By Jacqueline Thomas
Interesting Facts About the Cape of Good Hope
Located in South
Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is one of the world's most recognizable traveling posts. It's bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and is about 30 miles south of Cape Town.
History
The Cape of Good Hope was originally named the Cape of Storms by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. Dias became the first European to travel around the tip of Africa but was eventually killed in a sea storm off of the Cape in 1500. The Cape was renamed the Cape of Good Hope by Portugal's King John II because it allowed an easier trade route with India.
Misconceptions
The Cape of Good Hope has a reputation for being the southernmost tip of Africa. This distinction belongs to Cape Agulhas, which is the official division point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Animals of the Cape
Along with hundreds of species of birds, including ostriches, the Cape of Good Hope is home to zebras, deers, lizards, mongoose and baboons. The baboons are a huge attraction at the Cape and have called it home for around 1 million years.
Plant Life
Some of the plants found on the Cape of Good Hope are located nowhere else in the world. Over 1,000 species of indigenous plants thrive on the Cape, and the Cape itself is one of the richest floral regions on earth.
Legends
According to legend, the Cape of Good Hope is also home to the ghost ship the Flying Dutchman. The story goes that if one sees this band of phantom sailors, they are destined for doom.
About the Author:
Jacqueline Thomas is an award-winning writer and poet. She studied creative writing at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and has written critically acclaimed pieces for over 20 years. Thomas is published in both traditional and online press, and has articles that reached the Digg Front Page.
Photo Credits:
Sara&Joachim, Graham Racher, Lemoncat1 (Flickr)
