!!!Virtual Tour of Cape Town

by Dmitry Moiseenko,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

13 April 2012

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Cape Town is one of the most popular cities on the African continent. It
is located in the southwestern part of the continent, on the shore of
the Atlantic ocean, near the Cape of Good Hope. The history of Cape Town
is also that of the entire country: the history of the Republic of South
Africa begins in year 1652, when a Dutch seafarer Jan van Riebeeck
founded the city of Cape Town. However, this date is just a mere
formality for the city itself: the first settlements in this area date
back to over 12 000 years!

Nowadays, Cape Town is one of the most attractive resort cities in the
world, a wonderful oasis that combines the unique look of Africa with
the best accomplishments of the Western civilization. Cape Town's hotels
feature high quality amenities, and Cape Town's beaches — are a heaven
for divers and surfers, young people and those who are looking for a
relaxed vacation. In other words, it is a travel destination for all
styles, tastes and ages.

[{Image src='01_Cape Town.jpg' caption='Cape Town' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='521'}]

Most of the buildings in the city are only several storeys high, except
for the Downtown business area. Here you can spend several hours just
walking down the streets and admiring the incredible architecture:
churches, antique mansions and seaside boulevards. Here you can visit
many museums (including the only Museum of Russian Art in Africa). At
night, visitors have lots of entertainment options to explore, once
again, for all tastes.

One can enjoy all of this in a pleasant, mild "Mediterranean" climate.
Also, it's worth mentioning that not only its human residents appreciate
the weather in Cape Town: various types of grapevines found this climate
very good; hence many wineries around the city. South African wines are
world famous, and the great majority of them are produced here. They say
that during his exile on the nearby Saint Helena Island Napoleon
frequently requested the wine from Cape Town.

What else is Cape Town famous for? If you think that penguins live only
in the Antarctica, you are mistaken. There is a large colony of African
penguins right next to Cape Town. You might think "what are the penguins
doing in the African heat", but the answer is very simple: these
penguins live near the coast, which is washed by a cold Benguela
current. Seals rest right on the city piers next to the speed boats and
restaurants.

[{Image src='02_Penguins.jpg' caption='Penguins' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='676'}]

However, the main attraction of Cape Town is, of course, the famous
Table Mountain: it is a symbol and a calling card of the city. It is
featured on its flag, and one constellation in the South Hemisphere was
named after it.

This mountain was the first one to greet the seafarers arriving to this
part of the African continent. Back in those days, captains even offered
a golden coin to a sailor who was the first one to see this long-awaited
sign of the land ahead.

This natural plateau raises over 1000 m over the sea level and
literally hangs over Cape Town, creating a lively background and this
very special pleasant climate.

This is how Ivan Andreevich Goncharov, a famous Russian explorer,
described the Table Mountain: "it looks like a table, like a coffer,
like a grand piano, like a wall — anything, but the mountain". Many
consider it to be one of the strongest energy centers of the planet —
much stronger than the Egyptian Pyramids, since this mountain is not
man-made. At the same time, it is unclear how the Nature was able to
create such a perfect architectural structure.

Standing on the top of the mountain, you can easily imagine that you
are standing at the utmost point of the earth, in one of its unique and
untouched corners. It is partially true: this is where the continent
ends and 4500 km of water separate the shores of the South Africa from
the Antarctica.

[{Image src='03_View from Table Mountains.jpg' caption='View from Table Mountains' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='648'}]

However, this place is not a savage corner at all: the mountain top
features an incredible view onto the central part and all attractions of
Cape Town. There is nothing unusual about this contradiction, as this
metropolis is built on such paradoxes: everything is unusual, bright,
close to nature, and at the same time, very modern in Cape Town.

\\ \\
[8 Panoramas of Virtual Tour of Cape Town|Geography/Africa/South_Africa/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Virtual_Tour_of_Cape_Town]










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