Cape of Good Hope
   Photo: Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope is part of the peninsula, which is a South African national 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 Dias named the Peninsula Cabo Tormentoso, or the Cape of Storms. Portuguese King Joao II later gave him the name Cabo da Boa Esperança - Cape of Good Hope. In 1580 Sir Francis Drake announced that it will be "the most majestic and fairest cape in the entire world."

The first lighthouse was built on the Cape in 1860. However, due to its high location (238 m above sea level), it was often obscured by clouds and fog. When the liner "Lusitania" in 1911 was wrecked, the lighthouse was moved to a height of 87 meters above sea level, in its present location.

In the XVII century Dutch master Hendrick van der Decca tried to round the Cape in strong headwinds and his ship and crew mysteriously disappeared. Since then, it tells the legend of a ghost ship "Flying Dutchman," which is said to have been seen frequently around the Cape of Good Hope.

The reserve, located on the Cape is a floral treasure - they are home to more than 1,000 different species. Cape has earned international recognition as one of the six world "floral kingdoms." Plants typical of the Cape of Good Hope - against and reeds.

Here dwells chacma baboon. The proximity to the city and geographical isolation from other baboon populations threatens their livelihood. The main diet of monkeys consists mostly of fruits, roots, bulbs, honey, insects and scorpions, but at low tide you can see them on the beach, catch clams.

Bird watchers can observe the territory Cape over 250 species of birds - a large black eagle, gulls and cormorants, sunbirds, eating sweet nectar of proteas, while Egyptian geese bask on the rocks in the warm sun, steppe buzzard, spotted owl, sandpiper, and a large African ostrich.

Animal lovers will be able to see zebra, eland, lynx, mongoose and field mice. As well as a wide variety of insects, turtles, snakes, lizards and frogs. In winter and spring you can watch southern right whales returning to the warm waters to give birth and raise their young.

Cape of Good Hope - the amazing picturesque place with soft white sandy beaches, alternating with spectacular cliffs. Mixing the ice with warm Atlantic waters of the Indian Ocean created a unique coastal environment and one of the most productive marine areas around the world.

In Diaz Beach you can surf. This beach is littered with tiny boulders with numerous representatives of screaming birds. In the known locations of shipwrecks along the beach, you can go diving.

Despite the numerous visitors of Cape of Good Hope, his world remains intact. Visit this amazing place will enrich your memories of bright colors, perfectly blue sky, the azure sea water and clean sandy beach.

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