Who discovered the cape. Origin of the name Cape of Good Hope

There are many places in the world worthy of attention and visits. Among them there are so amazing and legendary that the flow of travelers there from all over the Earth has not dried up for centuries. South coast Africa, washed by two currents at once, is one of these places, but everything is in order.

Where is the Cape of Good Hope

Without any reservations, southern Africa can be called a “land of wonders”. Agree, it’s hard to imagine any other place on Earth where fur seals and penguins feel great together with baboons and cheetahs! And all this is due to the fact that from the South the “Dark Continent” is washed by two ocean currents at once: one cold and one warm. The cold Benguela Current from the western side dries out a huge territory - Namibia, and the warm Agulhas Current makes eastern part Southern Africa is a flourishing and colorful land. In the middle is the famous one, which for a long time was considered the southernmost point of the continent, until meticulous geographers found out that the neighboring Cape Agulhas was several kilometers further south.

The place where two oceans meet - the Atlantic and the Indian - attracts tourists with its uniqueness and beauty. On the surface of the water, the border between the oceans almost always appears; two currents stubbornly try to overcome each other. The difference in water temperature in the currents leads to constant fog, cloudiness, rough seas and strong winds. High rocky shores allow you to enjoy the amazing and grandiose landscape. Penguins and fur seals, who settled here a long time ago, feel great, having forgotten about their native Antarctica. Reserve Cape Good Hope provides a safe and comfortable existence for animals and birds exotic to the African continent. Penguins are protected from cheetahs, or vice versa, because these birds are not at all friendly and peaceful. All these natural beauties frame the main site - the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape of Good Hope - photo

Story

No one knows how many swear words were addressed to this place, disastrous for sailors, throughout the history of navigation. Judging by the efforts brave sailors and pioneers had to make to overcome this cacophony of ocean currents, a lot... A few ancient sources provide very scanty information about the southern tip of Africa, but... they do! Today we can say with confidence that the Egyptians were the first to sail here 500 years before the birth of Christ. The tireless and very active Pharaoh Necho II hired the brave Phoenicians to find a workaround to Europe to deliver Egyptian goods (by this time Egypt had ceased to be the strongest power, and economic interests were still a priority at that time!). The Phoenicians went to look for the place where Africa ends on the eastern side. The voyage took about three years. Twice the sailors had to stop to grow something edible for themselves because supplies were running low. they probably went around (due to the passage of time it is impossible to say more precisely), since the documents contain a mention that the discouraged sailors noticed that at some point “the sun turned out to be on the north side,” which means they nevertheless crossed the equator. Having returned to Egypt and reporting their impressions of the voyage, the Phoenicians went about their usual trading affairs. The pharaoh also abandoned his idea, since Africa turned out to be too vast to use the roundabout route for trade. In other words, costs exceeded revenues. For the next two thousand years, no one sailed here from Europe. African penguins calmly basked in the sun and dived into one ocean or another for fish. Idyll.

Who discovered the Cape of Good Hope

By the end of the 15th century, Europe realized that it “had to go” to the sea. Vast Muslim lands tightly covered the entire Western world from spices, silk, precious stones and other pleasant and expensive luxuries. Relations with the followers of the teachings of Muhammad did not give any hope for improving relations and normalizing trade. Numerous crusades turned Muslims away from “friendship” with Christians for a long time. The first to rush desperately into the sea to meet India were the Portuguese. By order of King João II, he was sent to look for a way around the known routes to the country of elephants. With great difficulty, overcoming currents and the unfriendly attitude of Africans towards uninvited travelers, his squadron managed to reach Cape of Good Hope. However, in those days this cape did not have any name at all, and Bartolomeo Dias himself called it the Cape of Storms, since the Portuguese suffered through the roof here. Having sailed a little more, the expedition was forced to return home. The sailors refused to continue the journey, which had no end or edge, and it seemed that nature itself opposed their advance to the East.

The beginning, despite some incompleteness of the expedition, had been made. After listening to Dias' report, the king was satisfied with the "intelligence." One thing he didn’t like was the name of the treacherous cape. The monarch seriously feared that no one would want to go to India through such difficult and dangerous lands. It was decided to change the name to “Good Hope”. There was a hope for a successful completion of the expedition to India. No sooner said than done. And a few years later he noted in the ship’s log that after long and skillful maneuvers, his ship passed the Cape of Good Hope. The name really brought good luck to the Portuguese, and Gama, as you know, visited India.

Flying Dutchman

Perhaps this is the most important legend Cape of Good Hope. The legend has many variants, the names of the characters are given differently, but on the main thing they all agree - the captain of a Dutch ship was cursed here. It was like this... There was no more vile person in the world than Captain Van Stratten. Foul-mouthed and blasphemous. They said that he was on friendly terms with the devil himself. The captain never let go of the whip with lead plaques at the end. This whip walked over the backs of the sailors continuously. Van Stratten transported spices and African slaves in the holds of the ship. The unfortunate Africans died in dozens, so the ship of the terrible captain was constantly accompanied by well-fed and satisfied sharks, which the captain himself affectionately called “my little fish.” Once, when Van Stratten's ship found itself off the Cape of Good Hope in a storm, the sailors tried to persuade the captain to return back to wait out the bad weather. The captain, as usual, swore badly, added a couple of terrible blasphemies and swore that he would not retreat even if the end of the World came. At that moment, a thunderous voice opened the heavens: “You said it! Now swim!” Since then, Captain Stratten’s ship can be found off the southernmost cape of Africa. Restless and doomed to eternal swimming, he plows the oceans. The blasphemer himself and his crew, sentenced to immortality, are unable to land on shore. When meeting with other ships, they try to convey the news to their relatives and friends, who have long been in better world. Woe to the one who takes a letter from them - the curse will pass on to the compassionate assistant.

This legend, in different variations and in detail, is told by all the guides on Cape of Good Hope. And tourists eagerly peer into the horizon in the hope of seeing the tops of the Flying Dutchman's masts. To make it more convenient to watch, there are now many convenient viewing platforms and hiking trails. In nearby restaurants, local aborigines sing and dance for visitors to the southern outskirts of Africa who are hungry for all sorts of exotic things. And the penguins on the coast walk around with such an important air, as if they know exactly everything about the “Flying Dutchman”, but never tell anyone about him. Intriguing.

Cape of Good Hope on the map, panorama

He was among the first Portuguese to set foot in Brazil.

It is known that Dias was of noble origin and was in the king’s inner circle. The surname Dias is quite common in Portugal; there are suggestions that he was related to some famous navigators of that time.

In his youth he studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Lisbon. But most importantly, he attended the famous school of sailors in Sagrish, founded by the famous Prince Henry the Navigator, which trained a whole cascade of brilliant Portuguese sailors.

Like almost all nobles in Portugal, Bartolomeo Dias' activities were connected with the sea; from his youth he participated in various sea expeditions. On the campaign of 1481-82. to the shores of Ghana he was already the captain of one of the caravels. For some time, Dias acted as chief inspector of the royal warehouses in Lisbon. There is information that he was familiar with the then unknown Christopher Columbus, and he and Dias even took part in some joint voyages.

After the death of Henry the Navigator (1460), there was a pause in Portuguese overseas expansion - the attention of the royal court was diverted to other things. But as soon as the internal problems were resolved, the attention of the first (and second) persons of the state again turned to overseas expansion, primarily to the exploration and plunder of Africa, and to the search for a route to India. It should be remembered that in this era there was still a transition period in the minds of sailors and cartographers - many of them were sure that the earth was flat! The other part already doubted it. But despite this, exploration of Africa and the search for new routes to the East, bypassing the Turks, continued.

The idea that the Atlantic and Indian Ocean We connect, was first voiced loudly by the Portuguese sailor Diego Kahn. It was Kan who first reached the mouth of the Congo (Zaire). It was he who drew attention to the fact that south of 18 degrees south latitude the coastline deviates to the east. From here Kahn suggested that a sea route around Africa to the Indian Ocean existed.

The Portuguese king instructed Bartolomeo Dias to check Kahn's assumptions, appointing him as the leader of an expedition whose goal was a maximum breakthrough to the south along the African coast and search for access to the Indian Ocean.

For ten months, Bartolomeo Dias prepared the expedition, carefully selected ships, staffed the crew, calculated the supply of provisions and everything that might be needed on a voyage to an unknown destination. The expedition of three ships also included a so-called cargo ship - a floating storeroom, with supplies of food, weapons, spare equipment, building materials, etc. The leadership of the flotilla consisted of outstanding sailors of that time: Leitao, Joao Infante, Peru de Alenquer, who later described the first voyage of Vasco da Gama, Alvaro Martins and Joao Grego. By cargo ship Brother Bartolomeu - Peru Dias - commanded. In addition, several black Africans were taken on the expedition, whose task was to facilitate contacts with the natives of the new lands.

The expedition started from the Portuguese coast in August 1487. In early December of the same year, Dias and his comrades reached the shores of what is now Namibia, where they were overtaken by a severe storm. As an experienced sailor, Dias hastened to take the ships out to the open sea. Here they were tossed about by the sea waves for two weeks. When the hurricane subsided, neither Dias nor his pilots could determine their location. Therefore, we first took a course to the west, in the hope of “bumping” into the African coast, then turned to the north. And they saw him - February 3, 1488. Having landed on the coast, the pioneers noticed the natives and tried to make contact with them. The expedition's black interpreters, however, did not understand the language of the local population. But they behaved quite aggressively and Dias had to retreat.

But Dias and his commanders noticed that the coast in this place does not stretch to the south, but directly to the east. Dias decided to continue sailing in this direction. But then the unexpected happened - the entire leadership of the flotilla was in favor of returning. And the team threatened to riot if they refused. Dias was forced to accept their demands, negotiating the condition that the voyage would continue eastward for another three days.

Having covered a distance of about 200 miles during this time (sailing ships of those times quite allowed such a throw - the caravel could travel 200 miles with a fair wind in 24 hours! The ships reached the mouth of the river, which Dias called Rio di Infanti - in honor of Joao Infanti, one of captains of the flotilla, the first to come ashore here. Another padran was also erected here. With these padrans, the Portuguese, as it were, staked out their possessions on the African continent.

There is nothing to do, the expedition turned back. And already on the way back, Bartolomeo Dias discovered the southernmost tip of Africa, calling it the Cape of Storms. Legend has it that upon returning from the voyage, following a report from Bartolomeo Dias, King João II proposed renaming the place the Cape of Good Hope, which is the southernmost tip of Africa to this day. Beyond the cape the coast turned sharply to the north.

Despite the fact that the Portuguese were technically located south of the coast of their country, and despite the fact that February in the southern hemisphere is a summer month, all members of the team noticed that it was very cold in these latitudes.

Dias' expedition returned to Lisbon harbor in December 1488. They spent a total of 16 months and 17 days on the voyage - three times longer than Columbus did on his first expedition!

Dias received no reward for his discovery.

Bartolomeo Dias, a Portuguese navigator, was the first to round the cape in 1488. When he returned, he stopped at the southwestern tip of Africa and called it Cape of Storms. But King John II of Portugal renamed it, calling it the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama's ship rounded this cape in 1497 on its way to India. Brave Journeys Portuguese sailors allowed to lay sea ​​route around the cape, then regular voyages began, but due to deceptive coastline and dangerous fogs, these places have seen many shipwrecks.

In order to reduce the risk of possible disasters, it was decided to build a lighthouse on the cape. The first lighthouse was built in 1857 at 238 m above sea level, but it turned out to be so high that fog and clouds obscure it for more than 900 hours a year. After the Portuguese liner Lusitania sank in 1911, the lighthouse was moved to another location and built only 87 meters above sea level. Construction work began in 1913 and continued for almost six years due to the difficulty of delivering building materials here and unfavorable conditions. weather conditions. The lighthouse is the most powerful on the coast of South Africa. Visible at a distance of 63 km, it emits three flashes of light every 30 seconds with a power of 10 million candles.

The area around the lighthouse

On the shore around the lighthouse, today you can see the remains of 26 ships that failed to round the cape. One of the most famous shipwrecks was that of the USS Thomas T. Tucker, one of hundreds of ships built by the United States to help the Allies transport supplies during World War II. On its first voyage, the ship lost its course due to fog and collided with rocks.

The picturesque area around the lighthouse consists of green hills through which trails lead down to secluded beaches where elan antelopes, baboons, ostriches and bonteboks, brightly colored antelopes, are found. From this side of the cape, it’s hard to even imagine how many tragedies happened so close by.

The Cape of Good Hope is the most extreme point southwestern Africa. It is located on the Cape Peninsula and is washed on two opposite sides by the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Many people say that in calm weather you can see how the two parts of the body of water differ in color.

In ancient times, due to big waves and constant winds, the rocky cliff was called the Cape of Storms; later King Juan II renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. He truly was the hope of the Portuguese navigators who were heading to India. Today this is reminded by the largest lighthouse in South Africa (240 m above sea level), built in 1860.

In the vicinity of the rocky coast there is a reserve of the same name. Due to the vegetation, it is almost impossible to get there by car.

There are beaches on the cape where you can relax and sunbathe.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.04.2016 08:52

Cape of Good Hope(Cape of Good Hope) is famous for having long been considered the southernmost point of Africa. Then they calculated that the southernmost point of the continent is Cape Agulhas, located one and a half hundred miles to the southeast from the Cape of Good Hope.

But no one knows Cape Agulhas, and the Cape of Good Hope is included in all school geography textbooks; it is associated with the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, this is what hundreds of thousands of tourists and travelers from all over the world strive to see.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.04.2016 08:56

It is known that the first European to see this African Cape of Good Hope was in 1488 Bartolomeo Dias, the famous Portuguese commander of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries.

The expedition of Bartolomeo Dias was tasked with finding sea ​​route to India around Africa. Dias did not reach India, but became the first European to circumnavigate Africa from the south. Indirectly, he was helped in this by the terrible storms that battered his ships for several days. When the storms subsided, the disorientated Dias headed north and on February 3, 1488 ran into the coast, which “turned” to the northeast.

And so the way to the Indian Ocean was opened. Dias was forced to give in to the demands of the rebellious team and did not go further. On the way back, he saw this cape protruding into the sea, which he called the Cape of Storms, because severe storms were constantly raging in this place.

Dias announced this “working” name upon his return to Portugal in his report to King João II. But His Majesty was wise and far-sighted. He decided that it was not good to leave such a harsh name for the turning point, beyond which a direct sea route to India opened. And he suggested calling this place the Cape of Good Hope. Or in Portuguese Cabo de Boa Esperanca.

The cape lived up to its name. In 1497, Vasco da Gama's expedition rounded the Cape of Good Hope and finally reached the treasured shores of India!

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.04.2016 09:01

Today it is the territory of the Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. Nearest Big city Cape Town. The Cape of Good Hope itself is national pride and a tourist attraction in South Africa. It fits organically into national park or a reserve with the same name “Cape of Good Hope” or in English “Cape of Good Hope”.

As already mentioned, the Cape of Good Hope is not only not the southernmost, but also not the most southwestern point of Africa. The most southwestern point is the completely inconspicuous ledge of Cape Point, located fifty meters to the north. And it is on it that a lighthouse with the name “Cape of Good Hope” is installed. And an observation deck from where all tourists take their memorable photos.

And at the Cape of Good Hope there is a shield with the name and exact coordinates and the inscription “the most southwestern point of Africa.”

Location of the Cape of Good Hope on the World Map:

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.04.2016 09:04

You can get to the Cape of Good Hope, located on the Cape Peninsula, from Cape Town. The journey by car will take about four hours. Time will pass unnoticed, because along the way you will encounter a very beautiful area: a savannah where ostriches, antelopes, baboons and other animals roam, mountains, a nature reserve.

The Cape of Good Hope is the most southwestern point of Africa. It is impossible to make a mistake, since this fact is confirmed by both scientists and an inscription with exact coordinates installed on the site in front of the cape. But the Cape Peninsula at this point reaches its most southern point and, going north, ends at Cape Point.

Excursions to the Cape of Good Hope

Typically, excursions to the Cape of Good Hope include a visit to the reserve, as well as the shore with a penguin haven. We'll tell you about a few more places that are worth seeing. On the coast of False Bay, or “False Bay,” a winding road is laid through the mountains. Along it you can get to the town of Simon's Town, where the British Royal Navy was previously based.

The coast of the Cape of Good Hope itself has its own characteristics. For example, on the western side the climate is milder, there are beaches, sandy shores, and an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. It's warmer in the east, but it's blowing strong winds, which interfere with swimming and enjoying the scenery. On this part of the coast, not everyone takes the risk of swimming; tourists prefer to just sit on the shore and breathe the ocean air.

The island of fur seals is of great interest to travelers. Its area of ​​only 4 square kilometers is small for an island, and it has a turbulent history dating back to the 17th century. The fact is that for three centuries there was a prison here, military base and a hospital. And it was on this island that freedom fighter and future South African President Nelson Mandela served his sentence. In 1999, the island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A museum has opened here, telling about the history of the country. Tourists can visit the prison yard and cells.

You can get to the island by ferry, which leaves Waterfront every day until 15:00. On average, the excursion lasts 3.5-4 hours.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.04.2016 09:25

The city of Cape Town is located in Republic of South Africa, on the Cape Peninsula, near the Cape of Good Hope. The city center is occupied by mansions and buildings of old Dutch architecture, built in the Victorian style. But there are relatively few of them. They are sandwiched on one side by Table Bay and on the other by Table Mountain.

Cape Town is often the last stop on South African tours, which include:

Photo hunt in the national park,

This South African city has a lot of entertainment and attractions, but the main ones are the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, which take the breath away of many travelers who have visited there.

Cape of Good Hope

In the 15th century, the Cape of Good Hope served as the personification of the dream of Portuguese sailors looking for a way to India. It was originally called the Cape of Storms, but under King John II this point on the Cape Peninsula was renamed. Now the Cape of Good Hope is famous for its landscapes, which attract millions of tourists. The Cape is the most extreme southwestern point of Africa, which is confirmed by scientists. On the site in front of this place there is an indication with exact coordinates.

Ocean shore near Cape Town.

Nature Reserve on the Cape

The road to the Cape of Good Hope passes through the reserve of the same name. It is distinguished by dense thickets of various plants that make it difficult to travel on foot. Their highest density is observed on the Cape Peninsula, so you can’t get by without a car.

The reserve covers an area of ​​more than 7,000 hectares. In it, along with the rarest representatives of the flora, there are also representatives of the fauna unique to Africa, such as penguins. It is especially unusual to see them next to antelopes and cheetahs, since they are associated only with the coldest points of the planet. However, this is not a mirage. Penguins reached Africa from Antarctica. Previously, penguins walked throughout the reserve, but then a separate area was allocated for them, called Boulders Beach.

Penguins at the Cape of Good Hope.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built in 1860 and is now one of the main attractions of the cape. It rises 240 meters above sea level and is considered the highest in South Africa. There is an observation deck at the lighthouse. It is located at an altitude of 200 meters, and you can climb it either by cable car or on foot. Nearby there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant with a terrace offering amazing views.

From here, tourists can see two oceans at once: one side of the cape is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and on the other, the Indian. Taking a closer look, you will notice that they differ from each other in color.

Beaches

At the Cape of Good Hope you can also relax on the beach. Swimming season usually begins in September: at this time the weather is sunny, and a good tan is guaranteed. The end of the season is in May.

On one of the beaches of Cape Town.

At the same time, there are some climatic features. For example, the western side has a mild climate, sandy shores, silence and tranquility. The beaches are located here. It’s warmer in the east, but the strong winds blowing there make it inconvenient, making it difficult to swim, so tourists in this part of the coast prefer to just sit on the shore and admire the ocean.

Excursions

An excursion to the Cape of Good Hope most often includes a visit to the reserve and the penguin shore. But besides them, there are other attractions that are worth seeing. For example, on the coast of the so-called “False Bay” a road was built to the town of Simonstown, where the British Royal Navy base was located in the past.

The island of fur seals, with an area of ​​4 square kilometers and having a rather turbulent history, is also of interest to tourists. Since the 17th century there has been a prison, hospital and military base here. It was on this island that Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa, was imprisoned.

In 1999, UNESCO classified the island as a world heritage site. A museum dedicated to the history of the state was opened there. Tourists are given tours of the cells and the prison yard.

Table Mountain

This is the main attraction of Cape Town itself, without which it is impossible to imagine this South African city. Table Mountain, or Mount Table, is recognized as the symbol of the city and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. It rises to 1087 meters.

View of Table Mountain from Cape Town Harbour.

The first European to climb this peak was the Portuguese sailor Antonio de Saldanha. At that time, Table Mountain was covered with centuries-old hardwood trees. They were used in the construction of a wooden fort for a new settlement. Usually mountains end in pointed peaks, but Table Mountain has a flat top, like a tabletop, which is how the mountain got its name.

Most of the time, Table Mountain is covered by clouds, so not all tourists manage to get to it. Due to weather conditions, city authorities may prohibit climbing to the top in order to avoid any incidents with travelers. And the weather in Cape Town is unstable, and the reason for this is the warm and cold currents of the Indian and Atlantic oceans that meet in this place. When the mountain is covered by thick clouds, the townspeople say that it is covered with a tablecloth.

Many legends are associated with this phenomenon. According to one of them, one of local residents, whose name was Fan Hanks, smoked tobacco with such a vile smell that the townspeople sent him to the mountain slopes. There he met the devil, who invited him to arrange a competition: who would smoke whom. Hanks accepted the offer. They lit a cigarette, and their smoke covered the entire mountain. Since then, Cape Town residents have referred to this legend when they see Mount Table covered with a white “tablecloth”.

When the weather is good and clear, you can climb to the top using cable car. This mountain is considered the best observation deck, it is included in the list of the ten most visited places by tourists in the whole world. There are viewing telescopes there, a gift shop and a restaurant. From here you can see the whole of Cape Town. But travelers are especially delighted by the view from the top of the mountain during sunset, when the horizon merges with the ocean.

While walking along Table Mountain, tourists will meet many representatives of the local fauna and flora. There are approximately 1,470 plant species here, including the protea, recognized as a true symbol of South Africa.

Several peaks adjoin Table Mountain, which are part of national park peninsula. These are Devil's Peak, Lion's Head and the Mountain of the Twelve Apostles.

In addition to visiting the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, in Cape Town you should definitely try wines from the Cape region, which are famous far beyond Africa and are highly valued by many gourmets and wine connoisseurs around the world. And also take a couple of surfing lessons at the most famous surfing beach in South Africa.