Pongola (city)

Pongola
Pongola
Coordinates	27 ° 23 ′  S , 31 ° 37 ′  E Coordinates: 27 ° 23 ′  S , 31 ° 37 ′  E
Basic data
Country	South Africa
province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Zululand
local community	uPhongolo
height	240 m
Residents	2034 (2011)

Pongola (also uPhongolo , from isiZulu phongolo for 'trough') is a city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal . It is located about ten kilometers south of the border with Swaziland in the north of the Zululand District Municipality . The place is the economic center of the municipality of uPhongolo and the seat of its administration. In 2011, Pongolo had 2,034 inhabitants.

geography

Pongola lies on the river of the same name , which, like the city, is also called uPhongolo. The name refers to its trough-like valley shape. The city is located at an altitude of 240 meters above sea level. To the northwest is Ncotshane , which has significantly more inhabitants.

history

Until 1994, Pongola belonged to the Transvaal Province , which stretched in a long, narrow strip south of Swaziland.

economy

The economy of Pongola and the surrounding area is very much influenced by agriculture. The city itself is surrounded by around 50 km² of sugar cane and citrus plantations. In the 1930s, larger irrigation systems were created. In addition to the plantation economy, the commercial use of wild ungulates plays an important economic role for the region.

Pongola Airport is located northwest of the city .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 2011 census , accessed on November 17, 2013 (Pongola A and Pongola B added)
2. ^ Peter Edmund Raper : Dictionary of Southern African Place Names . Lowry Publishers, Johannesburg 1987 (2nd ed.), P. 263
3. ↑ Pongola, South Africa Page ( English ) Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. . Retrieved April 10, 2010.