PORT ELIZABETH, a seaport 436 m. by sea E. of Cape Town, South Africa, in 33° 58' S., 25° 37' E. The white popula tion increased from 26,303 in 1921 to 33,371 in 1926; in 1921 there were also 11,472 natives, 1,320 Asiatics and 13,203 coloured people. It is the third port of South Africa, and is situated on the shores of Algoa bay, to the east of Cape Recife.
Four distinct parts may be recognized : (I) the harbour and business quarter ; (2) the "Hill," largely a residential part on the tableland overlooking the bay; (3) the "Valley," formed by the Baaken's river, and (4) the "South Hill," east of the river. Other suburbs have also grown up further from the town, such as Humewood, i 4 m. along the shore.
The Harbour.-There is no enclosed basin, and shipping is rather exposed to the south-east winds. Schemes have been passed for the construction of a breakwater to provide an enclosed basin. There are three jetties provided with hydraulic cranes. The depths along side range from 9 to 24 feet. Larger vessels load and unload in the bay, by means of lighters, of which the port possesses 4o, with a total capacity of 4,500 tons. Four refrigerat ing lighters were being constructed (1928) for the fruit export trade. The hinterland of Port Elizabeth for imports extends to
Rhodesia. Its exports are mainly the products of the eastern part of the Cape Province, the most important being wool and mo hair, and, until the World War, ostrich feathers. There is a growing export of fresh and tinned fruits.
History.-Algoa bay was discovered by Bartholomew Diaz in 1488. In 1754 the Dutch settlements at the Cape were extended eastward to this point. In 1799 Col. Vandeleur, after the British occupation of the Cape, built a small fort on the hill, west of the Baaken's river. By 1820, in addition to the troops, the civilian population had grown to 35. In April of that year arrived the first of the 1820 settlers. (See CAPE COLONY: History.) Under the supervision of Sir Rufane Donkin, a town was laid out at the foot of the hills. The real development of the port started when railways were constructed leading to the interior, Kimberley and the Witwatersrand. This work was begun in 1873, at the same time as the building of the existing jetties. Port Elizabeth is largely a British town.