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| Cape Town (Afrikaans:
Kaapstad /ˈkɑːpstɑt/;
Xhosa: iKapa) is the third most populous city in
South Africa, forming part of the
metropolitan municipality of the
City of Cape Town. Cape Town is the provincial capital of the
Western Cape as well as the
legislative capital of South Africa, where the
national Parliament and many government offices are located. Cape Town
is famous for its
harbour
as well as its natural setting, including such well-known landmarks as
Table Mountain and
Cape
Point. Often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities
because of its geography, Cape Town is the most popular South African
destination for international
tourists. Cape Town originally developed around its harbour, as a refueling station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India, and Asia. Founded in 1652, it was the first permanent European settlement in sub-Saharan Africa. It quickly outgrew the first European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope, and remained the largest city in South Africa until outpaced by the new city of Johannesburg following the discovery of gold and diamonds in the Transvaal in 1887. Cape Town is also served by Cape Town International Airport, the second-busiest airport in South Africa, and a major gateway to the city for tourists. According to the 2001 Census, the city has a population of 2.9 million [1]. Cape Town's land area of 2,499 km² [2] is comparatively larger than other South African cities, resulting in a comparatively lower population density of 1,158/km². he centre of Cape Town is located at northern end of the Cape Peninsula. Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to the city bowl with its plateau well over 1 kilometre high surrounded by near-vertical cliffs, and Devil's Peak and Lion's Head on either side. The peninsula consists of a dramatic mountainous spine jutting southwards into the Atlantic Ocean, ending at Cape Point. The city bowl, the Atlantic seaboard and the towns on the False Bay side of the peninsula are built on a steep gradient between the mountains and the sea. Many of the suburbs of Cape Town are on the large plain of the Cape Flats, which joins the peninsula to the mainland. The Cape Peninsula has a Mediterranean climate with well-defined seasons. In winter, which lasts from May through August, large cold fronts come across from the Atlantic Ocean with heavy precipitation and strong north-westerly winds. The winter months are cool with an average minimum temperature of around 7°C (45°F). Most of the city's annual rainfall occurs in wintertime, but due to the mountainous topography of the city, rainfall amounts for specific areas can vary dramatically. The valleys and coastal plains average 515 millimetres (20in) of rain per annum, while mountain areas can average as much as 1500mm (60in) per annum. Summers, which last from November through February, are warm and dry, and the Peninsula gets frequent strong winds from the south-east known locally as the Cape Doctor because it blows away pollution and cleans the air. The south easterly wind is caused by a high-pressure system which sits in the South Atlantic to the west of Cape Town. Summer temperatures are mild with an average maximum of 26°C (79°F). [3] Cape Town's warm climate, dramatic scenic beauty, outdoor sports and cultural variety make it one of South Africa's most popular tourist destinations, particularly in the summer from October to March. Some of the main tourist attractions are:
Source: Wikipedia |
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