Cape Point: The Scenic Landform

Thu, Dec 3, 2009

Cape Point a promontory located at the southeast corner of the Cape peninsula characterized by towering sea cliffs is an extremely scenic landform and the mountains stretches for about 30 km across the southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. The famous Table Mountain and the well known city Cape Town are in the same peninsula. When the former Russian President Vladimir Putin was here he ensured that he doesn’t return without visiting this distinctly beautiful place.

Cape Point is the site of one of the Global Atmosphere watch’s research stations which has been established to research on the degrading atmosphere. This place was used to spy on the icebergs from Antarctica in the early years of 20th century.

Location

The cape is situated at 34° 21′ 26″ S, 18° 29′ 51″ E and about 2.3 km east and little north of the Cape of Good Hope.

South Africa

Attributes

The peak above Cape Point is higher than that of Cape of Good Hope. The rugged sandstone ridge that rises from the Cape Point at sea level develops into 2 peaks, where the major peak dominates the skyline and here lies an old lighthouse at the top. A new lighthouse has been built at a lower elevation as older one often gets surrounded by fogs making it invisible for the ships, due to this very reason on 18 April 1911, the Portuguese liner Lusitania wrecked just south of Cape point.

Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope both are situated within the Table Mountain National Park; Cape Point occupies about 20% of the total area and is in the southern tip of Cape peninsula. The park may be underdeveloped but is unspoiled and favorites of seabirds.

The meeting of Bengula Current of the atlantic ocean and the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian ocean takes somewhere between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas which creates micro-climate in the Cape Town. There is myth that the meeting point creates obvious visual effect and the sea looks different or changes color at that point but in real nothing as such happens. Around the point and in adjacent waters there are strong and dangerous swells, tides and localized currents and these seas have witnessed many failed journeys, countless marine disasters have taken place for centuries.