Cape Agulhas

Cape Agulhas (lat. 34°50'S) is the southernmost point in the Republic of South Africa and on the African continent. Here, at the "Cape of Needles", the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean meet.

Origin of name

There are different explanations of the name "Cape of Needles". One view is that it was so called because at this point the compass needles of the early Portuguese navigators pointed due north; others think that the name refers to the sharp reefs off the coast.

Topography

The scenery at South Africa's southern tip is not particularly spectacular. The shingle beaches have a very gentle gradient, and offshore extends the Agulhas Bank. For a distance of 250km/155mi the sea is nowhere deeper than 110m/360ft, and then it suddenly plunges steeply down into the depths. The sea in this area is one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world.