As early as 1488, the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Diaz groped his way along the south-west African coast. At that time, he called Lüderitz Bay Angra pequena (Little Bay). Adolf Lüderitz, a Bremen merchant, had the area of Angra pequena acquired by a confidante on May 1, 1883. The area within five miles of the bay was bought by a chief for 10,000 Reichsmarks and 260 rifles at the time. (As usual, fraud was also involved here, which corresponded to the treatment of «savages» at the time.)

Since then, the city has borne the name of the fraudulent merchant. Today Lüderitz still has a population of just under 12,000. Of the original six fish factories, two still exist. (The reason is – as almost always – the overfishing.) Now the focus is on the seasonal lobster fishery. Most of them are exported to Japan, where they are popular for their deep red color.

The focus in Lüderitz is currently on expanding the port, from which 150,000 tons of zinc are exported annually. (Like almost all raw materials worldwide, these are also for the most part exported to China. And the Chinese are also investing in the expansion of the port – just as they are doing in Walvis Bay.)

PS. We saved a lobster from the arduous transport to Japan and savored it on 6.4.2021 at the «Portuguese Fisherman», a restaurant in Lüderitz!