Cape Agulhas, South Africa
The country of South Africa has a rich and wide ranging heritage, culturally, politically, and historically. Throughout time the changes that this country has undergone has shaped the way in which the world views the country, and the country’s worldview. Cape Town five star hotels offer travelers information on any number of the attractions and the sites that are located throughout the city and the cities that are close by. One such city, is the true most Southern tip of the country and that is Cape Agulhas . Many think that the Cape Point is the true South, but a simple and small plaque at Agulhas was placed there and is still visible today, that states that this spot is the very tip.
The history surrounding this section of the country is exciting. Cape Agulhas sits on the Western Coast just a few miles from Cape Town. The reputation of the small village is filled with adventure and mystery . The Cape of Needles has been throughout history and to this day, one of the most treacherous ocean crossings in the world. Sailors of long ago as well as merchants operating the waters currently, take care when approaching as the coastline is rocky and the waters are unpredictable. At the end of the 1,600′s, the cape was named by the sailors from Portuguese, Agulhas means Needles, and refers to the spikes of rocks that line the shore and have caused many a ship to sink. The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was built hundreds of years ago to help guide the sailors through these waters and it is still in operation today.
Another aspect of this section, wherein the two oceans converge, the Indian and the Atlantic, that has caused much confusion over the years is that the compasses used by the seafarers were thrown off when they reached Cape Agulhas. Many shipwrecks were caused by this combined with the precarious coastline, and this has become known as the Graveyard of Ships . Locals have stories to tell, and the coast, while treacherous in the water, is breathtaking. This one short day trip just outside of Cape Town, that is well worth taking.
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