South Africa, Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is part of the peninsula, on which there is a national South African nature reserve – the only one in the world with such a rich diversity of fauna and unique flora.
The legendary Cape of Good Hope is the source of many myths and legends. In 1488 Bartholomew Diaz called the peninsula of Cabo Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms. Portuguese King Joao II later gave him the name of Cabo da Boa Esperanza – the Cape of Good Hope. In 1580, Sir Francis Drake announced that it would be “the most magnificent and most beautiful Cape in the whole Earth.”
The first lighthouse was built on the cape in 1860. Nevertheless, because of its high location (238 m above sea level), it was often covered by clouds and fog. When the liner “Lusitania” in 1911 crashed, the lighthouse was moved to a height of 87 m above sea level, in its present location.
In the XVII century, Dutch captain Hendrik van der Decken tried to round the headland in a strong headwind and his ship with the crew mysteriously disappeared. Since then, the legend of the ghost ship “The Flying Dutchman” is being told, which is said to have been often seen near the Cape of Good Hope.
The reserve located on the cape is a flower treasure – they are home to over 1000 different species. The cape earned international recognition as one of six world “flower kingdoms”. Plants that are characteristic of the Cape of Good Hope, are proteins and reeds.
Cape of Good Hope
Here there is a bearish baboon. The proximity to the city and geographical isolation from other populations of baboons threatens their existence. The basic diet of monkeys consists mainly of fruits, roots, bulbs, honey, insects and scorpions, but at low tide they can be seen on the beach, catching shellfish.
Ornithologists can observe on the territory of the cape more than 250 species of birds – a large black eagle, seagulls and cormorants, nectaries, feeding on sweet nectar of a protein, while Egyptian geese cling to rocks in warm sunlight, steppe buzzard, spotted eagle owl, kulik, and also a large African ostrich.
Animal lovers will be able to see zebra, antelope canna, lynx, mongoose and field mice. And also a wide variety of insects, turtles, snakes, lizards and frogs. In winter and spring, you can observe southern whales returning to warm waters to give birth and raise their offspring.
The Cape of Good Hope is an amazing picturesque place with soft white sandy beaches alternating with stunning cliffs. The mixing of the icy Atlantic Ocean with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean has created a unique coastal environment and one of the most productive marine zones around the world.
Diaz Beach can be surfed. This beach is dotted with tiny boulders with numerous screaming representatives of birds. In known places of shipwrecks along the beach you can dive.
Despite the numerous visitors to the Cape of Good Hope, his world remains untouched. Visiting this amazing place will enrich you with memories of bright colors, perfectly blue sky, azure sea water and clean sandy beach.
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