Cape of good hope africa horn. Cape of Good Hope - features of the geographical location, photos and descriptions. Where is the Cape of Good Hope

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It is not the southernmost point of Africa, since it is the most southern point continent - Cape Agulhas, which is located 155 km from the cape Good Hope. But coastline Here the African continent turns east for the first time, opening a passage from the Atlantic Ocean towards the Indian Ocean. The Cape of Good Hope is the most extreme southwestern point of Africa, which is confirmed by the inscription with exact coordinates installed on the site in front of the cape. The Cape Peninsula, having reached its southernmost point at this point, then bends slightly to the north and breaks into the ocean with a high and steep rocky cape - Cape Point, the coordinates of which give its position at 45 meters (1.5") north of the cape Good Hope, although it is on Cape Point that there is a lighthouse called the “Cape of Good Hope”. This gives rise to a well-known misunderstanding, which is easily explained when looking at the area, where it is clear that the ships “go around” Cape Point, behind which Falsbay Bay opens (English), where the warm current enters from Indian Ocean. For this reason, the water temperature on the eastern shore of the Cape Peninsula is always several degrees higher than on its west coast, washed by the waters of the cold Benguela Current from Antarctica.

Story

Travels of Eudoxus

For the first time, the navigator Eudoxus of Cyzicus (130 BC-?) attempted to circumnavigate the world within the African continent. And it all started with the fact that when Eudoxus was returning from his second expedition from India, the wind threw his ship to east coast Africa, where he discovered the wreck of a ship. From stories local population He concluded that the ship sailed from Hades (now this city is called Cadiz, Spain), namely, that it sailed counterclockwise around Africa, past the cape and entered the Indian Ocean. This prompted him to repeat the journey and circumnavigate the continent. Having organized an expedition at his own expense, he sailed from Hades and began to sail along east coast Africa. However, the difficulties were too great, and he had to return to Europe.

After this failure, Eudoxus again set off on a trip around the world in Africa. His further fate unknown, but some, such as Pliny, argued that Eudoxus actually achieved his goal. However, the most likely conclusion is that he died on his journey.

Fra Mauro and his map

Fra Mauro Map (reversed)

“About 1420, a ship from India crossed the Indian Sea towards the island of men and women, off Cape Diab, between the green islands and the shadows. He sailed for 40 days in southwest direction, finding nothing but wind and water. According to the crew members, the ship sailed about 2,000 miles ahead and their luck deserted them. When the storm subsided, they returned to Cape Diab within seventy days."

“Ships called 'junks' navigate these seas, carry four masts or more, some of which can be raised or lowered, and have 40-60 cabins for merchants and only one tiller. They can navigate without a compass because they have an astrologer who, with an astrolabe in his hand, gives orders to the navigator." (Text from Fra Mauro's map)

Expedition of Vasco da Gama

Geologically, the sandstone rocks that make up the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point and Table Mountain are the same.

To find the Cape of Good Hope, sailors set out on their journey more than once, suffered failures and wrecks, but did not stop searching - the road to India must be open. It is the rocky cape, which is the most extreme point in southwest Africa, a place where the waters of two oceans collide with each other, forming a seething white strip breaking against the rocks, opened the way for them to Asia.

The Cape of Good Hope is located in Africa and is the southernmost part of the Cape Peninsula, from where it turns north and after forty-five meters abuts Cape Point, at the foot of which, on the opposite side, begins False Bay, whose waters are heated by the warm current of the Indian Ocean .

The temperature of both air and water in the east of the peninsula is much warmer than on its western side, where the Benguela Current flows from Antarctica. True, the winds blow stronger here and tourists are rarely allowed to calmly soak up the warm rays.

Despite the fact that the Cape of Good Hope has long been considered the most extreme point of Africa, it is in fact Cape Agulhas (on the map it is located more than one hundred and fifty kilometers in the south) east direction).

This cape is notable for the fact that from here the African coast turns east for the first time and opens a passage between the Atlantic and Indian oceans (you can accurately calculate where the Cape of Good Hope is on the map using the following coordinates: 34° 21′ 32.88″ S. , 18° 28′ 21.06″ E).

History of discovery

The Cape of Good Hope was discovered at the end of the 15th century. Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias, to whom the king set a specific task. It was necessary to find out whether it was possible to go around Africa from the south and get to India. For his country, located in western Europe, it was extremely costly to organize land expeditions to Asia.

The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope happened by accident, and unexpected help was provided by a terrifying storm that mercilessly tossed the Portuguese ships for several days: when the ocean calmed down, it turned out that Dias had no idea where the bad weather had taken him. He randomly went north and after some time found himself off the coast of Africa, which turned in an easterly direction.

True, he did not sail further: provisions were running out, the ships were in poor condition, and the crew rebelled. They decided to return home, and on the way he noticed a cape, rounding which he saw that the coast of Africa stretches north, home.

It is interesting that initially, having seen the ocean waves beating against high rocks, he decided to call this piece of land the Cape of Storms.

But the king of Portugal did not like the ominous name, and he gave it a more optimistic name - the Cape of Good Hope, hoping that the road to India had really been discovered. His hope was justified: a few years later, Vasco da Gama, having passed the Cape of Good Hope, sailed to India.

Cape lighthouses

Calling the rocky area of land protruding into the sea Cape Buri, Dias gave it a fairly accurate name: strong currents, winds, storms, fogs, sometimes icebergs floating into this area, led to the crash great amount ships. An important role in this was played by the fact that the rocks along the coast were not only similar to each other, but also often shrouded in fog.

This often threw sailors sailing from India off course: they turned north ahead of time and ended up in False Bay.

If they were lucky, the ships would hit the sandy shore, but mostly they would just crash on the rocks. This bay is notable for the fact that sailing ship It is not always possible to get out of it - despite the fact that it is very windy here, you can easily spend almost six months here waiting for a suitable air flow.

Despite all these circumstances, the authorities on the cape built a lighthouse only in the middle of the 19th century. - and then, after during one of the inspections, inspectors noticed icebergs floating towards the coast. Ice blocks off the coast of Africa shocked them so much that the decision to build a lighthouse and observation post here was made almost immediately. It was built on the nearby Cape Point Mountain, which offers a magnificent view of the Cape of Good Hope.

Lighthouse No. 1

Construction of the first lighthouse was completed in 1860. It was located at an altitude of 270 m - and it could be seen from a distance of 80 km. There was one “but”: it was designed in Britain, so the British, unfamiliar with the climatic features of southern Africa, did not take into account one detail: the top of the mountain on which it was decided to install the structure was often shrouded in clouds at night, making the lighthouse absolutely useless. At the same time, it “served” for about half a century, until journalists paid attention to the problem.

The first case that attracted widespread public attention was the wreck in 1900 of the newest steamship Cockapoo, which was heading from Britain to New Zealand. Deceived by the lighthouse and low clouds, the captain gave the wrong command, as a result of which a high tidal wave threw the ship onto the coast. The authorities managed to hush up this story, accusing the captain of negligence.

But the crash that happened eleven years later could not be silenced: the huge Portuguese liner Lusitania hit a reef a few kilometers from a working, but completely obscured by clouds, lighthouse. It was possible to save the passengers (there were almost eight hundred people on the ship) only because the ship sat very firmly on the reef, which gave time to launch all the rescue boats.

The lighthouse keeper, having received the distress signal, came down with a lit lantern, orienting the liner's crew and allowing almost all the boats to land safely on the shore, except one (it capsized and four of its passengers died). The decision to build a second lighthouse was made, but this one was closed and now serves as a museum, with magnificent views from the observation deck.

Lighthouse No. 2

Despite the fact that the new lighthouse is located lower, at an altitude of 88 meters, and can be seen at a shorter distance, 40 km, its benefits were much greater - shipwrecks in this area were almost reduced to zero. At the end of the 20th century, an electric cable was laid to the lighthouse, restaurants were erected, a funicular was installed leading from the parking lot to the top of the mountain adjacent to the cape, Cane Point, and after conducting an appropriate advertising campaign, they gave impetus to the development of a successful tourism business.

National Park

The Cape of Good Hope is separated from the second most populous city in South Africa, Cape Town, by almost seventy kilometers, and therefore you can get from the capital of the Western Cape Province, armed with a map, by car on a very good road in four hours.

The road will not seem boring, since the way here lies through National Park“Table Mountain”, whose area exceeds 7 thousand hectares, and it itself is distinguished by extremely lush vegetation.

The fauna of the reserve is also interesting: next to monkeys, ostriches, antelopes and cheetahs, spectacled penguins and fur seals feel great here, which not only sailed here from Antarctica, but also managed to adapt to the conditions of local life.

Spectacled penguins

Penguins live on the west coast called Boulders Beach. It was no coincidence that they chose such a place of residence: the cold waters of the Bengal Current help the birds endure the heat - most they spend their time in the water. And only during nesting, in winter, when the air temperature becomes more or less optimal, do they stay on land for a long time. Interestingly, they hatch their eggs in burrows that they dig in the decomposed remains of bird droppings, which helps protect the eggs from overheating.

They are enabled to maintain optimal body temperature by pink-colored markings located above the eyes and acting as a kind of air conditioner: when birds become very hot, heated blood begins to flow faster to the markings, where, thanks to the thin skin, it quickly cools.

Seal Island

Sometimes fur seals rest near the cape, having swum here from their rookery located on small island, just behind the lighthouse, in False Bay (about 75 thousand animals live there). Such a huge colony could not help but attract the attention of white sharks constantly swimming into this bay.

Therefore, from May to September, the island of fur seals is literally surrounded by predators who patiently wait for prey, and as soon as they see an opportunity, they jump out and grab the seal with their teeth and go to the bottom. Interestingly, False Bay is the only place in a world where sharks jump completely out of the water while hunting.

The Cape of Good Hope is a popular attraction for tourists traveling to Cape Town. South Africa. This beautiful place with unpredictable weather, baboons and adorable penguins playing in the ocean. Here you can fully enjoy the stunning scenery and wealth of wildlife.

Description and location

A hill on the Cape Peninsula, located on the world map near Cape Town. It is mistakenly considered the southernmost point of the continent and the place where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. In fact, the tip is located at Cape Agulhas (Agulhas), located on the South African Garden Road, 200 km from the capital of South Africa.

The cold Bengal Current on the west coast and the warm Agulhas Current converge at the foot of one of Africa's top attractions, which, along with nearby Cape Point, offers spectacular scenery.

The summit is located 70 km from Cape Town. You can get there from the city by car in an hour and a half. Legend has it that the ghosts of the Flying Dutchman's crew haunt the Cape and its waters, although visiting tourists are much more likely to see penguins, antelope and perhaps a right whale.

Geographic coordinates of the cape: 54°31′08″ north latitude and 42°04′15″ east longitude. Altitude: 93 m

origin of name

The historical fact of why the Cape of Good Hope is called that is quite interesting. It dates back to the time of exploration in the 15th century, when European powers Spain and Portugal sent sailors to unknown places in search of wealth. The first European to see and discover the cape was a Portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Dias who was looking for southern borders African continent. The date of the expedition he led is considered to be 1486.

According to some historical sources, Dias called his discovery "Cape of Storms" (Cabo das Tormentas), but later changed it to the current name of the cape (Cabo da Boa Esperança), so named at the suggestion of King John II of Portugal because of the trade opportunities it brought this place. According to other sources, Dias himself came up with this name. He was from a family of hereditary sailors. His older brothers, moving south along the shores West Africa, discovered Capes Bojador and Zeleny.

History of the Cape

Nine years passed before Vasco da Gama, another Portuguese sailor, also attempted to travel to the southern tip of Africa on his way to India. The sailors met people from the Khoya tribe, and several members of Vasco da Gama's crew were injured in the clash with them. Others important facts in the history of this area are:

Although the Portuguese were the first to travel the Cape, they were not seriously interested in southern Africa. They were wary of the indigenous population, and the weather was sometimes treacherous and dangerous.
Some early Portuguese navigators chose not to sail around this area. Moreover, in terms of trade, South Africa had very little to offer: gold had not yet been discovered, and the land seemed desolate and unpromising.
In June 1580, almost 100 years later, Sir Francis Drake sailed past the cape. He was in trip around the world commissioned by Elizabeth I of England. The weather was calm and the landscape serene. This view inspired Sir Francis Drake to say the following words: “This cape is the grandest thing and the fairest cape that we have seen in all the circumference of the earth.” More British expeditions followed, and soon other European countries followed in their footsteps.
In the first half of the 17th century, the English and Dutch used the route, which was supposed to go around the cape, for trade purposes. Danish and French ships stopped to replenish water supplies and stock up on fresh food.
Although English, French and Dutch East India companies toyed with the idea of establishing a base on the Cape in the 17th century, it was the Dutch who finally took the first step.

On December 31, 1687, a group of Huguenots was sent to the Cape from the Netherlands. They fled France to escape religious persecution. The Dutch East India Company needed skilled farmers in the Cape, and the Dutch government saw an opportunity for the Huguenots by sending them there.

The Cape of Good Hope plays an important role in South African history as a stopping point for merchant ships sailing between Europe and the European colonies to the east. Initially, Europeans exchanged local residents for food and water, but on April 6, 1652, the Dutch East India Company, under the leadership of merchant Jan van Riebeeck, established a small supply station in a sheltered bay beyond the Cape Peninsula, forming the first European settlement in the region.

On January 19, 1806, Great Britain occupied the extreme point of the peninsula. It was ceded to Great Britain in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 and was henceforth administered as Cape Colony.

Today, the small station that provided refreshments to weary sailors has grown into the bustling city of Cape Town.

Vegetable world

The Cape Peninsula is one of eight protected areas in the region jointly recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage for wealth flora. Although the 553,000-hectare Cape flower region represents only 0.5% of Africa's area, it contains almost 20% of the continent's plants. Fynbos, or "fine bush", is the most common category of plants found here, and many species are unique to the peninsula.

The cape is part National Park Mesa, and park rangers can be seen working to remove invasive species such as wattle, pine and blue gum that threaten the survival of native plants.

wild nature

The peninsula is rich wildlife, especially birds. Its shores are inhabited by the gannet, the African black oyster hunter and 4 species of cormorants. But the most famous feathered inhabitants are the penguins at Boulders Beach. Tourists can get an up-close look at one of the few colonies on the mainland at False Bay. There are special paths here that will lead you through the natural habitat of penguins, and if you visit this place between February and August, you can also see fluffy chicks.

Cape mountain zebra is occasionally found in these areas. But more common inhabitants are baboons, several species of antelope and the small, furry dassie, the elephant's closest relative. You can also watch whales and dolphins here.

Classes and activities

One of the main attractions of South Africa is a narrow peninsula overlooking the ocean. But such a location implies the presence of wind and unpredictable weather. However, the landscape that opens to visitors will not leave anyone indifferent:

The coastline meets a backdrop of clouds with occasional glimpses of sun to create a dramatic landscape. While here, you can watch the zebras wandering around. Moreover, this perfect place for whale watching from June to November.
You should climb the lighthouse to see best views to the cape There are 3 ways to get to the top. There is a path with long stone stairs along the coastline. This route offers the best views of the coast. From the parking lot there is a road all the way to the top. The climb is quite easy and not very strenuous. For those who do not want or are unable to walk, there is the Flying Dutchman funicular, which takes you to the observation deck in 3 minutes for a small fee.
A drive along the Cape Peninsula is one of the favorite additions to tourist route in Cape Town. The highlights of a day trip are the southernmost points of the Cape, and the stunning sea cliffs and ocean views will make tourists feel like they're on the edge of the earth.

Best places

Muizenberg Beach. Muizenberg is a beach suburb of Cape Town known for its white sandy shore and the very colorful houses that decorate it. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean are an added bonus and attract surfers to this place.

Simon's Town and Boulders Beach. Simon's Town is a historic and charming naval town on the shores of False Bay, and Boulders Beach is famous for its colony African penguins. Thousands of individuals go about their daily business: cleaning their wings, looking after their children. The Boulders Beach walk is done on a wooden plank. If you want to get closer to the penguins, you need to go further along sand dunes to Foxy Beach, but be aware that penguins can be aggressive and if you get too close you can experience how sharp their beaks are.

Cape Point. This peak can be reached by driving just over 1 km east of the main headland. This is where the Flying Dutchman funicular is located, offering views of the lighthouse.

Chapman's Peak Drive. There's nothing quite like the windswept Atlantic coastline, and Chapman Peak provides... ocean road the most breathtaking view. This toll highway is carved into the rock and features nearly vertical climbs and blind turns. It starts in the fishing village of Hout Bay and runs to Chapman's Point before ending in Noordhoek. The ocean views are incredibly beautiful along the entire route, but the best are from Chapman's Point - the most high point roads.

The Portuguese sea traveler Bartolomeu Dias first came across the Cape of Good Hope. This significant event took place in 1488. He named it the Cape of Storms. But the Portuguese King João II did not like this name, and he ordered it to be renamed the Cape of Good Hope, hoping that the name would somehow appease the depths of the sea and the path to India would be open, which later happened.

The Cape of Good Hope is the symbol of South Africa. The cape is located on the Cape Peninsula. From Cape Town it takes 4 hours to get here. Time will fly by: beautiful savannas, walking ostriches, baboons, antelopes - all this looks extremely beautiful and organic.

Further the path goes through the reserve with the same name. The surface of the earth here is covered with dense low vegetation, so it is almost impossible to move on foot, only by car. The plants growing in the reserve cannot be seen anywhere else on the planet.

The fauna is also unique. There are monkeys, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, lions, and other predators here. And most importantly, along with these representatives of hot Africa, penguins roam here. You definitely won't see anything like this anywhere.

At the Cape of Good Hope you can sunbathe and swim on the beaches. Swimming season from September to May.

The main attraction of Good Hope is, of course, the 240-meter-high lighthouse, built in 1860. Today the lighthouse does not work, because it is often shrouded in clouds and ships still cannot see it. But it is equipped Observation deck. Leads to her cable car, you can also walk. There is also a restaurant and a souvenir shop here. Climbing onto the platform, you get the feeling of flying over two oceans. Here is the meeting place of the Indian Ocean with the Atlantic, in honor of which there is even a special aquarium in Cape Town. On one side the cape is washed by one thing, on the other by another. If you look closely, you will notice that the oceans are slightly different in color.

From the Cape of Good Hope you can take a boat to Seal Island. On the same small island, only four square meters. km, there was once a prison, and now a museum telling about the historical events of the country.

The Cape of Good Hope is located on the Cape Peninsula, south of Cape Town, South Africa. The Cape of Good Hope is not the southernmost point of the entire continent, but here the coastline turns east and opens a passage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

Coordinates of the Cape of Good Hope:

34°21′33″ south latitude

18°28′21″ east longitude

Cape of Good Hope on the World Map, which can be controlled (scaled and moved with the mouse)

Facts about the Cape of Good Hope:

Table Mountain is located on the Cape of Good Hope.
The legend of the “Flying Dutchman” is directly related to this place.
Not far from the Cape of Good Hope is the island of fur seals.
This is an integral part of all tourist trips to South Africa.
The Cape of Good Hope was discovered by a Portuguese named Bartolomeo Dias.
It was opened in 1488.
The Cape of Good Hope was originally called the Cape of Storms.
There are often storms here, supplied by the Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, the most extreme point of Africa is Cape Agulhas.
The first time attention was drawn to the Cape of Good Hope was the wreck of a steamship.
Not far from the Cape of Good Hope there is a national park.

Cape of Good Hope is on the list: cities