Hermanus
| Hermanus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 34 ° 25 ′ 9 ″ S , 19 ° 14 ′ 24 ″ E | ||
| Basic data | |||
| Country | South Africa | ||
| Western cape | |||
| District | Overberg | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | ZA toilet | ||
| local community | Overstrand | ||
| surface | 24.1 km² | ||
| Residents | 32,769 (2011) | ||
| density | 1,359.7 Ew. / km² | ||
| founding | 1891 | ||
| Website | www.hermanus.co.za (English) | ||
 New port of Hermanus
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Hermanus (originally Hermanuspietersfontein ) is a place in the province of Western Cape in South Africa . It is the administrative seat of the municipality of Overstrand and is located around 115 kilometers east of Cape Town in the Overberg district . Today Hermanus is a popular resort. In 2011 the place had 32,769 inhabitants.
geography
On a narrow strip between mountains and sea lie several places one behind the other that together form Greater Hermanus : Fisherhaven, Sanddown Bay, Hawston, Vermont, Onrus, Chanteclair, Glen Fruin, Sandbaai, Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, Westcliff, Hermanus Heights, Eastcliff and Voëlklip .
history
Hermanus is named after Hermanus Pieters, a teacher from Caledon , who in the early 19th century drove his cattle to cooler areas on the coast in the summer months. When he found a spring at what is now Hermanus, he set up camp there for a few months. The place became known as Hermanuspietersfontein by the farmers of Caledon . The first settlers settled here in 1857. The village was officially founded in 1891 after the residents had already demanded self-government in 1879. When the place received city status in 1904, the name was shortened to Hermanus .
At the beginning of the 20th century, the general manager of the South African railway company, William Hoy, visited Hermanus more frequently. Impressed by the seclusion of the place, he succeeded in ensuring that Hermanus was not connected to the railroad and so should be spared from day trippers. However, the station was already built and still exists today without a siding.
The main source of income used to be whaling .
Attractions
From July to December, southern right whales can be observed from Hermanus and visit Walker Bay (South Africa) in large numbers. At the peak of the season, in October, around 150 whales are regularly counted off Hermanus.
The Fernkloof Nature Reserve is 15 square kilometers above the city . It is home to over 1,600 species of plants and 111 species of birds.
Every year in September the Whale Festival takes place, at which the world's only so-called Whale Crier becomes active.
At Hermanus there is the Cliff Walk . It leads along the sea through fynbos vegetation and rock formations, past small bays and beaches with a view of the sea and whales.
The Rotary Drive also offers fynbos vegetation and views of Hermanus .
beaches
Grotto Beach is the largest beach in Hermanus and has been awarded the Blue Flag . There are other beaches in Voëlklip, Onrus, Kammabaai and Langbaai.
Web links
- Fernkloof Nature Reserve (English)
- Hermanus Whale Festival (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hermanus , Sand Bay , Zwelihle Census 2011 (added), accessed on November 19, 2013
- ^ History of Hermanus , accessed April 25, 2013
- ↑ History . Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ↑ Hermanus Whale Crier . Retrieved October 30, 2012.