The African continent is of great interest to many travelers. This is due to the climate, the diversity of the animal and plant world, the outlandish nature that attracts adventurers. One of the most popular places for tourists to visit is the city of Cape Town, which is located on the Atlantic coast. Not far from it is the Cape of Good Hope. Too many people consider it his southernmost point in Africa. But in fact, this is an erroneous opinion, since Cape Igolny is located south of Cape of Good Hope.
Historical facts
Bartolomeu Diaz was the first of the Europeans to reach the southern tip of the African mainland. In 1488, this Portuguese navigator arrived on the shores of the Cape Peninsula. A rocky cape appeared before his eyes. Since the sea was raging overboard, the coast was named Cape Storm. However, after a while he received a different name. Due to the fact that the discovery made it possible to find a new sea route to the shores of India, this point was called the Cape of Good Hope. Until now, many have mistakenly assumed that this is the southernmost tip of the continent.
Returning from India, Bartolomeu Diaz made another discovery. He discovered Cape Needle. In Portuguese, this name sounds like Cabo das Agulias. Unaware of this, the Portuguese found the southern point of Africa. The distance between the two capes is approximately 150 km.
This place is considered by sailors to be very dangerous for shipping, since not far from the coast, where Cape Igolny, shipwrecks occurred.
Extreme point location
Quite often, geography classes are given the task of determining the geographical coordinates of a particular point on our planet. To find the southern tip of the African continent on the map, the longitude and latitude of Cape Igolny must be known.
What do we know about the location of this extreme point? Geographically, the Agulia Peninsula belongs to South Africa. Cape Needle is located southeast of Cape Town. The distance between the southern extreme point and Cape of Good Hope is 155 km. Along the coast, from the Cape land, a spit stretched, the tip of which is Cape Igolny. The coordinates of the southernmost point of Africa are 34 about 51 \ S and 20 about 00 \ east
Sand stranded, whose duration is 840 km, is located south of Cape Needle and stretches from the Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay. This area is dangerous for shipping.
The place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian
If you carefully look at Cape Igolny on the map, you will notice that it is at the confluence of two oceans. The fact that the waters of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean intersect here is evidenced by a memorial plaque located on the peninsula. This point was not chosen spontaneously. At this point, ocean currents collide with each other and mix.
There has been controversy over the boundary point for years. This is due to the fact that the junction of the warm and cold waters changes from time to time. However, according to biologists who have studied the differences in flora and fauna of the deep sea, the direct border between the two oceans can be established quite accurately. Observations showed that the differences are related to the difference in water temperature along the east and west coasts. Ecklonia seaweed has been found to breed well in cold water. They are represented in large numbers along the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean to the Needle Point, while on the east coast they are much less common.
This argument indicates the correctness of the judgment of where the boundary of the two oceans passes.
Climatic conditions
Cape Igolny is a rocky area. Climatic conditions in this region are quite mild. There is little precipitation here, and there are no sharp changes in temperature. The Agulia Peninsula belongs to the territory of the National South African Park, therefore nature is protected. According to synoptic data, the average rainfall is not more than 600 mm per year. Most of them fall in the winter.
Cape Needle Attractions
Although Cape Igolny is not as popular as its competitor, Cape of Good Hope, there is something to see. In this area there are many wineries. Tourists are offered to visit excursions and visit tastings.
The local flavor of these places is very attractive. On the coast you can see picturesque fisherman's huts, in the port - a huge variety of fresh fish, which you will be kindly prepared in any restaurant.
On the Agulhas peninsula stands a lighthouse that adorns Cape Igolny. The coordinates of this structure are the same as at the southern extreme point of Africa.
Many travelers tend to come here to see the place where the two great oceans meet. A stone monument is installed on the cape, on the memorial plaque of which this fact is indicated. The image of the arrows shows tourists which side of the peninsula is washed by the Atlantic and which Indian Ocean.
Hazardous shipping
In winter, storms rage at Cape Needle, and the waves reach gigantic proportions. Their height can reach up to 30 meters, which is dangerous even for the largest ships. Over the past 100 years, about 150 vessels have sunk near the peninsula. There are several reasons for this:
- In these latitudes, strong squally winds blowing from the west are observed.
- Dangerous sandbank.
- Clash of a cold current from the Atlantic with a warm Indian.
- Fast flow.
The combination of these factors leads to the formation of quite dangerous waves that can destroy ships off the coast of the Needle Point. This place is notorious among sailors.
In 1848, a lighthouse was erected on the cape, whose height is 27 meters. This event was preceded by the death of the ship Arniston, which crashed off the coast of the southern peninsula in 1815.
Currently, the lighthouse serves as a museum and a small restaurant.