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Cape Town is located at latitude 33.55° S (approximately the same as Sydney and Buenos Aires and equivalent to Casablanca and Los Angeles in the northern hemisphere) and longitude 18.25° E.
- Western Cape
The Western Cape (Afrikaans: Wes-Kaap [ˈvɛskɑːp]; Xhosa:...
- Geordin Hill-Lewis
Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis (born 31 December 1986) is a South...
- Signal Hill
Signal Hill (Afrikaans: Seinheuwel), or Lion's Rump, is a...
- History of Cape Town
The Cape Town Legislative Council was also established in...
- Devil's Peak
Devil's Peak is part of the mountainous backdrop to Cape...
- Cape Coloured
Demographics. Although Coloureds form a minority group...
- Western Cape
- Overview
- The character of the city
Cape Town, city and seaport, legislative capital of South Africa and capital of Western Cape province. The city lies at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula some 30 miles (50 kilometres), at its southernmost boundary, north of the Cape of Good Hope. Because it was the site of the first European settlement in South Africa, Cape Town is known as the country’s “mother city.”
Cape Town has a beautiful setting: parts of the city and its suburbs wind about the steep slopes of Table Mountain (3,563 feet [1,086 metres] high) and neighbouring peaks and rim the shores of Table Bay; other parts lie on the flats below the slopes or stretch southward across the flats to False Bay. The city covers an area of 116 square miles (300 square kilometres). Pop. (2005 est.) urban agglom., 3,103,000.
The city of Cape Town had its origin in 1652, when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station for its ships on the shores of Table Bay. The location was magnificent, on well-watered, fertile soil, beneath the precipitous walls of Table Mountain. The indigenous inhabitants provided cattle but not labour, and the company imported slaves, mainly from East Africa, Madagascar, and the Bay of Bengal area. The slaves brought with them something of their culture and—especially in the case of the Muslims from the East Indies—their religion. Mixed-race unions took place, but strong racial and ethnic characteristics remained. In 1781 the French established a garrison to help the Dutch defend the city against British attack, and the French presence influenced local architecture and culture. British occupation in the 19th century brought new parliamentary and judicial concepts and freedom for the slaves. Cape Town was the gateway to Europe’s penetration of the South African interior, and close ties with continental Europe were maintained.
Today Cape Town is a modern city with high-rise office buildings and pedestrian malls. Although it is a major political and economic centre, its reputation still rests on its beautiful situation between mountain and sea, its cosmopolitan population, and the liberal outlook of many of its citizens.
Britannica Quiz
World Cities
- Eric Axelson
Cape Town is on South Africa's southwestern coast close to the Cape of Good Hope, and is the southernmost city on the African continent. capetown.gov.za. Wikivoyage. Wikipedia. Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY 3.0. Type: City with 3,740,000 residents. Description: city in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Cape Town is a beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park, located on the southwest coast of South Africa. Learn about its attractions, culture, cuisine and history from Lonely Planet's experts.
Cape Town is a city in South Africa, located between Table Mountain and Table Bay. It has a rich history, a Mediterranean climate, and a diverse architecture influenced by Dutch, French, and modern styles.
Cape Town is located at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, about 30 miles (50km) north of the Cape of Good Hope. Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to the city bowl, with its plateau over 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) high. It is surrounded by near-vertical cliffs, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head.
Jan 17, 2020 · Cape Town is a large city on the Cape Peninsula, surrounded by mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the legislative capital of South Africa and a popular tourist destination with diverse culture and wildlife.
