoikhoi, Herero, an Ovambo, it was dedicatit as the Church of Peace in 1910. The Lutheran Kirk, which wis built in the gothic revival style wi Art Nouveau elements, staunds in the historic center o Windhoek. Its 24 m heich spire wis made, like the rest o the kirk, oot o quartz sandstane. The exception is the portal an the altar, which are made o marble. The colourful stained-glass windaes in the sanctuary wur a gift frae Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kirk is next tae the Parliament Gardens an Tintenpalast.
St. Mary's Cathedral
Zoo Park - a public pairk on Independence Avenue in dountoun Windhoek. The current pairk is landscaped and features a pond, children's playground and open-air theatre.
Tintenpalast - German for "Ink Palace", is the seat o baith chambers o the Namibian legislature, the Naitional Cooncil an the National Assembly. It is locatit juist north o Robert Mugabe Avenue, ad wis designed bi the airchitect Gottlieb Redecker an built bi the company Sander & Kock atween 1912 an 1913 oot o regional materials as an admeenistration biggin for the German govrenment, which colonised Namibie at the time. The biggin is surroondit bi the Parliament Gardens.
Alte Feste- German for "Auld Fortress". Built in 1890, the day hooses the Naitional Museum
Supreme Court o Namibie
The three castles o Windhoek built bi airchitect Wilhelm Sander: Heinitzburg, Sanderburg, and Schwerinsburg
National Library of Namibia
Windhoek Railway Station
Holy Cross Convent School - built in 1906
Daan Viljoen Game Reserve -situatit near Windhoek
Windhoek Public Library - built in 1925, next tae the Alte Feste