Hermanus

thumb|View of Hermanus and Grotto Beach from Rotary Way. Hermanus (; originally called Hermanuspietersfontein, but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service), is a town on the southern coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is known for Southern Right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons, and is a popular retirement location.

Key facts

Settlement.name: Hermanus
Settlement.image_caption: Clockwise from top: Panoramic view of Hermanus, the Old Harbour, Hermanus coastline, view from Rotary Way.
Settlement.pushpin_map: South Africa Western Cape#South Africa#Africa
Settlement.subdivision_type: Country
Settlement.subdivision_name: South Africa
Settlement.subdivision_type1: Province
Settlement.subdivision_name1: Western Cape
Settlement.subdivision_type2: District
Settlement.subdivision_name2: Overberg
Settlement.subdivision_type3: Municipality
Settlement.subdivision_name3: Overstrand
Settlement.subdivision_type4: Main Place
Settlement.established_title: Established
Settlement.leader_title: Councillor
Settlement.area_total_km2: 17.03
Settlement.population_total: 5610
Settlement.population_as_of: 2011
Settlement.population_density_km2: auto

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Area: 24.1
Elevation: 27
Official website: www.hermanus.co.za
Image: Cape Cormorants at Hermanus, South Africa 09.jpg
Dialing code: 028

Show 3 more facts

postal code: 7200
Commons category: Hermanus
inception: 1891-01-01

Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Article

15 sections

Contents

History
Location
Climate
Facilities
Environment
Beaches
Floral diversity
Bird watching
Whales and whale-spotting
Whale festival
Gallery
Notable residents
See also
References
External links

==History== Hermanus Pieters () was a Dutch teacher who arrived in Cape Town in 1815. He was recruited by Dutch-speaking farmers who disliked that English was the only language used in all government schools. He settled in Caledon, but taught Dutch to farmers in a wide area around that town, including the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. He often vacationed at the spring ("fontein") in present-day Hermanus, where he fished and grazed his sheep, the place eventually became known as "Hermanus Pieters se Fonteyn". He died before the village Hermanuspietersfontein existed. 65 years after his death the postmaster decided to abbreviate the name to Hermanus.