Belfast, Mpumalanga

Belfast eMakhazeni
Belfast  Belfast shown within Mpumalanga
Coordinates: 25°41′S 30°1′E / 25.683°S 30.017°ECoordinates: 25°41′S 30°1′E / 25.683°S 30.017°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Mpumalanga
District	Nkangala
Municipality	Emakhazeni
Established	1890
Area[1]
• Total	35.82 km^2 (13.83 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	4,466
• Density	120/km^2 (320/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	39.9%
• Coloured	4.4%
• Indian/Asian	2.6%
• White	52.6%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Afrikaans	57.1%
• Zulu	12.3%
• Swazi	7.6%
• English	6.9%
• Other	16.0%
Postal code (street)	1100
PO box	1100
Area code	013

Belfast (officially eMakhazeni) is a small town in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. It should not be confused with Belfast in Limpopo, South Africa.

The town is renowned for its excellent trout fishing conditions. Sheep and dairy farming take place here as well as maize, potatoes and timber are produced. Coal and a black granite are mined around Belfast. Around 6 million tulip bulbs are produced here annually for export; the flowers are discarded. Belfast is 2,025 m above sea level and one of the coldest and highest towns in South Africa.

It was named after Richard Charles O'Neill from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who owned the farm on which the town was built.

History

Anglo-Boer War

During the Anglo-Boer War several battles and skirmishes took place in and around the town. The Battle of Leliefontein took place 30 km south of here at the Komati river, an engagement for which several Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadian soldiers. The British built a concentration camp here during the Boer War to house Boer women and children. Several Victoria Crosses were awarded for action at Monument Hill which is on the edge of the town.^[2]

Name change

In October 2009 the town of Belfast was officially renamed to eMakhazeni^[3] when Arts and Culture Minister, Lulu Xingwana, approved the name change of over 42 locations across northern South Africa, with major other towns affected including Nelspruit (now Mbombela) and Waterval Boven (now Emgwenya).

Geography

Climate

Belfast has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with mild summers and chilly, dry winters. The average annual precipitation is 674 mm (27 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.

Belfast
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     128     23 12     95     22 12     75     21 11     38     19 8     7     17 4     0     15 1     0     15 1     3     18 3     21     20 7     65     21 9     119     22 10     123     22 12 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: SA Explorer
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     5     73 54     3.7     72 54     3     70 52     1.5     66 46     0.3     63 39     0     59 34     0     59 34     0.1     64 37     0.8     68 45     2.6     70 48     4.7     72 50     4.8     72 54 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

See also

• Battle of Leliefontein
• Battle of Bergendal

References

1. "Sub Place Belfast". Census 2011.
2. The Great Boer War by Arthur Conan Doyle, Chapter 33
3. http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=108100,1,22

External links

• Media related to Belfast, Mpumalanga at Wikimedia Commons
• Belfast, Mpumalanga
• Belfast Information