5°27′N 0°58′W / 5.450°N 0.967°W
Gold Coast | |
---|---|
Status | Currently the Republic of Ghana |
Demonym(s) | Gold Coastian or Gold Coaster (Ghanaian) |
Area | |
• Total | 238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Estimate | about 31,072,945[1] |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+0 (GMT) |
The Gold Coast was the name for a region on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa that was rich in gold, petroleum, sweet crude oil and natural gas. This former region is now known as the country Ghana.
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Transcription
Australia's Gold Coast is situated in subtropical Queensland, just an hours drive from the state capital, Brisbane. The Gold Coast is a fast-growing city of a half million people, drawn by the miles of perfect coastline, and a sun-drenched lifestyle. The central Gold Coast skyline looks like a gathering of giants wriggling their toes in the warm Pacific. There's a natural spirit here, found in the incredible beaches, the ocean's shifting moods, and in the cool waterfalls and deep forests of the hinterland. But there's a human spirit too, dedicated to family, vitality, and, having the time of your life! The Gold Coast got its start as a vacation retreat in the 1850s, near its northern end. It's here, that the Gold Coast still shines brightest. Surfers Paradise, is a complete destination in itself; a glittering resort, shopping and entertainment strip. Head to the Sky-point Observation Deck to see the Gold Coast's beaches unfurl in a 20-mile ribbon of sand, studded with headlands, parks and waterways. Just to the south of Surfers Paradise is Broadbeach, where the pace begins to slow. The further you move down the coast the more relaxed the vibe. Burleigh Heads, is home to a stunning national park, and one Australia's legendary surf breaks. It's easy to see why this headland has been an Aboriginal gathering place for thousands of years. A little further south is Currumbin, a place where the bush meets the beach. Hit the waves between Elephant and Currumbin Rocks, or just go for a float in the sparkling serenity of the estuary. Follow the shoreline south to the Gold Coast's most southern beachside neighborhood, Coolangatta. Just a five minute drive from the Gold Coast's international airport, Coolangatta is the regions gateway for most international and interstate visitors. With its shady parks, sheltered beaches and river, Coolangatta is a popular choice for families. And when the conditions are right, it produces some of the most spectacular surf in Australia. The Gold Coast offers plenty of thrills besides its fabulous coastline, it's the theme park capital of Australia. Spend a day riding the waves and waterslides at Wet 'n' Wild. Just up the road, cool off and ride the tubes at Dreamworld's White Water World. Dreamworld is Australia's largest theme park. It features over 40 rides for all ages, and themed lands like Tiger Island. Experience Hollywood on the Gold Coast, at Warner Brothers Movie World. Strap yourself in and take off, on some of the best roller-coasters Downunder. Then buckle up, for The Hollywood Stunt Driver show. Next door, at the Australian Outback Spectacular, saddle-up to a three course meal as some of the country's best horsemen and women celebrate the spirit of the bush. At Sea World, celebrate the spirit of the ocean with some of the sea's most endearing creatures, and a few of the less cuddly ones too. There's also plenty of rides to explore between the shows. If you're feeling the need to settle the nerves after all those theme parks, head to the hills. Just a 30 minute drive inland and perched high on the rim of an ancient volcano, is Mount Tamborine. Explore the rainforest trails and skywalk, before sampling the local produce and wines at Tamborine Village. A little further South, is Springbrook, a world heritage listed national park filled with ancient forests, secret places, and waterfalls that have been flowing since the dawn of time. From up here, high on the escarpment, the Gold Coast beckons, back to the sand, back to the rides, and back to the spirit of Australia's brightest vacation destination.
Etymology and position
The Gold Coast, Slave Coast, Pepper Coast (or Grain Coast) and Ivory Coast were named after the main export resources found there, respectively.[2]
Early uses of the term Gold Coast refer strictly to the coast and not the interior.[2] It was not until the 19th century that the term came to refer to areas that are far from the coast.[2]
The Gold Coast was to the east of the Ivory Coast and to the west of the Slave Coast.[2]
Territorial entities
Gold Coast region territorial entities were:
- Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642)
- Dutch Gold Coast (Dutch, 1598–1872)
- Swedish Gold Coast (Swedes, 1650–1658; 1660–1663)
- Couronian Gold Coast (Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, 1651–1661)
- Danish Gold Coast (Denmark-Norway, 1658–1850)
- Brandenburger Gold Coast and Prussian Gold Coast (Germans, 1682–1721)
- British Gold Coast (English, 1821–1957)
Ghana is the legal name for the region loosely referred to as the Gold Coast comprising the following four separate parts, which immediately before independence had distinct constitutional positions:[2]
- the Gold Coast Crown Colony;
- the Ashanti Crown Colony;
- the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast Protectorate; and
- the Trust Territory of Togoland (under British administration).
The United Kingdom government was responsible for shepherding through the Ghana Independence Act 1957 with Charles Arden-Clarke. Lord Listowel explained that the name was chosen "in accordance with the wishes of the Gold Coastian population".[3]
History
Europeans reached this region of Africa in 1482, and for centuries afterwards, various European empires and trading companies set up trading posts, known as factories there. They used these colonies to exploit the resources rather than to settle large numbers of subjects.
The Portuguese Gold Coast was the first claim.[2] The Dutch arrived in 1598 and in 1642 incorporated the Portuguese territory into the Dutch Gold Coast.[2] The Dutch stayed in the region until 1871, when the last of their settlements were taken over by the British Gold Coast.[2]
There was also the Brandenburger Gold Coast, which established a colony in the area in 1682.[2] It later became the Prussian Gold Coast.[2] In 1721 the Dutch purchased it.[2] The Swedish Gold Coast settlements date to 1650. The Danes arrived in 1663 and later seized the Swedish territory and incorporated it into the Danish Gold Coast.[2] In 1850 all of the settlements became part of the British Gold Coast.[2]
In 1774 a London commercial expert references a witness that "the king of Guinea, the greatest city in all the countries of Negroland, has a mass of gold of thirty pounds weight as it was naturally produced in the mines which is completely pure, tough and malleable without having been smelted".[4] The British had taken over all of Gold Coast by 1871.[2] They captured more territory inland in the late 19th century after the Anglo-Ashanti wars.[2] In 1957, the territory comprising the Gold Coast Crown Colony, the Ashanti Crown Colony, the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast Protectorate and British Togoland were united as an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations under the name Ghana.[2]
See also
- Birimian
- Convention People's Party
- Early history of Ghana
- Geology of Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah
- United Gold Coast Convention and The Big Six
References
- ^ "Ghana - Population". countryeconomy.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "The Legislation Providing for the Grant of Independence to Ghana". Journal of African Law. 1 (2). Cambridge University Press: 99–112. 1957. doi:10.1017/S0021855300000176. JSTOR 745294. S2CID 249895708.
- ^ Lord John Hope, The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (11 December 1956). "Ghana Independence Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 562. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 229–326.
First, there is the name "Ghana." This has been conferred on the new country in accordance with local wishes. It was the name of an ancient kingdom, in what is now French territory south of the Sahara, which has acquired great historic significance in the Gold Coast.
- ^ Postlethwayt, Malachy (1774). "Africa". Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce. Vol. 1 (4th ed.). London: W. Strahan, J. & F. Rivington.