Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope Go to the Cape of Good Hope

Let's say right away that the Cape of Good Hope is not the southernmost point of Africa. But he is definitely the most famous in all of it south coast.
In the era of the Great geographical discoveries(from the end of the 15th century) ships, rounding the continent, changed course for the first time, turning east towards the Indian Ocean, right here. Therefore, people considered this cape to be the southernmost. Since then, science has stepped forward and clarified that in fact Cape Agulhas, located 150 km to the southeast, should be considered the southern point of the mainland. And the Cape of Good Hope bears the honorary title of the most southwestern point of the African continent.

Cape of Good Hope on the map

• Geographic coordinates -34.357890, 18.475453
• The distance from the capital of South Africa, Pretoria, is approximately 1340 km
• Distance to nearest international airport Cape Town about 45km

An interesting fact is that there are 3 capitals in South Africa. Pretoria is the official capital of the state. But here is the parliament in Cape Town, and Supreme Court in Bloemfontein. And these cities are also called capitals. This is explained as follows: at the beginning of its formation, South Africa was a confederation, which included 3 territories - the Republic of South Africa (Pretoria), the possessions of Britain (Cape Town), and a country with a very exotic name Orange Free State (Bloemfontein). When South Africa was formed, it was decided to distribute authorities evenly across these cities.

Let us return to the Cape of Good Hope. It was originally called the Cape of Storms. And for good reason.
The history of the name is as follows:
Europeans were looking for a sea route to India. For this purpose, in the middle of the last millennium, an expedition set out from Portugal. And in 1488, Captain Bartolomeo Dias rounded this cape for the first time. But these guys failed to get to India, because the team was tired and rebelled. Dias was forced to turn back. On the way back, a storm raged in the area of ​​the cape. The ship and its crew were pretty battered. The sailor did not invent an original name, calling the rocky ledge simply Cape of Storms. A little later, King Juan II of Portugal decided to rename it the Cape of Good Hope, rightly believing that such a name would not only not scare away other sailors, but would also give them hope for a quick completion of the journey.

The king's initiative paid off. Already in 1497, Vasco Da Gama paved the way from the Old World to India. The expedition was successful, and since then the name Cape of Good Hope has been firmly attached to this rocky outcrop. Many sailors began to use this route.

Yes, of course, the souls of the sailors were filled with hope when approaching this cape, because more than half of the journey was behind them. Joy spread across the faces of the team. But no matter how amazing and bewitching the Cape of Good Hope attracts attention, it is quite dangerous for sailors. Storms and storms are quite normal for these places. To this day, about three dozen sunken ships can be seen in the surrounding waters.

To facilitate navigation, a lighthouse 238 meters high above sea level was built in 1857. But it turned out to be too high, and sometimes clouds and fog completely covered it.

After another shipwreck in 1911, a decision was made to move the lighthouse. From 1913 to 1919, the lighthouse was built in a different place and not so high. The new lighthouse rises only 87 meters above sea level. But it can be seen from a distance of more than 60 km. This is the most powerful lighthouse on the entire southern coast of Africa. Since then, the sea route in the area of ​​the cape has become much safer.

There is an interesting misunderstanding. In fact, ships, passing from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, round Cape Point, located a little further. But it is the Cape of Good Hope that enjoys worldwide fame.

Behind Cape Point is a cozy Falsbay Bay, similar to Hawaiian Hanauma Bay. There is a beautiful beach washed by the warm current of the Indian Ocean.

Excellent beaches on the border of two oceans, stunning views of the surrounding area, and the diversity of flora and fauna in the Cape of Good Hope area attract a huge number of tourists.

Cape of Good Hope in photographs

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 strip breaking 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 a warm current 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 the south-west). east direction).

This cape is notable for the fact that from it 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, seeing the beating about high cliffs ocean waves, 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 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 occurred 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 - 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 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 the world where sharks jump completely out of the water while hunting.

The city of Cape Town is located in the Republic of South Africa, on the Cape Peninsula, near the Cape of Good Hope. The city center is occupied by mansions and buildings of old Dutch architecture, built in victorian style. But there are relatively few of them. They are sandwiched on one side by Table Bay and on the other by Table Mountain.

Cape Town is often the last stop on South African tours, which include:

Photo hunt in the national park,

This South African city has a lot of entertainment and attractions, but the main ones are the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, which take the breath away of many travelers who have been there.

Cape of Good Hope

In the 15th century, the Cape of Good Hope served as the personification of the dream of Portuguese sailors looking for a way to India. It was originally called the Cape of Storms, but under King John II this point on the Cape Peninsula was renamed. Now the Cape of Good Hope is famous for its landscapes, which attract millions of tourists. The Cape is the most extreme southwestern point of Africa, which is confirmed by scientists. On the site in front of this place there is an indication with exact coordinates.

Ocean shore near Cape Town.

Nature Reserve on the Cape

The road to the Cape of Good Hope passes through the reserve of the same name. It is distinguished by dense thickets of various plants that make it difficult to travel on foot. Their highest density is observed on the Cape Peninsula, so you can’t get by without a car.

The reserve covers an area of ​​more than 7,000 hectares. In it, along with the rarest representatives of the flora, there are also representatives of the fauna unique to Africa, such as penguins. It is especially unusual to see them next to antelopes and cheetahs, since they are associated only with the coldest points of the planet. However, this is not a mirage. Penguins reached Africa from Antarctica. Previously, penguins walked throughout the reserve, but then a separate area was allocated for them, called Boulders Beach.

Penguins at the Cape of Good Hope.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built in 1860 and is now one of the main attractions of the cape. It rises 240 meters above sea level and is considered the highest in South Africa. There is an observation deck at the lighthouse. It is located at an altitude of 200 meters, and you can climb it either by cable car or on foot. Nearby there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant with a terrace offering amazing views.

From here, tourists can see two oceans at once: one side of the cape is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and on the other, the Indian. Taking a closer look, you will notice that they differ from each other in color.

Beaches

At the Cape of Good Hope you can also relax on the beach. The swimming season usually begins in September: at this time the weather is sunny, and a good tan is guaranteed. The end of the season is in May.

On one of the beaches of Cape Town.

At the same time, there are some climatic features. For example, the western side is characterized by a mild climate, sandy beaches, peace and tranquility. The beaches are located here. It’s warmer in the east, but the strong winds blowing there make it inconvenient, making it difficult to swim, so tourists in this part of the coast prefer to just sit on the shore and admire the ocean.

Excursions

An excursion to the Cape of Good Hope most often includes a visit to the reserve and the penguin shore. But besides them, there are other attractions that are worth seeing. For example, on the coast of the so-called “False Bay” a road was built to the town of Simonstown, where the British Royal Navy base was located in the past.

The island of fur seals, with an area of ​​4 square kilometers and having a rather turbulent history, is also of interest to tourists. Since the 17th century there has been a prison, hospital and military base. It was on this island that Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa, was imprisoned.

In 1999, UNESCO classified the island as a world heritage site. A museum dedicated to the history of the state was opened there. Tourists are given tours of the cells and the prison yard.

Table Mountain

This is the main attraction of Cape Town itself, without which it is impossible to imagine this South African city. Table Mountain, or Mount Table, is recognized as the symbol of the city and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. It rises to 1087 meters.

View of Table Mountain from Cape Town Harbour.

The first European to climb this peak was the Portuguese sailor Antonio de Saldanha. At that time, Table Mountain was covered with centuries-old hardwood trees. They were used in the construction of a wooden fort for a new settlement. Usually mountains end with pointed peaks, but Table Mountain has a flat top, like a tabletop, which is how the mountain got its name.

Most of the time, Table Mountain is covered by clouds, so not all tourists manage to get to it. Because of weather conditions The city authorities may prohibit climbing to the top in order to avoid any incidents with travelers. And the weather in Cape Town is unstable, and the reason for this is the warm and cold currents of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans that are found in this place. When the mountain is covered by thick clouds, the townspeople say that it is covered with a tablecloth.

Many legends are associated with this phenomenon. According to one of them, one of the local residents, whose name was Fan Hanks, smoked tobacco with such a vile smell that the townspeople sent him to the mountain slopes. There he met the devil, who invited him to arrange a competition: who would smoke whom. Hanks accepted the offer. They lit a cigarette, and their smoke covered the entire mountain. Since then, Cape Town residents have referred to this legend when they see Mount Table covered with a white “tablecloth.”

When the weather is good and clear, you can climb to the top using cable car. This mountain is considered the best observation deck; it is included in the list of the ten most visited places by tourists in the whole world. There are viewing telescopes there, a gift shop and a restaurant. From here you can see the whole of Cape Town. But travelers are especially delighted by the view from the top of the mountain during sunset, when the horizon merges with the ocean.

While walking along Table Mountain, tourists will meet many representatives of the local fauna and flora. There are approximately 1,470 plant species here, including Protea, recognized as a real symbol South Africa.

Table Mountain is adjacent to several peaks that are part of the Peninsula National Park. These are Devil's Peak, Lion's Head and the Mountain of the Twelve Apostles.

In addition to visiting the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, in Cape Town you should definitely try wines from the Cape region, which are famous far beyond Africa and are highly valued by many gourmets and wine connoisseurs around the world. And also take a couple of surfing lessons at the most famous surfing beach in South Africa.

The Cape of Good Hope is a popular attraction for tourists traveling to Cape Town, South Africa. This great 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 the 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 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. 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 in 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. Initially, Europeans exchanged with 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 extreme point 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.

Flora

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.

Wildlife

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:

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. Moreover, this great place for whale watching from June to November.
2. You should climb the lighthouse to see best views to the cape There are 3 ways to get to the top. Along coastline There is a path with long stone stairs. 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 will take you to observation deck in 3 minutes for a small fee.
3. 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. Warm waters The Indian Ocean is an added bonus and attracts 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 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 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.

The Cape of Good Hope is one of the most famous places in Africa. For a long time it was considered the extreme southern point of the continent, until it turned out that the neighboring Cape Agulhas is several meters further south. But by that time, the Cape of Good Hope had become famous throughout the world, and is still popular among tourists.

In the first part of the post I will talk about him, and in the second - about the most unusual inhabitants of Africa. Oddly enough, penguins live on the black continent and we went to the coast, where their colonies nest (or rather, even burrow)...

These stones in the water are the end of the Cape of Good Hope:

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There is a parking lot nearby on the shore where you can drive your car. What we did:

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After it was discovered that there was a mistake with the southern point, the Cape of Good Hope was given another honorary category, calling it the most southwestern point of the continent. This is what the inscription on the sign says, next to which everyone takes pictures.

For the first time, I saw a large group of tourists taking pictures: everyone put their cameras in a line in front of the guide, and he took pictures in turn with each camera. It turns out this photographic conveyor belt lasts about fifteen minutes:

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Nearby there is a walking path to the cape itself:

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Somewhere the path goes along the ground, and somewhere there are wooden stairs. There are many black lizards on them that look like miniature crocodiles:

View from Cape of Hope on the South African coast:

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The most fearless tourists take pictures with their feet dangling from the cliff:

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And I just filmed my legs against the background of the cliff to show how steep it is:

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Regular readers know that I love to be photographed in different places, jumping up like a star. The Cape of Good Hope was no exception:

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The neighboring mountain, Cape Point, is significantly higher than the Cape of Good Hope and can be reached by cable car. Our random fellow travelers in the carriage also turned out to be Russian speakers:

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There are three lighthouses on this mountain - in the most highest point, somewhere in the middle and down by the sea. Only the last one works, since both top ones are hard to see in foggy weather:

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However, the tall lighthouse is popular with tourists as it offers excellent views of the Cape of Good Hope:

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On the observation deck there is a traditional distance indicator to big cities peace. I didn’t find Moscow there:

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Great view at the meeting of two oceans - the Atlantic (right) and Indian (left). Their currents are so strong that not far from the shore they collide with each other and form a white seething seam on the calm water surface. Before the Cape was given the name of Good Hope, the first European navigator called it the Cape of Streams:

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The water element is also raging at the foot:

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I took this photo of the Cape and Cape Point a day later from Table Mountain, another famous hill in South Africa (I’ll talk about it in detail in one of the following posts):

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After the Cape of Good Hope we went for lunch near Penguin Beach. Street performers danced near its entrance:

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On the coast where penguins live, there is something like a small nature reserve. Having paid five euros for the entrance, you find yourself on long bridges, behind which birds walk:

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There are enough people who want to see African penguins:

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However, there are also a lot of penguins. They live in burrows, go to sea for fish and come back to feed their offspring:

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This type of penguin is called spectacled or donkey. Why the donkey is clear: it makes sounds similar to the mooing of a donkey. Why spectacled is not clear:

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Spectacled penguins are listed in the International Red Book and the South African Red Book. This is due to the uncontrolled consumption of penguin eggs by African residents. Initially, the population of the species numbered two million individuals, but during the twentieth century, when 450 thousand eggs per year were collected for scrambled eggs, about twenty thousand remained:

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