Saldanha
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Clockwise from Top: Saldanha beach, Saldanha at night, indigenous vegetation, view over the town, traditional fishermans cottages
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  Saldanha Show map of Western Cape  Saldanha Show map of South Africa | |
| Coordinates: 32°59′52″S 17°56′44″E / 32.99778°S 17.94556°E / -32.99778; 17.94556 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | West Coast |
| Municipality | Saldanha Bay |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.36 km2 (6.70 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)[1]
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| • Total | 28,142 |
| • Density | 1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 29.9% |
| • Coloured | 65% |
| • Indian/Asian | 1.4% |
| • White | 13.5% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 70.3% |
| • Xhosa | 19.6% |
| • English | 7.0% |
| • Other | 3.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) |
7395
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| PO box |
7395
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| Area code | 022 |
Saldanha (Afrikaans: [sal'dana]), also known as Saldanha Bay, is a town of 21,636 people, located 110 kilometres (70 mi) north of Cape Town on the northern shore of Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its situation as a natural sheltered harbour has led to development as a port for the export of iron ore from Sishen in the Northern Cape, which is transported on the Sishen–Saldanha railway line. The port is one of the largest exporting ports of ore in the whole of Africa, and it is able to handle ships as large as 200 000 tons deadweight.[2]
'Agoada de Saldanha' was the early Portuguese name for Table Bay, but later given to the present location by Joris van Spilbergen, meaning 'watering place of Saldanha'.[3]
Bartolomeu Dias was the first recorded European to set eyes on what is now Saldanha.[4]
Saldanha Bay is ultimately named after António de Saldanha, captain of a vessel in Albuquerque's fleet which visited South Africa in 1503.
The port has handling facilities for both bulk iron ore and crude oil.[5] Ore vessels up to 21.5 metre draft are handled, as well as large crude oil carriers up to 20.5 metre draft.[5]
| Gender | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 14,264 | 50.69 |
| Female | 13,878 | 49.31 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |
| Race | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 8,404 | 29.9 |
| White | 3,811 | 13.5 |
| Coloured | 15,286 | 54.3 |
| Asian | 391 | 1.4 |
| Other | 250 | 0.9 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |
| First language | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | 18,524 | 70.3 |
| Xhosa | 5,176 | 19.6 |
| English | 1,059 | 7.0 |
| Southern Sotho | 1,835 | 0.78 |
| Tswana | 170 | 0.65 |
| Other | 1,360 | 1.67 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |
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Municipalities and communities of West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape
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District seat: Moorreesburg | ||
| Matzikama |
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| Cederberg |
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| Bergrivier |
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| Saldanha Bay |
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| Swartland |
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Authority control databases: Geographic  |
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