Table Mountain
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Aug 30, 2024 · Cape Town is a modern, cosmopolitan city surrounded by nature. Centred around Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Wonders of the world, the Mother City is known for its beautiful beaches, stunning biodiversity, award-winning food and wine, and sheer variety of experiences on offer.
Cape Town [a] is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. [12] It is the country's second-largest city, after Johannesburg, and the largest in the Western Cape. [13] The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.
- 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
- Things to do on Table Mountain. Ride the cable car. Be whizzed to the top of the Table in a revolving cable car. It’s an exciting five-minute journey, especially as you get an up-close look at the rocky, fynbos-covered mountainside near the end of the trip.
- Things to do in the V&A Waterfront. Tour the Two Oceans Aquarium. This world-class aquarium is a respected conservation and research facility that’s home to thousands of sea animals of all shapes, sizes and colours, uniquely covering both Atlantic and Indian Ocean species.
- Things to do on the Sea Point Promenade. Swim at the Sea Point Pavilion. One of Cape Town’s most prized public spaces, the Pavilion and its pool have been serving the community since 1914.
- Things to do in the Cape of Good Hope. Visit Cape Point. Robbie Kirkpatrick. The 7 750-hectare Cape Point Nature Reserve protects the extraordinary landscape of the Cape of Good Hope.
Sep 13, 2018 · Yes, Cape Town is beautiful—but it also has plenty of depth. From world-class museums to mountains, from centuries-old public parks to cutting-edge public art—not to mention one of the hottest ...
May 17, 2024 · Cape Point, located within the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, South Africa, is a dramatic promontory that marks the southeastern tip of the Cape Peninsula. Known for its breathtaking scenery and rich biodiversity, Cape Point is a popular tourist destination offering stunning ocean views, rugged cliffs, and a variety of outdoor ...
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Cape Town. South Africa, Africa. A coming-together of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, there's nowhere quite like Cape Town, a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. Best Time to Visit.
