104-542: Walvis Bay (English: lit. Whale Bay ; Afrikaans : Walvisbaai ; German : Walfischbucht or Walfischbai ) is a city 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. The bay is a safe haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep-water harbour, protected by
208-408: A tapetum lucidum ; these adaptations allow for large amounts of light to pass through the eye and, therefore, a very clear image of the surrounding area. They also have glands on the eyelids and outer corneal layer that act as protection for the cornea. The olfactory lobes are absent in toothed whales, suggesting that they have no sense of smell. Some whales, such as the bowhead whale , possess
312-485: A vomeronasal organ , which does mean that they can "sniff out" krill. Whales are not thought to have a good sense of taste, as their taste buds are atrophied or missing altogether. However, some toothed whales have preferences between different kinds of fish, indicating some sort of attachment to taste. The presence of the Jacobson's organ indicates that whales can smell food once inside their mouth, which might be similar to
416-632: A claim to Walvis Bay. Walvis Bay was founded at the end of the 18th century as a stopover for sea travel between Cape Town and the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company. No permanent (year round) settlement was attempted and little commercial development occurred on the site until the late 19th century. In the meantime, the Cape Colony had become British, and during the Scramble for Africa ,
520-733: A different reason for it, for example, the killer whale was named "Ballena asesina" 'killer whale' by Spanish sailors. The term "Great Whales" covers those currently regulated by the International Whaling Commission : the Odontoceti family Physeteridae (sperm whales); and the Mysticeti families Balaenidae (right and bowhead whales), Eschrichtiidae (grey whales), and some of the Balaenopteridae (Minke, Bryde's, Sei, Blue and Fin; not Eden's and Omura's whales). The whales are part of
624-570: A form of tourism around the world. The word "whale" comes from the Old English hwæl , from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz , from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kwal-o- , meaning "large sea fish". The Proto-Germanic *hwalaz is also the source of Old Saxon hwal , Old Norse hvalr , hvalfiskr , Swedish val , Middle Dutch wal , walvisc , Dutch walvis , Old High German wal , and German Wal . Other archaic English forms include wal, wale, whal, whalle, whaille, wheal , etc. The term "whale"
728-608: A new party registered in 2018, 1,207 votes), the local Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association with 945 votes, and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM, the new name of the DTA) with 658 votes. Walvis Bay is twinned with: Walvis Bay contains open spaces, scenic beauty and unique marine and plant life. It is well suited for the outdoor lifestyle, boasting sports such as sandboarding, kiting, surfing, swimming, angling, sailing, golf and other indoor and outdoor sport codes. There
832-420: A small bulge sitting on top of its skull, whereas a sperm whale's head is filled up mainly with the melon. The whale eye is relatively small for its size, yet they do retain a good degree of eyesight. As well as this, the eyes of a whale are placed on the sides of its head, so their vision consists of two fields, rather than a binocular view like humans have. When belugas surface, their lens and cornea correct
936-456: A strong desire on behalf of the whales to communicate with humans, as whales have a very different vocal mechanism, so imitating human speech likely takes considerable effort. Whales emit two distinct kinds of acoustic signals, which are called whistles and clicks: Clicks are quick broadband burst pulses, used for sonar , although some lower-frequency broadband vocalizations may serve a non-echolocative purpose such as communication; for example,
1040-429: A two- to three-chambered stomach that is similar in structure to those of terrestrial carnivores. Mysticetes contain a proventriculus as an extension of the oesophagus ; this contains stones that grind up food. They also have fundic and pyloric chambers. Whales have two flippers on the front, and a tail fin. These flippers contain four digits. Although whales do not possess fully developed hind limbs, some, such as
1144-647: A vital logistical hub. In addition to the importance of the port, development would strengthen trade corridors which consists of current road and rail networks. In an attempt to strengthen and enhance trade relations between other African countries, Namport (the Namibian Port Authority) in April 2019 signed a five-year MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Port Authority of Dakar, Senegal. Walvis Bay International Airport provides commercial flight services to
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#17328447532511248-496: A widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals . As an informal and colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea , i.e. all cetaceans apart from dolphins and porpoises . Dolphins and porpoises may be considered whales from a formal, cladistic perspective. Whales, dolphins and porpoises belong to the order Cetartiodactyla , which consists of even-toed ungulates . Their closest non-cetacean living relatives are
1352-458: Is Walvis Bay Lagoon and Aquatic Activities, Kuiseb River Delta and the beach itself where people enjoy swimming and catching fish. The two-kilometre ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 -mile) sand spit allows the adjacent water to remain smooth in very strong winds, ideal for record attempting vessels like that by the Vestas Sailrocket . The ocean side of the sand spit has a world-famous surf spot known in
1456-500: Is a tertiary education institution based in town. International University of Management (IUM), Welwitchia Health Training Center and Monitronics Success College both have branches in Walvis Bay. Walvis Bay is governed by a municipal council that has ten seats. The 2015 local authority election was won by the SWAPO party which gained eight seats (5,818 votes). One seat each was won by
1560-415: Is carried by truck. The Walvis Bay Corridor Group is gearing up to increase import/export-business opportunities in Namibia. The Namibian National Development Plan expects to complete the expansion programme of the Walvis Bay port by 2019. Because of the harbour's geographical positioning, authorities plan to gain a footprint in providing landlocked Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries with
1664-515: Is characterized by the presence of baleen, a sieve-like structure in the upper jaw made of keratin , which it uses to filter plankton , among others, from the water. Odontocetes (toothed whales) are characterized by bearing sharp teeth for hunting, as opposed to their counterparts' baleen. Cetaceans and artiodactyls now are classified under the order Cetartiodactyla , often still referred to as Artiodactyla, which includes both whales and hippopotamuses . The hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus are
1768-437: Is helpful for a 100-ton whale), protection to some extent as predators would have a hard time getting through a thick layer of fat, and energy for fasting when migrating to the equator; the primary usage for blubber is insulation from the harsh climate. It can constitute as much as 50% of a whale's body weight. Calves are born with only a thin layer of blubber, but some species compensate for this with thick lanugos. Whales have
1872-406: Is home to elongated spindle neurons that, prior to 2007, were known only in hominids. In humans, these cells are involved in social conduct, emotions, judgement, and theory of mind. Whale spindle neurons are found in areas of the brain that are homologous to where they are found in humans, suggesting that they perform a similar function. Brain size was previously considered a major indicator of
1976-442: Is in their feeding adaptations and subsequent behaviour. Balaenopterids are the rorquals. These animals, along with the cetotheriids, rely on their throat pleats to gulp large amounts of water while feeding. The throat pleats extend from the mouth to the navel and allow the mouth to expand to a large volume for more efficient capture of the small animals they feed on. Balaenopterids consist of two genera and eight species. Balaenids are
2080-438: Is sometimes used interchangeably with dolphins and porpoises , acting as a synonym for Cetacea . Six species of dolphins have the word "whale" in their name, collectively known as blackfish: the orca , or killer whale, the melon-headed whale , the pygmy killer whale , the false killer whale , and the two species of pilot whales , all of which are classified under the family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins). Each species has
2184-442: Is taken in and expelled. They are warm-blooded , and have a layer of fat, or blubber , under the skin. With streamlined fusiform bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers, whales can travel at speeds of up to 20 knots , though they are not as flexible or agile as seals . Whales produce a great variety of vocalizations, notably the extended songs of the humpback whale . Although whales are widespread, most species prefer
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#17328447532512288-401: Is then expelled through the baleen, leaving their prey trapped inside. This is an efficient method of hunting, in which the whale has no major competitors. Odontocetes are known as toothed whales; they have teeth and only one blowhole. They rely on their well-developed sonar to find their way in the water. Toothed whales send out ultrasonic clicks using the melon . Sound waves travel through
2392-562: The Indohyus , an extinct chevrotain -like ungulate, from which they split approximately 48 million years ago. Primitive cetaceans, or archaeocetes , first took to the sea approximately 49 million years ago and became fully aquatic 5–10 million years later. What defines an archaeocete is the presence of anatomical features exclusive to cetaceans, alongside other primitive features not found in modern cetaceans, such as visible legs or asymmetrical teeth. Their features became adapted for living in
2496-561: The British claimed Walvis Bay. They permitted the Cape Colony to complete the annexation of the territory in 1884, together with the Penguin Islands , following initial steps which had been taken in 1878. In 1910, Walvis Bay, as part of the Cape Colony , became part of the newly formed Union of South Africa . Subsequently, a dispute arose with Germany over the exclave 's boundaries, which
2600-766: The Cape Province , thereby making it an exclave . From 1980, it was represented in both the Provincial Council and the House of Assembly as part of the Green Point constituency in Cape Town , before becoming a separate constituency in 1982. In response, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 432 (1978) , which declared that "the territorial integrity and unity of Namibia must be assured through
2704-461: 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
2808-730: The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA, 565 votes) and the United Democratic Front (UDF, 433 votes). The 2020 local authority election was won by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020. The IPC obtained 5,043 votes and gained four seats. SWAPO was the runner-up, obtaining 3,348 votes and gaining three seats. One seat each went to the Landless People's Movement (LPM,
2912-613: The German campaign in Angola German and Portuguese troops fought several times on the border between German South West Africa and Portuguese Angola . The Germans won most of these clashes and were able to occupy the Humbe region in southern Angola until Portuguese control was restored a few days before the successful South African campaign defeated the Germans. The German offensive into Angola spurred
3016-468: The Monodontidae (belugas and narwhals), Physeteridae (the sperm whale ), Kogiidae (the dwarf and pygmy sperm whale), and Ziphiidae (the beaked whales), as well as the six families of dolphins and porpoises which are not considered whales in the informal sense. Whales are fully aquatic, open-ocean animals: they can feed, mate, give birth, suckle and raise their young at sea. Whales range in size from
3120-626: 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. The Dutch referred to it as Walvisch Baye and the English as Whale Bay . In its eventual formal incorporation, it was named Walfish Bay , which was changed to Walvish Bay , and ultimately to Walvis Bay . It has also been referred to as Walwich Bay or Walwisch Bay . The Herero people of
3224-571: The Namibian general contract workers strike began in Walvis Bay, after starting the day before in Windhoek . The goal of the strike was the abolition of the contract labour system, to oppose apartheid , and promote Namibia's independence. In 1977, following increasing international pressure to relinquish its control over South West Africa, South Africa repealed the Act, but transferred control of Walvis Bay back to
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3328-554: The Transvaal and Orange Free State , ready to fight for the cause in what became known as the Boer revolt (also sometimes referred to as the Maritz rebellion). The government declared martial law on 14 October 1914 and forces loyal to the government under the command of Generals Louis Botha and Jan Smuts proceeded to destroy the rebellion. Maritz was defeated on 24 October and took refuge with
3432-657: 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
3536-589: The Union Defence Force (UDF), although the surviving UDF troops were left free to return to South Africa. To disrupt South African plans to invade German South West Africa again, the Germans invaded South Africa and the Battle of Kakamas took place over the fords at Kakamas , on 4 February 1915 for control of two fords over the Orange River . The South Africans succeeded in preventing the Germans gaining control of
3640-541: The beluga and the narwhal . They both reside in the frigid arctic and both have large amounts of blubber. Belugas, being white, hunt in large pods near the surface and around pack ice, their coloration acting as camouflage. Narwhals, being black, hunt in large pods in the aphotic zone, but their underbelly still remains white to remain camouflaged when something is looking directly up or down at them. They have no dorsal fin to prevent collision with pack ice. Physeterids and Kogiids consist of sperm whales . Sperm whales consist
3744-433: The blowhole , forming an upward, steamy spout, followed by inhaling fresh air into the lungs; a humpback whale's lungs can hold about 5,000 litres (1,300 US gal) of air. Spout shapes differ among species, which facilitates identification. All whales have a thick layer of blubber . In species that live near the poles, the blubber can be as thick as 11 inches (28 cm). This blubber can help with buoyancy (which
3848-616: The cold desert climate ( BWk ) according to the Köppen climate classification . It is caused by the rain shadow of the Naukluft Mountains and the cooling effect of the coastal sea temperature by the Benguela Current . Walvis Bay receives only 13.2 millimetres (0.52 in) average precipitation per year, making it one of the driest cities on earth. Despite its dry climate, the city is relatively humid. Average relative humidity throughout
3952-488: The hippopotamuses , from which they and other cetaceans diverged about 54 million years ago. The two parvorders of whales, baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti), are thought to have had their last common ancestor around 34 million years ago. Mysticetes include four extant (living) families : Balaenopteridae (the rorquals), Balaenidae (right whales), Cetotheriidae (the pygmy right whale), and Eschrichtiidae (the grey whale). Odontocetes include
4056-405: The marine environment . Major anatomical changes included their hearing set-up that channeled vibrations from the jaw to the earbone ( Ambulocetus 49 mya ), a streamlined body and the growth of flukes on the tail ( Protocetus 43 mya), the migration of the nostrils toward the top of the cranium ( blowholes ), and the modification of the forelimbs into flippers ( Basilosaurus 35 mya), and
4160-417: The photic zone . Ziphiids consist of 22 species of beaked whale . These vary from size, to coloration, to distribution, but they all share a similar hunting style. They use a suction technique, aided by a pair of grooves on the underside of their head, not unlike the throat pleats on the rorquals , to feed. As a formal clade (a group which does not exclude any descendant taxon ), odontocetes also contains
4264-424: The porpoises (Phocoenidae) and four or five living families of dolphins: oceanic dolphins ( Delphinidae ), South Asian river dolphins ( Platanistidae ), the possibly extinct Yangtze River dolphin ( Lipotidae ), South American river dolphins ( Iniidae ), and La Plata dolphin (Pontoporiidae). Whales are descendants of land-dwelling mammals of the artiodactyl order (even-toed ungulates). They are related to
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4368-757: The radio station in Windhoek . There was considerable sympathy among the Boer population of South Africa for the German cause. Only twelve years had passed since the end of the Second Boer War , in which Germany had offered the two Boer republics unofficial support in their war with the British Empire . Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz, heading commando forces on the border of German South West Africa, declared that The former South African Republic and Orange Free State, as well as
4472-484: The 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) and 135 kilograms (298 lb) dwarf sperm whale to the 29.9 metres (98 ft) and 190 tonnes (210 short tons) blue whale , which is the largest known animal that has ever lived. The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator on Earth. Several whale species exhibit sexual dimorphism , in that the females are larger than males. Baleen whales have no teeth; instead, they have plates of baleen, fringe-like structures that enable them to expel
4576-420: The 2.6-metre (8.5 ft) and 135-kilogram (298 lb) dwarf sperm whale to the 34-metre (112 ft) and 190-metric-ton (210-short-ton) blue whale. Overall, they tend to dwarf other cetartiodactyls; the blue whale is the largest creature on Earth. Several species have female-biased sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the males. One exception is with the sperm whale, which has males larger than
4680-475: The Cape Province and Natal, are proclaimed free from British control and independent, and every [all] White inhabitant[s] of the mentioned areas, of whatever nationality, are hereby called upon to take their weapons in their hands and realise the long-cherished ideal of a Free and Independent South Africa. Maritz and several other high-ranking officers rapidly gathered forces with a total of about 12,000 rebels in
4784-646: The Cape of Good Hope, shall for judicial and administrative purposes be regarded as if it were part of the mandated territory of South West Africa". However, South Africa had also sought to annex South West Africa itself, and had presented such a proposal to the League of Nations. Consequently, in 1949, the Act was amended to give representation in the Parliament of South Africa to whites in South West Africa. On 14 December 1971
4888-542: The German force in South West Africa, South Africa occupied the colony and then administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory from 1919. Although the South African government desired to incorporate South West Africa into its territory, it never officially did so, although it was administered as the de facto fifth province, with the white minority having representation in the whites-only Parliament of South Africa , as well as electing their own local administration
4992-420: The Germans provided lists of the names of approximately 2,200 troops under their command, Botha told the German delegation that he had been tricked, as he knew that the Germans had 15,000 men. Victor Franke , the German commander, replied, "If we had 15,000 men then you wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be in this position". Before an official declaration of war between Germany and Portugal (March 1916), in
5096-465: The Germans; the rebellion was suppressed by early February 1915. The leading Boer rebels received terms of imprisonment of six and seven years and heavy fines; two years later they were released from prison, as Botha recognised the value of reconciliation. A first attempt to invade German South West Africa from the south failed at the Battle of Sandfontein , close to the border with the Cape Colony, where on 26 September 1914 German colonial forces defeated
5200-550: The Inuit and the coastal peoples of Vietnam and Ghana, who sometimes hold whale funerals. Whales occasionally feature in literature and film. A famous example is the great white whale in Herman Melville 's novel Moby-Dick . Small whales, such as belugas , are sometimes kept in captivity and trained to perform tricks, but breeding success has been poor and the animals often die within a few months of capture. Whale watching has become
5304-734: The Namibian Cabinet, and Carl von Hirschberg, former South African Ambassador to the United Nations. In August 1993, prior to the end of apartheid , the Multiparty Negotiating Forum in South Africa passed a resolution calling for "the incorporation-reintegration of Walvis Bay and the Off-Shore Islands into Namibia." The Transfer of Walvis Bay to Namibia Act was passed by the Parliament of South Africa that year. Following
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#17328447532515408-627: The Namibian government in association with French Groupe PSA signed an investment agreement to initiate a joint-venture to assemble Opel and Peugeot vehicles in Walvis Bay. The N$ 190m-project has been earmarked to commence in 2018 with a forecasted annual target volume of 5000 units by 2020, a target carried by SACU countries' market demand. However, Peugeot threatened to close the plant over disputes with South Africa over import tariffs. Walvis Bay Salt produces approximately 1 million tons of salt per year through solar evaporation of sea water. Most of
5512-464: 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 , 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
5616-578: The Republic of Namibia ( Lutheran World Federation ), Baptist Convention of Namibia ( Baptist World Alliance ), Assemblies of God , Catholic Church . In addition to that there are also Anglican Churches namely St Raphael Anglican Church in Mondesa, St Mathews Anglican Church close to Namport as well as Seafarers Mission at Namport. There is also a Muslim mosque. [REDACTED] Media related to Walvis Bay at Wikimedia Commons Whale Whales are
5720-863: The airport on 15 April 2016. Tourism has had an increasing influence in the town's economy, with international tourists arriving at its airport and port facilities. Several cruise liners visit the port each year. With many tourism activities hosted by small and large tour operators the town has turned into a tourism destination. In Walvis Bay there are a variety of fishing companies like Hangana Seafood, Caroline Fishing, Benguella Fishing Company, Cadilu Fishing, Etosha Fisheries, Kuiseb Fishing Enterprises, Blue Ocean Products, Benguella Sea Products, Consortium Fisheries, Talanam Fish Processor. These companies catch diverse types of fish, like snoek , horse mackerel , anchovy , white steenbras , kabeljou, kingklip , hake , catfish , tuna , and sardines . Hangana Seafood are processors and exporters of fish and fish products. As such,
5824-530: The area called it Ezorongondo . Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão reached Cape Cross , north of the bay, in 1485. There followed Bartolomeu Dias , who anchored his flagship São Cristóvão in what is now Walvis Bay on 8 December 1487, on his expedition to discover a sea route to the East via the Cape of Good Hope . He named the bay "O Golfo de Santa Maria da Conceição". However, the Portuguese did not formally stake
5928-447: The baleen whales (Mysticetes) and the toothed whales (Odontocetes). Whales have torpedo-shaped bodies with non-flexible necks, limbs modified into flippers, non-existent external ear flaps, a large tail fin, and flat heads (with the exception of monodontids and ziphiids ). Whale skulls have small eye orbits, long snouts (with the exception of monodontids and ziphiids) and eyes placed on the sides of its head. Whales range in size from
6032-487: The border from South Africa, one from the coastal town of Port Nolloth and the other from Kimberley. Smuts advanced north along the railway line to Berseba and after two days fighting captured Gibeon on 26 May. The Germans in the south were forced to retreat northwards towards their capital and Botha's forces. Within two weeks the German forces in the south were faced with certain destruction and Governor Sietz surrendered at Korab, north of Windhoek, on 9 July 1915. When
6136-588: The capacity of the port to 750,000 containers per year from 350,000. The terminal also includes a dedicated cruise liner berth. Walvis Bay has a number of public (government-run), semi-public, and private schools. Among them are Duneside High School, Duinesig Primary School, International School of Walvis Bay, The Dolphin Schools, Alexanders Private School, Kuisebmond Secondary School, Walvis Bay Private School and others. A number of kindergartens cater to young children. The Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI)
6240-488: The city's residents, as well as to neighbouring towns and villages. Airlink services flights between South Africa and Walvis Bay. In August 2019 a new container terminal was opened, built on a 40-acre platform reclaimed from the sea. The terminal was built by the state-owned China Harbour Engineering Company with funds from the Namibian government and the African Development Bank, costing N$ 4.2b. This increases
6344-529: The closest living relatives of cetaceans are the hippopotamuses ; these share a semi-aquatic ancestor that branched off from other artiodactyls some 60 mya. Around 40 mya, a common ancestor between the two branched off into cetacea and anthracotheres ; nearly all anthracotheres became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene 2.5 mya, eventually leaving only one surviving lineage – the hippopotamus. Whales split into two separate parvorders around 34 mya –
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#17328447532516448-690: The colder waters of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and migrate to the equator to give birth. Species such as humpbacks and blue whales are capable of travelling thousands of miles without feeding. Males typically mate with multiple females every year, but females only mate every two to three years. Calves are typically born in the spring and summer; females bear all the responsibility for raising them. Mothers in some species fast and nurse their young for one to two years. Once relentlessly hunted for their products, whales are now protected by international law. The North Atlantic right whales nearly became extinct in
6552-508: The colony in half, divided his forces into four contingents under Coen Brits, Lukin, Manie Botha and Myburgh. Brits went north to Otjiwarongo , Outjo and Etosha Pan which cut off German forces in the interior from the coastal regions of Kunene and Kaokoveld . The other three columns fanned out into the north-east. Lukin went along the railway line running from Swakopmund to Tsumeb . The other two columns advanced on Lukin's right flank, Myburgh to Otavi junction and Manie Botha to Tsumeb and
6656-650: The command of General Henry Lukin and Lieutenant-Colonel Manie Maritz early in September 1914. Shortly afterwards another force occupied the port of Lüderitz . The news about the start of the First World War reached German South West Africa on 2 August 1914 via radio-telegraphy. The information was transmitted from the Nauen station via a relay station in Kamina and Lomé in Togo to
6760-404: The concentration of myoglobin than haemoglobin. Before going on long dives, many whales exhibit a behaviour known as sounding; they stay close to the surface for a series of short, shallow dives while building their oxygen reserves, and then make a sounding dive. The whale ear has specific adaptations to the marine environment. In humans, the middle ear works as an impedance equalizer between
6864-553: The females. Odontocetes, such as the sperm whale, possess teeth with cementum cells overlying dentine cells. Unlike human teeth, which are composed mostly of enamel on the portion of the tooth outside of the gum, whale teeth have cementum outside the gum. Only in larger whales, where the cementum is worn away on the tip of the tooth, does enamel show. Mysticetes have large whalebone , as opposed to teeth, made of keratin. Mysticetes have two blowholes, whereas Odontocetes contain only one. Breathing involves expelling stale air from
6968-571: The fishing enterprise accounts for a major part of Walvis Bay's economy. In May 2018, a spokesman for the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor), confirmed that a new N$ 530 million onshore processing plant would be operational by September 2018. After completion, the factory (which plans to employ 700 people of which 70% will be female), promises to be the largest pelagic processing plant in sub-Saharan Africa and will process about 80 000 tonnes of fish per annum. In March 2018,
7072-456: The fords and crossing the river. By February 1915, with the home front secure, the South Africans were ready to invade again. Botha, as a senior and experienced military commander, took command of the invasion, with Smuts commanding the southern forces while he led the northern forces. Botha arrived at the coastal German colonial town of Swakopmund , on 11 February to take direct command on
7176-524: The huge mouthfuls of water they take in while retaining the krill and plankton they feed on. Because their heads are enormous—making up as much as 40% of their total body mass—and they have throat pleats that enable them to expand their mouths, they are able to take huge quantities of water into their mouth at a time. Baleen whales also have a well-developed sense of smell. Toothed whales, in contrast, have conical teeth adapted to catching fish or squid . They also have such keen hearing—whether above or below
7280-567: The intelligence of an animal. Since most of the brain is used for maintaining bodily functions, greater ratios of brain-to-body mass may increase the amount of brain mass available for more complex cognitive tasks. Allometric analysis indicates that mammalian brain size scales at approximately the ⅔ or ¾ exponent of the body mass. Comparison of a particular animal's brain size with the expected brain size based on such allometric analysis provides an encephalisation quotient that can be used as another indication of animal intelligence. Sperm whales have
7384-559: The international surf media as "Skeleton Bay." The city is home to Eleven Arrows F.C. and Blue Waters F.C. , football clubs that compete in the Namibia Premier Football League , and the Sparta Cricket Club Ground . Among the places of worship , they are predominantly Christian churches and temples: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia ( Lutheran World Federation ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in
7488-946: The largely terrestrial mammalian clade Laurasiatheria . Whales do not form a clade or order ; the infraorder Cetacea includes dolphins and porpoises , which are not considered whales in the informal sense. The phylogenetic tree shows the relationships of whales and other mammals, with whale groups marked in green. ( carnivorans and allies) [REDACTED] ( horses , rhinos , tapirs ) [REDACTED] ( camels, llamas ) [REDACTED] ( pigs, hogs, peccaries ) [REDACTED] ( cattle , sheep , antelopes ) [REDACTED] ( hippos ) [REDACTED] ( † Ambulocetus , † Protocetus , † Basilosaurus ) ( right whales , grey whales , rorquals ) ( dolphins , porpoises , beluga whales , narwhals ) ( river dolphins ) ( sperm whales ) ( beaked whales ) Cetaceans are divided into two parvorders. The larger parvorder, Mysticeti (baleen whales),
7592-399: The largest and smallest odontocetes, and spend a large portion of their life hunting squid. P. macrocephalus spends most of its life in search of squid in the depths; these animals do not require any degree of light at all, in fact, blind sperm whales have been caught in perfect health. The behaviour of Kogiids remains largely unknown, but, due to their small lungs, they are thought to hunt in
7696-669: The largest brain mass of any animal on Earth, averaging 8,000 cubic centimetres (490 in ) and 7.8 kilograms (17 lb) in mature males, in comparison to the average human brain which averages 1,450 cubic centimetres (88 in ) in mature males. The brain-to-body mass ratio in some odontocetes, such as belugas and narwhals, is second only to humans. South West Africa Campaign [REDACTED] United Kingdom [REDACTED] Portugal [REDACTED] Germany Union of South Africa: Portuguese Angola: German South West Africa: South African Republic: Ovambo The South West Africa campaign
7800-487: The line's terminus. The men who commanded these columns, having fought in Boer commandos, moved rapidly. The German forces in the north-west made a stand at the Battle of Otavi on 1 July but were beaten and surrendered at Khorab on 9 July 1915. Smuts landed with another South African force at the naval base at Luderitzbucht (now Angra Pequena). Having secured the town Smuts advanced inland, capturing Keetmanshoop on 20 May. Here he met two columns that had advanced over
7904-400: The native Ovambo to revolt against Portuguese rule. The ensuing Ovambo Uprising was not fully suppressed by Portuguese and British forces until after the end of World War One. South African casualties were 113 killed, 153 died of injury or illness and 263 wounded. German casualties were 103 killed, 890 taken prisoner, 37 field guns and 22 machine-guns captured. After defeating
8008-517: The nearsightedness that results from the refraction of light; they contain both rod and cone cells, meaning they can see in both dim and bright light, but they have far more rod cells than they do cone cells. Whales do, however, lack short wavelength sensitive visual pigments in their cone cells indicating a more limited capacity for colour vision than most mammals. Most whales have slightly flattened eyeballs, enlarged pupils (which shrink as they surface to prevent damage), slightly flattened corneas and
8112-440: The neck vertebrae, while increasing stability when swimming at high speeds, decreases flexibility; whales are unable to turn their heads. When swimming, whales rely on their tail fin to propel them through the water. Flipper movement is continuous. Whales swim by moving their tail fin and lower body up and down, propelling themselves through vertical movement, while their flippers are mainly used for steering. Some species log out of
8216-586: The northern contingent, and continued to build up his invasion force at Walfish Bay (Walvis Bay) a South African enclave about halfway along the coast of German South West Africa. In March he advanced from Swakopmund along the Swakop valley with its railway line and captured Otjimbingwe , Karibib , Friedrichsfelde, Wilhelmsthal and Okahandja , reaching the capital Windhuk on 5 May 1915. The Germans offered terms under which they would surrender but Botha refused them. On 12 May Botha declared martial law and having cut
8320-417: The outside air's low impedance and the cochlear fluid's high impedance. In whales, and other marine mammals, there is no great difference between the outer and inner environments. Instead of sound passing through the outer ear to the middle ear, whales receive sound through the throat, from which it passes through a low-impedance fat-filled cavity to the inner ear. The whale ear is acoustically isolated from
8424-406: The port has increased from 30,000 containers a year to 370,000 containers in 2016. As of 2017 the port was being upgraded to increase its capacity to move 1 million containers a year by 2019. Bureaucratic and logistical problems at the city's competitor port at Durban , South Africa have diverted traffic to the port at Walvis Bay. Ninety-five percent of all cargo hauled overland through Walvis Bay
8528-440: The pulsed calls of belugas. Pulses in a click train are emitted at intervals of ≈35–50 milliseconds , and in general these inter-click intervals are slightly greater than the round-trip time of sound to the target. Whistles are narrow-band frequency modulated (FM) signals, used for communicative purposes, such as contact calls. Whales are known to teach, learn, cooperate, scheme, and grieve. The neocortex of many species of whale
8632-521: The reintegration of Walvis Bay within its territory". In 1990, South West Africa gained independence as Namibia , but Walvis Bay remained under South African sovereignty, with South Africa increasing the number of troops. However, in 1992, the two countries agreed to establish a transitional Joint Administrative Authority for Walvis Bay and the Offshore Islands. The Authority was headed by two Chief Executive Officers, Nangolo Mbumba , then Secretary to
8736-464: The right whales. These animals have very large heads, which can make up as much as 40% of their body mass, and much of the head is the mouth. This allows them to take in large amounts of water into their mouths, letting them feed more effectively. Eschrichtiids have one living member: the grey whale. They are bottom feeders, mainly eating crustaceans and benthic invertebrates. They feed by turning on their sides and taking in water mixed with sediment, which
8840-471: The salt is for industrial use but the company also produces table salt under the "Cerebos" brand. Walvis Bay is an important logistical port for the southern African region, providing port facilities for the import and export of cargo for the rest of Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Botswana. Since the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) was established in 2000, cargo moving through
8944-549: The sensation of taste. Whale vocalization is likely to serve several purposes. Some species, such as the humpback whale, communicate using melodic sounds, known as whale song . These sounds may be extremely loud, depending on the species. Humpback whales only have been heard making clicks, while toothed whales use sonar that may generate up to 20,000 watts of sound (+73 dBm or +43 dBw ) and be heard for many miles. Captive whales have occasionally been known to mimic human speech. Scientists have suggested this indicates
9048-515: The shrinking and eventual disappearance of the hind limbs (the first odontocetes and mysticetes 34 mya). Whale morphology shows several examples of convergent evolution , the most obvious being the streamlined fish-like body shape. Other examples include the use of echolocation for hunting in low light conditions — which is the same hearing adaptation used by bats — and, in the rorqual whales, jaw adaptations, similar to those found in pelicans , that enable engulfment feeding. Today,
9152-514: The significance of their common border with the German colony. Prime Minister Louis Botha informed London that South Africa could defend itself and that the Imperial Garrison might depart for France; when the British government asked Botha whether his forces would invade German South West Africa, the reply was yes. South African troops were mobilised along the border between the two countries under
9256-440: The signing of a treaty between the two countries, South Africa formally transferred sovereignty of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands to Namibia on 1 March 1994. Due to its South African administration Walvis Bay was developed as a segregated town. The suburb of Kuisebmond , located 3.2 kilometres (1.8 mi) from Walvis Bay city centre, housed Black people; Narraville , located 3.3 kilometres (2 mi) from Walvis Bay city centre,
9360-400: The skull by air-filled sinus pockets, which allow for greater directional hearing underwater. Odontocetes send out high-frequency clicks from an organ known as a melon . This melon consists of fat, and the skull of any such creature containing a melon will have a large depression. The melon size varies between species, the bigger the more dependent they are on it. A beaked whale for example has
9464-429: The sperm whale and bowhead whale, possess discrete rudimentary appendages, which may contain feet and digits. Whales are fast swimmers in comparison to seals, which typically cruise at 5–15 kn, or 9–28 kilometres per hour (5.6–17.4 mph); the fin whale, in comparison, can travel at speeds up to 47 kilometres per hour (29 mph) and the sperm whale can reach speeds of 35 kilometres per hour (22 mph). The fusing of
9568-415: The summer; autumn, spring, and even winter have all seen higher temperatures than the hottest days in summer. These record highs occur when offshore winds blow downwards from the high plateau inland and are nonetheless mild by comparison to many other cities in the tropics at the same latitude. Higher temperatures have been recorded, even just slightly inland, such as a report of 42.8 °C (109.0 °F) at
9672-526: The surface of the water—that some can survive even if they are blind. Some species, such as sperm whales, are particularly well adapted for diving to great depths to catch squid and other favoured prey. Whales evolved from land-living mammals, and must regularly surface to breathe air, although they can remain underwater for long periods of time. Some species, such as the sperm whale , can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes. They have blowholes (modified nostrils) located on top of their heads, through which air
9776-563: The twentieth century, with a population low of 450, and the North Pacific grey whale population is ranked Critically Endangered by the IUCN . Besides the threat from whalers, they also face threats from bycatch and marine pollution. The meat, blubber and baleen of whales have traditionally been used by indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Whales have been depicted in various cultures worldwide, notably by
9880-461: The water, which may allow them to travel faster. Their skeletal anatomy allows them to be fast swimmers. Most species have a dorsal fin . Whales are adapted for diving to great depths. In addition to their streamlined bodies, they can slow their heart rate to conserve oxygen; blood is rerouted from tissue tolerant of water pressure to the heart and brain among other organs; haemoglobin and myoglobin store oxygen in body tissue; and they have twice
9984-478: The water. Upon striking an object in the water, the sound waves bounce back at the whale. These vibrations are received through fatty tissues in the jaw, which is then rerouted into the ear-bone and into the brain where the vibrations are interpreted. All toothed whales are opportunistic, meaning they will eat anything they can fit in their throat because they are unable to chew. These animals rely on their well-developed flippers and tail fin to propel themselves through
10088-488: The water; they swim by moving their fore-flippers and tail fin up and down. Whale ribs loosely articulate with their thoracic vertebrae at the proximal end, but do not form a rigid rib cage. This adaptation allows the chest to compress during deep dives as the pressure increases. Mysticetes consist of four families: rorquals (balaenopterids) , cetotheriids , right whales (balaenids) , and grey whales (eschrichtiids) . The main difference between each family of mysticete
10192-672: The water; they swim by moving their fore-flippers and tail fin up and down. Whale ribs loosely articulate with their thoracic vertebrae at the proximal end, but they do not form a rigid rib cage. This adaptation allows the chest to compress during deep dives as opposed to resisting the force of water pressure. Excluding dolphins and porpoises, odontocetes consist of four families: belugas and narwhals (monodontids) , sperm whales (physeterids) , dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (kogiids) , and beaked whales (ziphiids) . The differences between families of odontocetes include size, feeding adaptations and distribution. Monodontids consist of two species:
10296-537: The whales' closest terrestrial living relatives. Mysticetes are also known as baleen whales. They have a pair of blowholes side by side and lack teeth; instead they have baleen plates which form a sieve-like structure in the upper jaw made of keratin, which they use to filter plankton from the water. Some whales, such as the humpback, reside in the polar regions where they feed on a reliable source of schooling fish and krill . These animals rely on their well-developed flippers and tail fin to propel themselves through
10400-439: The year remains above 80%. The warmest month is February with average temperature 17.9 °C (64.2 °F), while the coolest months are August and September with average temperature 13.2 °C (55.8 °F). The diurnal temperature range is also low, averaging only 5.7 °C (10.3 °F). A weather station operated on the Pelican Point headland from 1958 to 1984. Unusually, the highest temperatures are not recorded during
10504-510: Was eventually settled in 1911, with Walvis Bay being allocated an area of 1,124 square kilometres (434 sq mi). The exclave was overrun by the Germans during the South West Africa Campaign early in the First World War , but the Union Defence Force (UDF) of South Africa eventually ousted the Germans in 1915. Subsequently, Walvis Bay was quickly integrated into the new martial law regime in South West Africa. South Africa
10608-467: Was inhabited by Coloureds ; and Whites lived in the city centre. After the incorporation of the town into Namibia, many people have settled in shacks around it. In an effort to reduce the impact of the informal settlements , the municipality formed the Tutaleni Housing Project to the northeast. Despite its location within the tropics , Walvis Bay features the very rare mild variation of
10712-585: Was later awarded control (a Class "C" mandate ) over South West Africa by the League of Nations to administer the territory. Civilian rule was restored in South West Africa in 1921 and administration of Walvis Bay was transferred to South West Africa under the South West Africa Affairs Act of 1922 . Despite the territory never having been part of German South West Africa , the Act stated that: "the port and settlement of Walvis Bay, which forms part of
10816-596: Was the conquest and occupation of German South West Africa by forces from the Union of South Africa acting on behalf of the British imperial government at the beginning of the First World War . The South African Prime Minister Louis Botha took the unusual move of leading his troops into battle as commander-in-chief, to the frustration of his cabinet . The outbreak of hostilities in Europe in August 1914 had been anticipated and government officials of South Africa were aware of
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