The African continent is of great interest to many travelers. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate, the diversity of flora and fauna, and the outlandish nature that attracts adventurers. One of the most popular tourist destinations is the city of Cape Town, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Not far from it is the Cape of Good Hope. Many people consider it to be the southernmost point of Africa. But in fact, this is an erroneous opinion, since Cape Agulhas is located south of the Cape of Good Hope.
Historical facts
Bartolomeu Diaz was the first European to reach the southern tip of the African continent. In 1488, this Portuguese navigator arrived on the shores of the Cape Peninsula. A rocky promontory appeared before his eyes. Since the sea raged overboard, the shore was called the Cape of Storms. However, after a while it got a different name. Due to the fact that the discovery made it possible to find a new sea route to the coast of India, this point was called the Cape of Good Hope. Until now, many mistakenly assume that this is the southernmost tip of the continent.
Returning from India, Bartolomeu Diaz made anotheropening. He discovered Cape Agulhas. In Portuguese, this name sounds like Cabo das Agulhas. Without knowing it, the Portuguese found the southern point of Africa. The distance between the two capes is approximately 150 km.
Sailors consider this place very dangerous for navigation, as shipwrecks have repeatedly occurred near the coast, where Cape Agulhas is located.
Location of extreme point
Quite often in geography lessons they give the task to determine the geographical coordinates of a particular point on our planet. To find the southern tip of the African continent on the map, the longitude and latitude of Cape Agulhas must be known.
What do we know about the location of this extreme point? Geographically, the Agulha Peninsula belongs to South Africa. Cape Agulhas is located southeast of Cape Town. The distance between the southern extreme point and the Cape of Good Hope is 155 km. Along the coast, from the Cape land, a spit stretched, the tip of which is Cape Agulhas. Africa's southernmost point is 34o51S. and 20o00E. D.
Sandbank, the duration of which is 840 km, is located south of Cape Agulhas and stretches from the Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay. This area is dangerous for navigation.
The place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean
If you carefully examine Cape Agulhas on the map, you will notice that it is located at the confluence of two oceans. OThe fact that the waters of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean intersect here is evidenced by a memorial plaque located on the peninsula. This point was not chosen spontaneously. At this point, ocean currents collide with each other and mix.
There has been a lot of controversy over the boundary point for years. This is due to the fact that the junction of the waters of the warm and cold currents changes from time to time. However, according to biologists who have studied the differences between the flora and fauna of the deep sea, the immediate boundary between the two oceans can be established quite accurately. Observations have shown that the differences are related to the difference in water temperature near the east and west coasts. Ecklonia algae have been found to thrive in cold water. They are abundant along the Atlantic coastline as far as Cape Agulhas, while on the east coast they are much rarer.
This argument points to the correctness of the judgment about where the border of the two oceans lies.
Climatic conditions
Cape Agulhas is a rocky area. The climatic conditions in this region are quite mild. There is little precipitation here, and there are no sharp changes in temperature. The Agulha Peninsula belongs to the territory of the National South African Park, so nature is under protection. According to synoptic data, the average precipitation is no more than 600 mm per year. Most of them fall in the winter.
Sights of Cape Agulhas
Although Cape Agulhas is not as popular as its competitor the Cape of Good Hope, there is plenty to see here. There are many wineries in this area. Tourists are offered to visit excursions and visit tastings.
Very attractive local flavor of these places. On the coast you can find picturesque fishermen's huts, in the port - a huge variety of fresh fish, which you will kindly cook in any restaurant.
On the Agulhas Peninsula there is a lighthouse that adorns Cape Agulhas. The coordinates of this structure are the same as those of the southern extreme point of Africa.
Many travelers aspire to come here to see the place where two great oceans meet. A stone monument is erected on the cape, on the memorial plaque of which this fact is indicated. The image of the arrows shows tourists which side of the peninsula is washed by the Atlantic and which side by the Indian Ocean.
Dangerous shipping
In winter, storms rage near Cape Agulhas, and the waves reach gigantic proportions. Their height can reach up to 30 meters, which is dangerous even for the largest ships. Over the past 100 years, about 150 ships have sunk near the peninsula. There are several reasons for this:
- Strong heavy winds blowing from the west are observed in these latitudes.
- Dangerous Shoal.
- Collision of the cold current from the Atlantic with the warm Indian.
- Rapid flow.
The combination of these factorsleads to the fact that quite dangerous waves form off the coast of Cape Agulhas, which can destroy ships. This place is notorious for sailors.
In 1848, a lighthouse was erected on the cape, the height of which is 27 meters. This event was preceded by the death of the ship Arniston, which was wrecked off the coast of the southern peninsula in 1815.
Currently, the lighthouse serves as a museum and a small restaurant.
