|
Swakopmund (German for "Mouth of the Swakop") is a city〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Local Authorities )〕 on the coast of western Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. The town has 44,725 inhabitants and covers of land. The city is situated in the Namib desert and is the fourth largest population centre in Namibia. Swakopmund is a beach resort and an example of German colonial architecture. It was founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South-West Africa, and a small part of its population is still German-speaking today. Buildings in the city include the ''Altes Gefängnis'' prison, designed by Heinrich Bause in 1909. The ''Woermannhaus'', built in 1906 with a prominent tower, is now a public library. Attractions in Swakopmund include a Swakopmund Museum,〔(swakopmund-museum.de )〕 the National Marine Aquarium, a crystal gallery and spectacular sand dunes near Langstrand south of the Swakop River. Outside of the city, the Rossmund Desert Golf Course is one of only five all-grass desert golf courses in the world. Nearby lies a camel farm and the ''Martin Luther'' steam locomotive, dating from 1896 and abandoned in the desert. Swakopmund lies on the B2 road and the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Walvis Bay. It is served by Swakopmund Airport and Swakopmund Railway Station. ==Etymology== The Herero called the place ''Otjozondjii''. The name of the town is derived from the Nama word ''Tsoakhaub'' ("excrement opening") describing the Swakop River in flood carrying items in its riverbed, including dead animals, into the Atlantic Ocean. However, Prof. Peter Raper, Honorary Professor: Linguistics, at the University of the Free State points out that the name for Swakopmund is based on the San language, namely from “xwaka” (rhinoceros) and “ob” (river).〔(of Southern African Place Names by Dr P.E. Raper )〕 The German settlers changed it to ''Swachaub'', and when in 1896 the district was officially proclaimed, the version ''Swakopmund'' (German: ''Mouth of the Swakop'') was introduced.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Swakopmund )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Swakopmund」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|