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Windhoek

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia.

Windhoek-Skyline
Windhoek-Skyline

It sits in the middle of the country on a high plateau. The city is located in the Khomas Highland area.

Windhoek Luftaufnahme
Windhoek Luftaufnahme

Many rocky mountains surround the city on the south, east, and west sides. This makes it hard to build new parts of the city. Because of these mountains, the city can only grow easily to the north.

Rainy season clouds outskirt of Windhoek
Rainy season clouds outskirt of Windhoek

Windhoek is a very busy place for many reasons. It is the center for business, politics, and culture in Namibia.

Unamt
Unamt

Most big companies and government offices are located here. The University of Namibia is also in the city. In 2023, the population was 486,169 people. This number is growing because people move there from other parts of the country. It is a vital hub for the whole nation.

History tells us the city began near natural hot springs.

Windhuk
Windhuk

A leader named Jonker Afrikaner settled there in 1840. He built a stone church that could hold 500 people. Later, wars between different tribes caused the settlement to be destroyed. The city was founded a second time in 1890.

Alte Feste Windhoek
Alte Feste Windhoek

This happened when the German Empire began to colonize the area. A man named Curt von François helped start this new era.

Life in Windhoek has changed a lot over the years. After World War I, South Africa began to manage the area.

Windhuk stamp
Windhuk stamp

Later, big projects helped the city grow. They built new schools, hospitals, and paved roads. In 1958, the city did something very special.

Independence Avenue Windhoek Namibia
Independence Avenue Windhoek Namibia

It built a facility to recycle sewage into clean water for the town. This helped the city survive in its dry land.

Traveling around Windhoek is easy with many choices.

People use taxis, trains, and planes to get around. There are two main airports serving the area.

Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia (2017)
Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia (2017)

Eros Airport is very busy with many small planes. Hosea Kutako International Airport handles over 800,000 passengers every year. The city connects to other places like Okahandja and Rehoboth by rail. It is a well-connected place to live and work.

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🖼️ Images & Media (17)
File:Windhuk.jpg
Windhuk.jpg
File:Windhuk stamp.jpg
Windhuk stamp.jpg
File:Sanderburg.jpg
Sanderburg.jpg
File:Windhoek-Skyline.jpg
Windhoek-Skyline.jpg
File:Independence Avenue Windhoek Namibia.jpg
Independence Avenue Windhoek Namibia.jpg
File:Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia (2017).jpg
Hosea Kutako International Airport,...
File:Estación de ferrocarril, Windhoek, Namibia, 2018-08-04, DD 13.jpg
Estación de ferrocarril, Windhoek,...
File:Windhoek Luftaufnahme.jpg
Windhoek Luftaufnahme.jpg
File:Rainy season clouds outskirt of Windhoek.jpg
Rainy season clouds outskirt of Windhoek.jpg
File:Cloudy sky in the capital city of Namibia.jpg
Cloudy sky in the capital city of Namibia.jpg
File:Museo de la Independencia, Windhoek, Namibia, 2018-08-04, DD 08.jpg
Museo de la Independencia, Windhoek,...
File:Kirche Windhuk.JPG
Kirche Windhuk.JPG

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