Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain National Park) - 2021 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor. Land The winter winds tend to bring in moisture, cold fronts, and stormy weather from the Atlantic. This 77.5-sq-km section of Table Mountain National Park includes awesome scenery, fantastic walks, great birdwatching and often-deserted beaches. The discovery of Cape of Good Hope — a geographic location with one of the most romantic names in the world — is due to Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich biodiversity exist almost within a metropolitan area - the thriving and … Warm and cool ocean currents collide near South Africa’s Cape Agulhas and Cape of Good Hope. The vegetation at Cape Point consists primarily of … The East Indies and Cape of Good Hope Station was a naval station and major command of the British Royal Navy created on 15 February, 1864 as one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy administered its worldwide responsibilities. We visited during our travels through South Africa and we loved it! Other accounts suggest Dias came up with the name himself. Cape of Good Hope. The well-known landmark is central to the history of Cape Town, having served as the seat of government and military operations for two centuries. Interesting Facts About the Cape of Good Hope, (Photo: Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images ), SA National Parks: Table Mountain National Park, Park Profile, Encyclopedia Britannica: Cape of Good Hope, SA National Parks: Table Mountain National Park, Cultural Heritage, UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Cape Floral Region, SA National Parks: Table Mountain National Park, Biodiversity Management, Flora, SA National Parks: Table Mountain National Park, Fauna, Birds, Cape Town Tourism: Boulders Penguin Colony, Rare Animals in the Everglades in Florida, Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights. The warm Agulhas current from the east runs into the cold Benguela current from the northwest. The winds will blow in different directions depending on the time of year: During the summer (September to March), the winds will blow in from the southeast; in winter (May to September) they blow from the northwest. The Nature Reserve is recognized globally for its extraordinary land formation, rich and diverse fauna and unique flora. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. Offshore, the transverse and longitudinal wind patterns on False Bay are caused by the strong winds blowing along the South African coast. Its position marks the original shoreline before years … If you visit between February and August when the penguins are breeding you might see some fluffy baby birds. The ocean eroded the Table Mountain sandstone on the coast, leaving only the hard, rocky cape. It is mistakenly thought of as the southernmost point of Africa and the spot where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The Thebe Tourism Group is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation. Flight Center. The Cape was originally named the Cape of Storms in the 1480s by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias. Rita Kennedy is a writer and researcher based in the United Kingdom. Using the canal, the distance between London and India is _____ maritime leagues. According to folklore, these shipwrecks led to the legend of the Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship doomed to sail the oceans forever after being lost in a severe storm near the Cape. C, 2016 {22-b} DP = 4-2-20-12-0 (38) DI = 0.73 CD = -0.05 - 15 Starts, 3 Wins, 1 Places, 2 Shows Career Earnings: A$1,090,704 The first European to sight the cape was Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 on his return voyage to Portugal after ascertaining the southern limits of … The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve forms part of the Cape Peninsula Park and is managed by the South African National Parks. Image of the Day Wheelchair-friendly walkways guide you through their environment. Part of the Table Mountain National Park that extends from Signal Hill in the north all the way to Cape Point in the south, the Cape of Good Hope is not the southern tip of Africa, despite lying at the south … #5 of 11 things to do in Table Mountain National Park. A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope … The reserve is commonly referred to as Cape Point, after its most dramatic (but less famous) promontory. The area is known as the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and is part of Table Mountain National Park, formerly known as Cape Peninsula National Park. Use the drop-down menus to complete the statements. It is too dangerous for us to enter the area right now so we are monitoring the periphery for any animals fleeing the flames and […] She began writing in 2002 and her work has appeared in several academic journals including "Memory Studies," the "Journal of Historical Geography" and the "Local Historian." The Cape of Good Hope is part of the Table Mountain National Park, and contrary to popular belief, is not actually the southernmost point of Africa, as that title goes to Cape Agulhas. Discover and book Cape Of Good Hope Instagram Small Group Tour with Penguins on Tripadvisor $ USD. But modern geographers said that it was Cape Agulhas that divides these two oceans, which is located about 90 miles southeast of the area. Today the small station that provided refreshments to weary sailors has grown into the bustling city of Cape Town. It's a rocky promontory which was once thought to be where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans met, though modern geographers have confirmed this as Cape Agulhas, about 90 miles southeast. The Cape is also a good place to watch for whales and dolphins. The Cape of Storms, the original name accorded to the present Cape of Good Hope, was not given lightly to one of the most notoriously dangerous coastlines in the world. by Dmitry Moiseenko, member of the AirPano Team that is a member of the global-geography Consortium.. 1 October 2011 with kind permission of AirPano. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, it’s the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. The Cape of Good Hope’s name dates from the days of exploration in the 15th century, when European powers such as Spain and Portugal sent explorers into uncharted places in search of wealth. The Cape was originally named the Cape of Storms in the 1480s by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias. The shore of the peninsula is home to the cape gannet, the African black oystercatcher and four species of cormorant, but the most famous feathered residents are the colony of jackass penguins at Boulders Beach. Summer winds are known to locals as the “Cape Doctor” because they often blow pollution away from the region and help mix oxygen up into the shallow waters of the bay, sustaining small fish and crabs. Caption by Sarah Deitrick, Jacobs, JETS Contract at NASA-JSC. Astronaut photograph ISS059-E-78303 was acquired on May 28, 2019, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a 340 millimeter lens and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Experience the stunning scenery and a wealth of native wildlife at what is almost Africa’s most southerly point. Cape of Good Hope, rocky promontory at the southern end of Cape Peninsula, Western Cape province, South Africa. The Table Mountains are mostly made of sandstone, a soft rock. Initially, Europeans bartered with the local Khoikhoi people for food and water but in 1652 the Dutch East India Company established a small provision station in the sheltered bay behind the Cape peninsula, forming the first European settlement in the region. Named for the optimism resulting from a sea route from Europe to India and destinations further east, the Cape of Good Hope is a peninsula near Cape Town in South Africa. Winds and wave refraction give the area around Provincetown a distinctive hook shape. Image of the Day © 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Originally named the Cape of Storms, it was later renamed to Good Hope in order to attract more people to the Cape Sea Route. 6,893 Reviews. With Debbie Brown, Farouk Valley-Omar, Parinita Jeaven, David Isaacs. A fiercely windy spot that matches the cape's dramatic terrain, it marks a point where one travels more eastward than southward. Land. Ferocious winds and huge waves have long made it perilous to navigate around the southernmost tip of South America. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Add to Plan. A Cape Town landmark, the Castle of Good Hope, is a prime example of a “star fort”. The waters near the Cape, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, can be treacherous for ships. If you want to know more about the Cape of Good Hope history, read on. The Cape Peninsula (Afrikaans: Kaapse Skiereiland) is a generally rocky peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the southwestern extremity of South Africa's Atlantic coast. The Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point is a bit of a trek from central Cape Town: The nearly 40-mile drive will take roughly an hour. Legend has it that the ghosts of the crew of The Flying Dutchman haunt the headland and its waters, though visiting tourists are much more likely to see penguins, dassies, antelopes and perhaps a southern right whale. But previous visitors insist the trip is worth it. Water Fynbos, or “fine bush,” are the most common category of plant found here and many of the species are unique to the Cape peninsula. 9 December 2016. Cape Point, a World Heritage Site, and protected Nature Reserve is an area of vast natural beauty, world renown for it natural vegetation and rich bio-diversity. Cape mountain zebra are occasionally seen on the Cape. Traditionally, it is regarded as the land where the two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic, meet. About Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Vasco da Gama was best known for being the first to sail from Europe to India by rounding Africa ’s Cape of Good Hope. Thebe Tourism Group manages the facilities at Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park and promotes it as one of South Africa’s key tourism attractions. An astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS) shot this photograph of the southwestern coast of South Africa. Directed by Mark Bamford. The Cape plays an important role in South African history as a stopping point for trading ships sailing between Europe and the European colonies in the east. Facilities include the Flying Dutchman Funicular, the Two Oceans Restaurant, Food Shop and three retail shops. Image of the Day Evidence of numerous shipwrecks litters the Cape coast from west to east, some of which may still be seen today around Cape Point. Situated on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland known for it’s stunning scenery. Water. Kate (Brown) runs the shelter and is the object of attraction for a shy vet (Visser). The Cape of Good Hope is part of the Table Mountain range. Cape Of Good Hope Instagram Small Group Tour with Penguins cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. The Treacherous and Productive Seas of Southern Africa, NASA Goddard Space Human Presence. Nature & Wildlife Areas, Lookouts. One of the southernmost points in Africa, it is among the most famous capes in maritime history. It is known for the stormy weather and rough seas encountered there. The first European to see the Cape was Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who was searching for the southern limits of the African continent. Contrary to the belief that the southern tip of Africa is synonymous with the Cape of Good Hope, the cape is actually a craggy promontory that meets the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean on Cape Peninsula. According to some historical accounts, Dias named the place the “Cape of Storms,” but later changed it to “Cape of Good Hope” at the suggestion of King John II of Portugal because of the trading opportunities it brought. United States It was later renamed to Good Hope to attract more people to the Cape Sea Route that passed the southern coast of Africa. Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Interesting Facts About the Cape of Good Hope (Photo: Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images ). Cape of Good Hope. The Cape is part of Table Mountain National Park, and you might see park rangers working to remove invasive species like the rooikrans, wattle, pine and blue gum that threaten the survival of native plants. Overview Hotels. Named for the optimism resulting from a sea route from Europe to India and destinations further east, the Cape of Good Hope is a peninsula near Cape Town in South Africa. Visit the 3,000-strong colony in False Bay to see the birds up close in one of only a small number of mainland colonies. Dangerous waves from these currents have caused many shipwrecks. Cape of Good Hope ★★½ 2004 (PG-13) A Cape Town animal rescue shelter is the link for numerous characters and their stories. It was somewhere near the Cape - THE Cape being, of course, the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape of Storms of its Portuguese discoverer. The Cape peninsula is one of eight protected areas in the region, jointly designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the richness of its plant life. The southernmost tip of South Africa ’s Cape Peninsula is called the Cape of Good Hope. Image of the Day Nelson Mandela took the long view of his country and world, as does this photo from the space station. The Cape of Good Hope is a narrow, rocky piece of land that juts out into the South Atlantic Ocean, found in South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. The Cape of Good Hope has Inspectors at the site of the fire and stationed at the Disaster Operation Centre in Goodwood forming part of the disaster risk management team. Although the 553,000 hectares of the Cape Floral Region make up only 0.5 percent of the area of Africa, nearly 20 percent of the continent’s plants are represented. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) b. Land Stand at the top of the 650 foot (200 meter) high cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope and you can well imagine the trepidation felt by the … The Cape of Good Hope section of the park is generally wild, unspoiled and undeveloped and is an important haven for seabirds. The Cape eventually became a significant port and waypoint point for sailors traveling from Europe to Asia. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 59 crew. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias led the first European expedition round the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. More frequently seen are baboons, several species of antelope and the small furry dassie, which is a close genetic relative to the elephant. She holds a Ph.D. in history and an honours degree in geography from the University of Ulster. Cape of Good Hope#. This wild unpopulated section of landmass cuts deep into the South Atlantic Ocean, and provides a spectacular backdrop for this National Parks’ incredible bio-diversity. The Cape of Good Hope is located at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, which is also home to Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. Background information: This chart shows the distance between three cities and India via two routes: the Suez Canal and around the Cape of Good Hope of Africa. The entrance gate for the Cape of Good Hope is about 50 km (~ 31 miles) south of Cape Town. However, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided a much shorter route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, making the long trip around Africa inefficient. The Cape of Good Hope is located at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, which is also home to Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. The Cape of Good Hope lies at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, and comprises a series of rugged rocks and sheer cliffs clambering more than 200 meters/ 183 meter above sea level. The true southernmost point of Africa is at Cape Agulhas, located on the Garden Route of South Africa over 200 km away. Cape of Good Hope. Land. A Drama revolving around 3 women's lives and how they are intertwined. The Cape peninsula is also rich in wildlife, particularly birds. The oldest colonial building in South Africa, the Castle of Good Hope, is a pentagonal fortress built by Dutch colonialists in the 17th century. The Cape of Good Hope is a promontory off of the southern tip of South Africa. Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, was formed by glacier s. Over the course of two voyages, beginning in 1497 and 1502, da Gama landed and traded in locales along the coast of southern Africa before reaching India on May 20, 1498. The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky promontory (high point of rock or land that is projected into a body of water) that is near Cape Town in South Africa. Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.