Lighthouse at the Cape of Good Hope. Where is the Cape of Good Hope and who discovered the edge of the continent. What to see in the area

The Cape of Good Hope is a popular attraction for tourists traveling to Cape Town, South Africa. It's a 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 the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Dias, who was looking for the southern borders of the 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 coast of West Africa, discovered Capes Bojador and Green.

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. Other important facts in the history of this area are:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. In June 1580, almost 100 years later, Sir Francis Drake sailed past the cape. He was on a trip around the world commissioned by Elizabeth I of England. The weather was calm and the scenery 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. Europeans initially bartered with the locals 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 Site for its rich 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 headland is part of Table Mountain National Park 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 in 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:

1. 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. It is also a great place for whale watching between June and November.
2. You should climb the lighthouse for the best views of 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.
3. A drive along the Cape Peninsula is one of our favorite additions to the Cape Town travel itinerary. 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 known for its colony of 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 close to the penguins, you need to walk further along the sand dunes to Foxy Beach, but be aware that the 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 gives the ocean road the most spectacular views. 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 incredible all along the route, but the best are from Chapman's Point, the highest point on the road.

There is no place on the world map more mysterious than the Cape of Good Hope: shipwrecks, exotic animals and plants, unusual nature and climate - all this attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world like a magnet every year.

The Cape of Good Hope is located in the South-West of the African continent and is the southern part of the Cape Peninsula. 45 m to the north, the Cape of Good Hope meets another cape, Cape Point. Geographically, the Cape of Good Hope belongs to the Atlantic basin, but is washed by two oceans from different sides: the Atlantic and Indian.

The eastern part of the Cape is always colder due to the Antarctic Current. The opposite coast of the cape is washed by the warm waters of Fels Bay, formed by the Indian Ocean. Due to the collision of cold and warm waters, strong air currents are formed around the cape, giving rise to strong winds and storms in the sea.

The highest point of the cape is Mount Table (Table Mountain), its height is 1086 m. Near the Table there are the mountains Devil's Peak (height - 1000 m), Lion's Head (670 m), 12 Apostles and Signal Hill (350 m).

Table Mountain near the Cape of Good Hope

Table Mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a symbol of the nearby city of Cape Town.

The mountain owes its name to its unusually flat peak. Thanks to which, the Table resembles a table. Not every tourist is able to see the mountain, as it is often covered with clouds. Locals call this phenomenon "tablecloth".

In good weather the mountain is visible from Cape Town. From the city you can climb to the top of the mountain by cable car or on foot. At the top there is an observation deck and telescopes. This gives you a bird's eye view of Cape Town and the ocean. The mountain is composed of sandstones, it has steep slopes covered with vegetation.

History of the formation of the Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is located on the African Plate and is part of the coastal spit of the Cape Peninsula. The history of the appearance of the Cape of Good Hope is inextricably linked with the formation of the African continent. The Cape took shape during the Triassic period, after the separation of Africa from Pangea.

At that time, this land was not a cape at all, but a small island. Over a long period of time, the ocean deposited sand between the island and the mainland, slowly connecting them.

Locals call this phenomenon "Africa's Helping Hand." During the Ice Age, the Cape of Good Hope, like the entire southern part of Africa, was covered with ice.

People began to inhabit southern Africa during the Stone Age, as evidenced by numerous cave paintings. Rock carvings of the cape were discovered nearby in Cape Town.

Explorations of the Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope appeared on the world map during the Age of Discovery. Interest in the cape stems from the East India Company, which required a sea trade route from Europe to India. Like all great geographical discoveries, the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by accident.

The discoverer of the cape is considered to be the navigator of Portuguese origin Bartolomeu Dias. All the men in the Dias family were engaged in navigation, so Bartolomeu was well acquainted with navigation and ship control; already at the age of 30 he became a ship captain on state pay.

In 1487, the Portuguese king Juan II ordered to equip a naval expedition of three ships, two of which were military sailing ships. The goal was to find a new route to India through Africa. A year later, they reached the southern hemisphere of the Earth and began their journey along the shores of the African continent.

Unbearable heat and a storm raging off the coast of Africa forced Dias to change course and set off for 2 weeks to sail the open sea. After the storm subsided, the ships returned to their usual course and reached the southern part of the continent. Ahead was the Indian Ocean and a direct path to the shores of India.

However, Dias failed to reach its shores. The crew began to demand to return home due to dwindling supplies, scurvy and very hot weather. The captain decided to return in 3 days.

During these three days, the ship managed to reach Cape Agulhas and go around it. On the last day of their journey, Dias and his team rounded an unknown cape and turned back. Dias named it the Cape of Storms because strong winds blew around it. The Cape of Good Hope appeared on the world map thanks to Juan II. Upon returning to his homeland, Dias presented a report to the king, who did not like the name Cape of Storms.

It was decided to rename the cape His Majesty the Cape of Good Hope. The name, which was too long, did not catch on and was changed to the Cape of Good Hope. This name was supposed to give hope to sailors heading to the shores of India.

For 5 long years, no one searched the coast of India. Interest in it awoke only after the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. King Juan II again orders an expedition through Africa. In 1498, Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and headed for the shores of India.

Dias later made attempts to reach the Cape of Good Hope, but whether he succeeded in his plans is unknown. Dias's ship went missing off the southern coast of Africa. After which a legend was born that the ship forever wanders off the coast of the cape it discovered. Perhaps this story served as the prototype for the famous tale of the Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship.

The path to India past the coast of Africa was laid, but the Portuguese were not interested in exploring it. The first European settlements in these areas were organized by the Dutch in 1652. It was they who began to study the cape, the population living in these parts and nature.

The pilgrims managed to find out that historically the area of ​​the cape belonged to the Hottentot tribe, a relative of the Bushmen tribe. It was the Dutch pioneers who founded the city of Cape Town near the cape, the name of which can be translated as “proud on the cape.”

Cape Town began to prosper as all the ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope docked at the port to resupply. The cape became an outpost of the East India Company on its way to India.

In 1657, the Hottentots, dissatisfied with slavery and the taking of land by Europeans, started a war. The excitement was suppressed by the Europeans. In 1795, the settlement could not resist the onslaught of Napoleon and the territory, along with the cape, went to France.

The Cape of Good Hope disappeared from the world map in 1796. That year, Great Britain ousted the French, and the Cape became known as the “Provincial Colony of Good Hope.” These territories would later become part of the Union of South Africa.

The British managed to find gold deposits near the cape and organize diamond mines, to which adventurers from all over the world flocked. Cape Town has become the main city in Africa. Only in 1961, the Cape of Good Hope, as part of the Union, became the independent Republic of South Africa (RSA) and regained its name.

Climatic conditions

The climate at the Cape of Good Hope is marine subtropical. It’s not for nothing that the peninsula got its name Cape of Storms. The wind blows strong here and does not stop throughout the year. In summer the wind has a south-easterly direction, and in winter – northwest. The best time for tourists to explore the Cape of Good Hope is spring.

In the southern hemisphere it occurs in September-November. In spring, the cape begins to become covered with greenery, there is little precipitation and the temperature allows you to enjoy a walk along the cape.

In summer, the Cape of Good Hope is heated by the warm currents of the Indian Ocean. This is a hot and dry season with little rainfall. Summer on the Cape lasts from December to March. The average temperature in summer is 25 °C, but in some years the temperature exceeded 40 °C - this is the absolute temperature maximum.

Autumn at the Cape of Good Hope occurs between April and May. This is a pleasant and not hot time to travel. At this time you can fully appreciate the beauty of the local nature.

The greatest amount of precipitation on the cape falls in winter in June-August. In June last year, 122 mm Hg fell. Art.

This is the rainiest and cloudiest month of the year. The wind, which constantly blows on the cape during the rainy season, intensifies, remaining warm.

Average temperature for the last 3 years:

Flora and fauna

The Cape of Good Hope on the world map does not have the best location. But from the point of view of the natural map of the world, this area is unique.

Only here there are signs warning car owners: “When starting the car, make sure there are no penguins under it.”

It’s hard to believe, but on such a small piece of land, animals whose habitats are hundreds of kilometers apart coexist peacefully. Only at the Cape of Good Hope you can meet monkeys, zebras, penguins and ostriches in one place in just a few hours of walking. 5% of all animal and plant species on the planet can be seen in South Africa.

The most frequent guests of the cape are marine inhabitants. Off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope you can meet entire colonies of fur seals, and see sharks and whales swimming past. Since the cape goes deep into the sea, its shore becomes an excellent viewing platform for observing these amazing sea creatures.

One of the symbols of the cape are fur seals. These are small pinnipeds that are black or brown in color. Not far from Cape Town you can see the island of fur seals. According to various estimates, from 50 to 70 thousand seals live on it. The island looks more like flat rocks with water sticking out on them, on which fur seals live. Previously, poachers caught seals for the production of fur coats; now this is officially prohibited and the animals are under the protection of the South African authorities.

The monkey family on the island is represented by baboons, who are so accustomed to living among people that they are not afraid of their presence. Tourists often try to feed the animals, so the South African authorities were forced to put up signs with the following content: “Baboons are wild and dangerous animals.”

There are even employees on the island who drive animals away from tourists with sticks. Baboons belong to the monkey family and are very similar in appearance. The height of baboons reaches 75 cm. The usual habitat of baboons is East and Central Africa.

On the way to the cape, you can meet elephants and herds of antelope, which still live in the Republic of South Africa. African ostriches can be found not only on special farms, but also in the wild. They are the only remaining members of the ostrich family in South Africa. The height of birds can reach more than 2.5 m, and their weight exceeds 150 kg.

An encounter with an ostrich can be dangerous for a tourist. In total, about 850 bird species live permanently in South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. On the cape you can easily find the nests of some of them.

Penguins are a favorite among tourists. Their population on the Indian Ocean coast is large. They scurry around everywhere, their main habitat is Boulders Beach.

Local authorities decided to give the beach to the penguins. The cape is home to spectacled penguins, which are listed in the International Red Book. These penguins are also called donkey penguins because of their ability to make sounds similar to the “ey” of a donkey.

2/3 of the flora of the Cape of Good Hope consists of rare plant species that cannot be found in any other corner of the world. Much of the headland is occupied by the Fynbos biome, which consists primarily of rare bush species. There are about 9 thousand species here.

Good Hope Reserve

The reserve is considered not only the main attraction of the cape, but also of South Africa itself. Its area is more than 7 hectares of land. You can get to the reserve from Cape Town by car or rent a bicycle. The journey by car will take about 1.5 hours. The road to the Cape of Good Hope is laid through the territory of the reserve. There is an ostrich farm nearby.

The Cape of Good Hope remains the most unique point on the world map in terms of the number of unique animal species. Not so long ago, scientists from the UK proved this. The reserve presents all animals and plants living on the Cape Peninsula and in South Africa.

The history of the reserve began recently, in 1938. By that time, more than 1,000 different species of animals and several thousand plants already lived on the territory of the reserve.

This place contains rare species of animals that are found only on the territory of the reserve and animals brought from all over South Africa. Hyenas, rhinoceroses, ostriches, crocodiles, penguins, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants - all of them can be found in the reserve.

The reserve is open daily for tourists, the only limitation being bad weather conditions. During storms and storms, tourists are prohibited from visiting the park and the Cape of Good Hope. The most popular among tourists are fur seals and penguins, who are happy to be photographed and are not afraid of humans.

Cape Beaches

During the swimming season, when the weather on the coast is good, tourists are allowed to swim on the beaches of the cape and sunbathe. The swimming season lasts from September to May.

It is worth remembering that the cape is washed on both sides by different oceans, so the temperature in the western part is always a little lower, but there are sandy entries into the water and the waves are calm.

The eastern coast is warmer, but gusty winds constantly blow there and large waves form. The beaches in this part are more suitable for walking and contemplating the ocean.

There are no blank spots left on the world map thanks to people like Bartolomeu Dias, who spent their entire lives for one discovery. The Cape of Good Hope is an unusually beautiful place filled with the romance of travel. The edge of the earth that everyone should see.

Article format: Mila Friedan

Video about the Cape of Good Hope

Penguins in Africa:

It is not the southernmost point of Africa, since the southernmost point of the continent is Cape Agulhas, which is located 155 km from the Cape of Good Hope. But the coastline of the African continent here 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 45 meters (1.5") north of the Cape of Good Hope, although It is on Cape Point that a lighthouse called the “Cape of Good Hope” is installed. This gives rise to a well-known misunderstanding, which is easily explained by 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 from the Indian Ocean enters. For this reason, the water temperature on the eastern coast of the Cape Peninsula is always several degrees higher than on its western 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 the eastern coast of Africa, where he discovered the wreckage of the ship. From the stories of the 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 sailing along the east coast of 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 eventual fate is unknown, but some, such as Pliny, have 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 a southwesterly 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 was the rocky cape, which is the most extreme point in southwest Africa, the place where the waters of two oceans collide with each other, forming a seething white stripe crashing against the rocks, that 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 actually Cape Agulhas (on the map it is located more than one hundred and fifty kilometers in a southeast 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 Storms, Dias gave it a fairly accurate name: strong currents, winds, storms, fogs, and sometimes icebergs floating into this area led to the wreck of a huge number of 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 it is not always possible to get out of it on a sailing ship - 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, descended 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 path here lies through the Table Mountain National Park, whose area exceeds 7 thousand hectares, and it 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 this place of residence: the cold waters of the Bengal Current help the birds endure the heat - they spend most of 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 swam here from their rookery, located on a small island, immediately behind the lighthouse, in False Bay (about 75 thousand animals live on it). 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 the world where sharks jump completely out of the water while hunting.

The Cape of Good Hope is located in southern Africa. It was discovered by the man who inspired the ocean voyages of two great sailors - Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama. His name was Bartolomeu Dias di Novais. He was from a family of hereditary sailors. His older brothers, moving south along the coast of West Africa, discovered Cape Bojador and Cape Verde. Bartolomeu followed in their footsteps. At the age of thirty, he was already an experienced captain, sailed in the waters of Portugal and Spain, drove caravels to Guinea. He also served at court, and was even the royal treasurer. In 1487, King João II decided to send two warships and one transport ship southward with supplies. Bartolomeu Dias was appointed head of the expedition. In August of the same year, his flotilla left Lisbon. Among those who accompanied Dias on his long journey was seventeen-year-old Vasco da Gama.

Dias's flotilla followed the usual route to the Gulf of Guinea, then descended south, beyond the Tropic of Capricorn. It was January 1488 - the height of summer in the southern hemisphere. At 33° south latitude, a severe storm suddenly hit the ships of the flotilla. The captain ordered to move to the open sea, hoping to “bypass” the prevailing southerly winds that were hindering progress. Two weeks later, when the ocean began to calm down, Dias changed course to the east. For several days the ships sailed in this direction, but the shore was still not visible. Assuming that he had rounded the southern tip of Africa, Dias turned his ships to the north. After two or three days, mountains appeared in the distance; the coast stretched from west to east. In early February, having replenished their supplies of drinking water, the Portuguese rounded Cape Recife, at 26° east longitude, and discovered Bahia Lagoa - the “Bay of the Lagoon”. From there, the coast gradually turned northeast, towards India, and Dias correctly decided that he had circled the entire southern coast of Africa and was now in the Indian Ocean. It would seem that the most difficult thing is left behind, the direct road to fabulous India lies ahead. But it was not there! The ship's crews, weakened by scurvy and exhausted by the long voyage, began to grumble, demanding to turn back. Fearing an open rebellion, Dias relented, asking for three days. He advanced northeast to 27th East longitude and in early March turned his back on the Indian Ocean. On May 16, moving west, he rounded the cape, which he named in honor of St. Brandan, not suspecting that this was the southernmost point of Africa. Later, the cape was renamed Agulhas - “Agulhas”, since a magnetic anomaly was observed near it in the sea and the compass needle had no declination. At the beginning of June another cape appeared. Dias gave it the name "His Majesty the Cape of Good Hope". Having gone around it, he went north and in December 1488 returned to Portugal.

There is a version that Dias called this cape differently - the Cape of Storms, but King Juan II decided that such a name would scare away sailors, and renamed it the Cape of Good Hope - hopes to soon reach the shores of India.

The hope of reaching India by sea remained unrealized for ten years. King João II decided that sending ships around Africa was a troublesome and costly task. It took an exceptional event for the Portuguese crown to return to the Indian project. And such an event was the miraculous discovery of “Western India” by Columbus in 1492. When the Portuguese realized that Columbus had actually discovered the New World, they renewed their efforts to reach India around Africa. In 1498, Vasco da Gama completed the work begun by Bartolomeu Dias. For his feat he was praised by Luis de Camões in his famous poem “The Lysiades”. By the way, it contains a description of da Gama’s meeting with the “spirit of storms” that lived at the Cape of Good Hope and instilled panic in the hearts of sailors.

“Suddenly at night, when we were awake on the deck, a thick cloud, rising above our heads, hid the stars from us. It was some kind of shadow, a terrible and gloomy ghost, the mere sight of which is capable of trembling the most intrepid. At the same time, our ears were struck by a terrible noise, reminiscent of the roar produced by waves crashing onto rocks, although the sky and sea did not indicate the proximity of a hurricane.

A ghost of extraordinary size stretched into the air; the ugliness of his face corresponded to the enormity of his height. The famous Colossus of Rhodes, considered one of the seven wonders of the world, could not compare in height with this formidable ghost. His disgusting members of the body seemed to be animated by an invisible force: abomination, rudeness, cruelty were diffused throughout his entire being; his facial features are somehow dull and gloomy; the head is sadly lowered to the chest, the beard is thick, long, unkempt; the eyes sparkle, as if a bluish-purple flame, more bloody than sparkling, is coming from a dark ditch; complexion pale, sallow; the hair is curly, the lips are blackish and the teeth are yellow. It lets out a deafening roar that seemed to come from the deepest abysses of the sea. Our hair stood up on our heads, his sight and voice chilled the blood in our veins.”

Naturally, Vasco da Gama was not a timid man. He was not afraid of the monster, but was only curious: “Who are you? “To which the ghost angrily answered him: “I am that large cape that you Portuguese call the Cape of Storms. I stand here on the edge of the African continent and the southern countries. And my name is Adamastor."