Cape of Good Hope is probably the most famous cape of Africa.Where is the Cape of Good Hope?On the territory of the Republic of South Africa, and more specifically, on the Cape Peninsula.
first mention
lot of swear words were said Mariners against this godforsaken place for them.Maritime History tells of the exorbitant efforts of many navigators and explorers, they had to make to overcome the ocean currents, rounding the Cape.
Who discovered the Cape of Good Hope?This question can not be answered unequivocally.Now, based on the information of historical sources, we can confidently say that this is the first place to visit even in 500 years BC, the inhabitants of ancient Egypt.
voyage Egyptians
This happened during the reign of Pharaoh Necho II, who set out to restore its power to economic stability.It was necessary to find a way to bring Egyptian products to Europe, that is to find a workaround.Delegation hired Phoenicians was sent to the eastern side of Africa where the explorers hoped to find workarounds.This trip was delayed for three years, and several times interrupted by the Phoenicians it, dropping to Earth to grow something edible, because the stocks were not designed for such a long period.This was extended Africa.Cape of Good Hope and certainly become a place of landing, and then the travelers skirted it.Upon returning discouraged Phoenicians were told that they were shocked by the fact that one day "the sun suddenly appeared on the north side," therefore, they crossed the equator.
search workaround The venture was unsuccessful and further travel were not profitable.Expenditures exceeded revenues, and more than two thousand years, no one made no attempt to swim here.
Bartolomeu Dias, the one who discovered the Cape of Good Hope
At the end of the XV century, many wealthy Europeans were willing to pay any money for the nice and expensive luxuries from faraway India.However, it is blocking the way to the vast Muslim lands, as followers of the teachings of Muhammad did not seek to improve relations with Europe and the normalization of trade relations.Therefore, it was necessary to look the other way - the sea.
first attempt to find it took the Portuguese.King John II of Portugal sent an expedition to look for a workaround to elephants.At the head of the expedition was Bartolomeu Dias, who, with tenacity and endurance, yet with his team sailed to the Cape of Good Hope.But what work!Hell flow hostility of the natives.Members of his team many times raised the mutiny on the ship.They demanded to return home, because most of them have lost hope of finding the way to India.To the question "Where is the Cape of Good Hope?" One of the team's seafarers, including Bartolomeu Dias, could not answer.Since they were the first people to swim to it, its exact location relative to the continents, they could not know.And his name was not there.Then B. Dias, under the impression of torment that takes them to a place called it "Cape of Storms".So there was the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope.The year in which the event occurred (in 1488) was the beginning of the history of this mysterious and unusual places.
Return of the Portuguese navigators
Another surge of discontent with the team Dias led to the fact that the expedition turned back.The men flatly refused to continue the journey that seemed endless to them.They did not see the point in trying to go further to the East, as if she were the elements against them and sends numerous storms.But, despite the fact that the coast of India mariners not reached, King John II was pleased with the results of the expedition, considered "exploration" successful.The only thing he did not like - scary title that gave the Cape Bartolomeu Dias.King thought that the Cape should be a different name that will inspire travelers that Cape - this is not the main obstacle on the way to India, and the first stage, to approach her.So he gave this place the name "Cape of Good Hope."Geographic coordinates: Latitude: -34.358056,Longitude: 18.471944
Travel Vasco da Gama
A few years later another Portuguese, Vasco da Gama first sailed along the route of the first expedition, and make the appropriate note in his logbook.He wrote that as a result of lengthy and skillful maneuver his ship passed the Cape of Good Hope.Lyrical name really was the key to luck Portuguese.The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by Vasco da Gama is dated 1497 year.This navigator has reached the shores of India, as reported to the king on his return.For Vasco da Gama fulfilled the main purpose of his trip.A development of the territory of South Africa it was not.
discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch as a transit point seaway
Base port city of Cape Town (from the English. "City on a promontory") is a credit to the Dutch.They discovered the Cape of Good Hope as the first transfer point between Rotterdam and India.It is here carried out the treatment of patients and supply ships of the Dutch East India food and water.The local population of the natives at first to welcome guests.But in the late 60s of the XVII century, when Europeans began to intensively frustrating Cape Town, started crowding out natives from their lands and the treatment of their slaves.On this basis, we began a long and bloody conflict.
dispute over Cape
British knew who discovered the Cape of Good Hope, who founded Cape Town.But that did not stop them away in 1795 from the Dutch South Africa.Now, this area became known as "colonial province of the Cape of Good Hope."Among the population were descendants of the first settlers - the Boers, which translated from Dutch means "peasants".New orders have caused strong dissatisfaction, and then they are on their way to overcome the resistance of the Zulus, moved to the north of the continent.
liberation from colonial regime
Until the end of the XIX century the Boers lived apart, and their territory was inhabited by the name of a tacit "Boer republic".But when it was discovered that these lands are large deposits of diamonds and gold, the British once again drew attention to the rebellious Boers.From 1899 to 1902 continued the brutal Anglo-Boer War, which resulted in Britain still possessed the territory of the Boer republics.Now the whole of South Africa (Cape of Good Hope as well) are at the mercy of the British.
only after more than half a century, in 1961, a long period of colonial dependence was completed.Now this area is called as follows: South Africa.
Legend of the Flying Dutchman
This legend - the most intriguing and well-known story of the Cape of Good Hope.Variations in her abundance.Sometimes the names of the main characters in it are different, but the story in any case has the same meaning.This is where the captain of a Dutch ship was cursed.Reputation, he had to put it mildly, not very good.He had a reputation for profanity and blasphemous.His name was Captain Van Stratten.He has always been in the hands of the whip with a lead plaque at the end, in case someone comes handy.The backs of many sailors forever scarred from the wild beating of a whip.Ships Van Stratten often transported African slaves who died on the road dozens.Dead bodies are usually thrown overboard.That is why as accompanying ships near this shark captain were waiting for another "handout."Well-fed and happy, they were happy with their presence cruel captain, he jokingly referred to them as "my little fish."In one of the cruise ships were in the strongest storm.Just then they rounded the Cape of Good Hope, the coordinates shown exactly that, because to see something in this bad weather it was impossible.All sailors begged the captain to turn back in order to ride out the raging elements.
not hard to guess that the answer to Van Stratten nasty curse.He said: "No way!I still swim!I will not give up, even if the world come to an end.I even give soul to the devil, but it will survive this storm. "That's when the gates of heaven opened and heard the voice of the Almighty, "You said it! Now, swim!".Devil took the captain's soul.Since then, off the coast of Cape restlessly and hopelessly drifting ship Van Stratten.All the sailors and the captain himself, foul-mouthed is now doomed to eternal life, immortality in the waterways, without being able to land.Encountering other ships, immortal navigators strive to convey his letter to relatives, who have long been dead.Take these letters - a very bad omen.If you do this, the curse goes to compassionate assistant.
Attractions
One of the most famous attractions is the National Reserve, whose name matches the name of the cape.It is part of the Table Mountain (national park "Mesa").
colony of rare species of penguins, which are called eyeglasses or Blackfeet;chacma baboon colony Chakma.
geographically the most visited sites is Cape Agulhas, employee identification mark of the southern tip of Africa.
South African Astronomical Observatory;the port city of Cape Town, where you can visit the V & A Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium;territory Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, founded in 1913 .;Manor Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building in South Africa;South African National Gallery.
these places famous Cape of Good Hope.Photos of some of them are listed below.
Cape of Good Hope as the personification of human hope
Name Cape is truly encouraging.And even people who are desperate for their troubles and tribulations, having been in this mysterious place, start to believe in the best.Cape of Good Hope becomes a guiding light, and for those people who it was never his name illuminating the lives of sick children.
Cape of Good Hope CD - a community of parents all over the world whose children suffer from Down's syndrome.They are united in the struggle for healthy and fulfilling lives of their children, giving each other hope.
So, the answer to the question "Who discovered the Cape of Good Hope" is the name of the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who first set foot on this truly magical place.It was he and his three small ships rounded the Cape for the first time.Now a lot of myths, stunning natural attractions and attract the Cape of Good Hope a lot of tourists.
