Walvis Bay

"Walvisbaai" redirects here. For the South African naval ship, see SAS Walvisbaai.

Walvis Bay
Walvisbaai (Afrikaans)
Walfischbucht or Walfischbai (German)
Ezorongondo (Otjiherero)
City
An aerial view of Walvis Bay
An aerial view of Walvis Bay
Flag of Walvis Bay
Flag
Coat of arms of Walvis Bay
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
Walvis, Windwaai Baai
Motto: 
In utrumque paratus (Latin for "Prepared for either")
Walvis Bay is located in Namibia
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Location within Namibia
Coordinates: 22°57′22″S 14°30′29″E / 22.95611°S 14.50806°E / -22.95611; 14.50806
Country Namibia
RegionErongo
Founded1790s[1]
Government
 • MayorTrevino Forbes (IPC)
 • Deputy MayorSaara Mutondoka (IPC)
Area
 • Total
1,124 km2 (434 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)[2][3]
 • Total
102,704
 • Density91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
ClimateBWk
Designations
Designated23 August 1995
Reference no.742[4]

Walvis Bay (English: lit. Whale Bay; Afrikaans: Walvisbaai; German: Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city[5] in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The city covers an area of 29 square kilometres (11 sq mi) of land.[6] The bay is a safe haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep-water harbour, protected by the Pelican Point sand spit, being the only natural harbour of any size along the country's coast. Being rich in plankton and marine life, these waters also draw large numbers of southern right whales,[7] attracting whalers and fishing vessels.

A succession of colonists developed the location and resources of this strategic harbour settlement. The harbour's value in relation to the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope had caught the attention of world powers since it was discovered by the outside world in 1485. The importance of the harbour, combined with its extreme isolation by land, explains the complicated political history of the town. For much of its history, Walvis Bay was governed as an exclave separate from the rest of the territory that today is Namibia.

The town is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Kuiseb River delta and lies at the end of the TransNamib Railway to Windhoek, and on B2 road.

Walvis Bay, with its large bay and sand dunes, is an important centre of tourism activity in Namibia. Attractions include the artificial Bird Island, centre of a guano collection industry, the Dune 7 sand dune, the salt works, the abundant birdlife, and a museum. Kuisebmund Stadium, home to two clubs in the Namibia Premier League, is also located in the city. The beach resort of Langstrand lies just a few kilometres north. The Walvis Bay Export Processing Zone is an important facet of the local economy.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mbathera was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 – Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. ^ "2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report" (PDF). Statistics Namibia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Walvis Bay". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Local Authorities". Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN). Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  6. ^ "ELECTIONS 2010: Erongo regional profile". New Era. 16 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  7. ^ Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis, The Namibian Dolphin Project