!!!!!!Land marks and Historic Sites!!!!
Marine Memorial
Swakopmund, Namibia
Sights
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Monument
Often known by its German name, Marine Denkmal, the Marine Memorial was
commissioned in 1907 by the Marine Infantry in Kiel, Germany, and was
designed by Berlin sculptor AM Wolff. It commemorates the German First
Marine Expedition Corps, which helped beat back the Herero uprisings of
1904. As a national historical monument, it will continue to stand, but
one has to wonder how long it will be before the Herero erect a memorial
of their own
Swakopmund Museum
When ill winds blow, head for the Swakopmund Museum , at the foot of
the lighthouse, where you can hole up and learn about the town history.
The museum occupies the site of the old harbour warehouse, which was
destroyed in 1914 by a 'lucky' shot from a British warship.Displays include exhibits on Namibia's history and ethnology,
including information on local flora and fauna. Especially good is the
display on the !nara melon, a fruit which was vital to the early
Khoikhoi people of the Namib region. It also harbours a reconstructed
colonial home interior, Emil Kiewittand's apothecary shop and an
informative display on the Rössing Mine.
JettySwakopmund,
Sights
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Architecture
In 1905, the need for a good cargo- and passenger-landing site led
Swakopmund's founders to construct the original wooden pier. Over the
years, however, it was battered by the high seas and damaged by
woodworm, and in 1911, construction began on a 500m iron jetty .When the South African forces occupied Swakopmund, the port became
redundant (they already controlled Walvis Bay), so the old wooden pier
was removed in 1916 and the unfinished iron pier was left to the
elements. In 1985 it was closed for safety purposes, but a year later, a
public appeal raised 250,000 rand to restore the structure. It's now
open to the general public, but unfortunately once again suffering from neglect.
In 1899, architect FW Ortloff's sea wall - better known as the Mole -
was intended to enhance Swakopmund's poor harbour and create a mooring
place for large cargo vessels. Unfortunately, Mr Ortloff was unfamiliar
with the Benguela Current, which sweeps northwards along the coast,
carrying with it a load of sand from the southern deserts.
Within less than five years, the harbour entrance was choked off by a
sand bank and two years later, the harbour itself had been invaded by
sand to create what is now called Palm Beach. The Mole is currently used
as a mooring for pleasure boats.
Alte Gefängnis
Sights
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Dark
Swakopmund brims with numerous historic examples of traditional
German architecture. The impressive 1909 Alte Gefängnis was designed by
architect Heinrich Bause, and if you didn't know it was a prison, you'd
swear it was either an early East German train station or a health-spa
hotel. In fact, the main building was used only for staff housing while the
prisoners were relegated to less opulent quarters on one side. Note that
it still serves as a prison and is considered a sensitive structure, so
photography is not permitted.
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In 1899, architect FW Ortloff's sea wall - better known as the Mole -
was intended to enhance Swakopmund's poor harbour and create a mooring
place for large cargo vessels. Unfortunately, Mr Ortloff was unfamiliar
with the Benguela Current, which sweeps northwards along the coast,
carrying with it a load of sand from the southern deserts.Within less than five years, the harbour entrance was choked off by a
sand bank and two years later, the harbour itself had been invaded by
sand to create what is now called Palm Beach. The Mole is currently used
as a mooring for pleasure boats.
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