Cape Point is a
promontory at the southeast corner of the
Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the
African continent in the Republic of
South Africa.
Table Mountain and the city of
Cape Town are close to the northern extremity of the same peninsula. Although these two rocky and beautiful capes are very well-known, neither cape is actually the southernmost point in Africa; that is
Cape Agulhas, approximately 150 kilometres (90 mi) to the
east-southeast. Map showing the
Cape Peninsula, illustrating the positions of the
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.
The peak above Cape Point is higher than that above the
Cape of Good Hope. The rugged sandstone (Table Mountain sandstone) ridge that rises from Cape Point at sea level develops into two peaks. There is a major peak that dominates the skyline locally but there is also a smaller peak about 100 m further south. The higher peak has the old
lighthouse on the top. The
Flying Dutchman Funicular runs from a car park to the north up to slightly below the level of the old lighthouse and a short flight of steps leads to a viewing platform at the base of the lighthouse. From the end of the railway a second path leads to the lower peak.
The new lighthouse is at a lower elevation (closer to
sea level), for two reasons: the old lighthouse could be seen 'too early' by ships rounding the point towards the east, causing them to approach too closely. Secondly, foggy conditions often prevail at the higher levels, making the older lighthouse invisible to shipping.
