Belfast, Mpumalanga

Belfast
eMakhazeni
Belfast

 Belfast shown within Mpumalanga

Coordinates: 25°41′S 30°1′E / 25.683°S 30.017°E / -25.683; 30.017Coordinates: 25°41′S 30°1′E / 25.683°S 30.017°E / -25.683; 30.017
Country South Africa
Province Mpumalanga
District Nkangala
Municipality Emakhazeni
Established 1890
Area[1]
  Total 35.82 km2 (13.83 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 4,466
  Density 120/km2 (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 2,025m 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)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 08, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.