The Free State is a province of South Africa. The name is a popular contraction of the previous name the Orange Free State. Its capital is Bloemfontein which is also South Africa's judicial capital. On 9 June 1995 its name was changed from Orange Free State to Free State. The current borders date from 1994 when the Bantustans were abolished and included into the provinces of South Africa.
History
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Geography
The Free State is situated on flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. The rich soil and pleasant climate allow a thriving agricultural industry. With more than thirty thousand farms, which produce over 70% of the country's grain, it is known locally as South Africa's breadbasket. The province is high-lying, with almost all land being above 1000 m. The Free State lies in the heart of the Karoo Sequence of rocks, containing shales, mudstones, sandstones and the Drakensberg Basalt forming the youngest capping rocks. The Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains foothills raise the terrain to over 2000 m in the east. Mineral deposits are plentiful, with gold and diamonds being of particular importance, mostly found in the north and west of the province.
Climate
The Free State experiences a continental climate, characterised by warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters. Areas in the east experience frequent snowfalls, especially on the higher ranges, whilst the west can be extremely hot in summer. Almost all precipitation falls in the summer months as brief afternoon thunderstorms, with aridity increasing towards the west. Areas in the east around Harrismith, Bethlehem and Ficksburg are well watered. The capital, Bloemfontein, experiences hot, moist summers and cold, dry winters frequented by severe frost.
- Bloemfontein averages: January maximum: 31°C (min: 15°C), July maximum: 17°C (min: -2°C), annual precipitation: 559 mm
- Bethlehem averages: 27°C (min: 13°C), July maximum: 16°C (min: -2°C), annual precipitation: 680 mm
District municipalities
The Free State is divided into five district municipalities (districts). These are again subdivided into three to five local municipalities each, for a total of 20 local municipalities.
The five districts are:
Major towns
The major towns include:
- See also List of cities and towns in the Free State
Borders
In the southeast, the Free State borders seven districts of Lesotho:
- Mokhotlong - farthest to the east
- Butha-Buthe - northwest of Mokhotlong and northeast of Leribe
- Leribe - southwest of Butha-Buthe and northeast of Berea
- Berea - southwest of Leribe and north of Maseru
- Maseru - south of Berea and northeast of Mafeteng
- Mafeteng - southwest of Maseru and northwest of Mohale's Hoek
- Mohale's Hoek - southeast of Mafeteng
Domestically, it borders the following provinces:
The Free State borders more districts of Lesotho and more provinces of South Africa than any other province.
Language
Sesotho is the dominant home language in most of the province. Afrikaans dominates in the south-west and in many major towns and is widely spoken in Bloemfontein. isiZulu is the major language in the eastern municipality of Phumelela. Setswana is the main language in Tokologo (west).
References
Free State, SA
Free State Map
Coordinates: 29°00′S, 26°00′E
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