Duisburg Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Duisburg is a german City in the western part of the Ruhr Area (known as the Ruhrgebiet) in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a district-free city in the Düsseldorf Region. The harbour of Duisburg is the largest inland port in the world. Duisburg has a University with merged in 2003 with the University of Essen.
The current City borders are the result of multiple reforms in which some surrounding Cities were incorporated. At the beginning of the 20th certury Duisburg reached the 100.000 resident limit. Today Duisburg is the 11th biggest City in Germay with currently 505.000 residents. The city is also well-known for coal mining and steel industry. The whole steel producing area with 230 square kilometers the biggest in the world. Six of the seven blast furnaces of the Ruhr Area are located in Duisburg. 49% of all hot metal and 34.4% of all crude steel in Germany are produced here (status 2000).
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2 History 3 Economy and Infrastructure 4 Culture 5 Sport 6 External links |
Duisburg is located at the outskirts of the Bergisches Land at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. The City spreads along both sides of these rivers.
Following Cities are adjected to Duisburg (clockwise starting in the Northeast):
Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Ratingen, Düsseldorf, Krefeld, Moers, Rheinberg and Dinslaken
Lastest archeaological studies show that the market was already used in the 1st Century AD. The "Old Market" was the major central trading place of the City since the 5th Century. The City itself was located at the "Hellweg", an importand tradeway, and a ford over the river Rhine. The Romans had a permanent presence at the ford.
Due to the advantageous geographic position the City became a palatinate and a free City. Duisburg was also part of the Hanseatic League. After 1200 the river moved its bed. The borough of Ruhrort was founded in order to establish a new harbour on the mouth of the Ruhr river. This changed the development of the City Duisburg, it became a peasant city instead of a merchant city. The work of Cartographer Gerardus Mercator and the founding of the University in 1655 recognitioned the City as "Educated Duisburg" ("Duisburgum Doctum").
The rise of the tobacco- and textilesmanufactures in the 18th Century lead to a development which continued with the Industrialization and made Duisburg a Industry Center. Big industrial Companys (Thyssen, Krupp) affected the development of the City. Whole parts of the City were constructed for the workers around the producing areas.
As a major logistical Center of the Ruhr area and an important location for chemical, steel and iron industry Duisburg quickly became a primary target for Allied Bombers. Not only the Industrial Areas but also the residental Areas were bombed. As entry lane to the Ruhr Area there were alerts on a daily dasis since 1943
A total of 299 bombingruns on Duisburg had destoryed the historical cityscape almost completly. 80% of the residential buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged. Almost the whole City had to be rebuild, most historical Landmarks were lost.
Duisburg Port
The Port "duisport" [1] is the largest inland port of the world, it is also officialy a seaport. Sea-going river vessels serve ports in Europe, Africa and Middle East. The numerous docks are mostly located at the mouth of river Ruhr.
Per Year more than 40 Mio. tons of various goods are handeled, more than 20.000 ship call at the Port. The public harbor facilities streches over an area of 740 hectare, 21 docks with a complete area of 180ha and 40 km "coastline". The area of the Logport Logistic Center Duisburg streches over an area of 265ha. A number of companys also have their own private docks so altogether 70 Mio t of goods are handeled in Duisburg.
Streets and Railway
Duisburg is connected to the freeway system (known as Autobahn), 5 freeways cross the city or are very close to the city. In addition there are so-called 'S-Bahn' lines which not only connect the different parts of Duisburg (with 4 Stations) but also connects Duisburg to the other Cities in the Ruhr Area.
A subway ('U-Bahn') and bus system makes for a good internal transportation system.
There are serveral Newspapers which are reporting local events and politics, among others those are the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine" (WAZ), the "Neue Ruhr Zeitung" (NRZ) and the "Rheinische Post" (RP).
There is a local TV Station, who will start as first local Station to broadcast in North Rhine-Westphalia
Duisburg has a comprehensive range of cultural installations and presentation. One highlight are the annual "Duisburger Akzente" [1] which are dealing with actual social or culture-political topics.
Because of its age and its history as seaport, trade and industry center, Duisburgs also offers a variety of architectural places of interest. The spectrum goes from old churches like the "St. Johann Baptist" in Duisburg-Hamborn which was built in 900 to modern age buildings like Micro-Electronic-Centrum in Duisburg-Neudorf from 1995.
Another object of interest is the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord [1] an abandoned industrial complex.
In the City Center there are the Wilhelm-Lehmbruck Museum [1], the City Theatre [1] and the shopping street known as "fountain mile"
Duisburg is the home of the MSV Duisburg soccer team. The team currently plays in the 2nd Bundesliga. The MSV was one of the teams who founded the Bundesliga in 1963/64. One of the best known players to have played for MSV is Helmut Rahn
Duisburg is also known for the rowing- and canoe regatta and the world championships are hosted here regulary.
Duisburg will be the host of the 2005 World Games [1].Geography
Adjected Cities
History
Past Roman time
Middle Ages
Industrial Revolution
World War II
Post War Time
Economy and Infrastructure
Transport
Media
Culture
Sport