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Cape Town, South Africa
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cape Town (Afrikaans:
Kaapstad;
Xhosa: iKapa) is the second-most populous
city in
South Africa,[3]
and the provincial capital and
primate city of the
Western Cape. As the seat of the
National Parliament, it is also the
legislative capital of the country. It forms
part of the
City of Cape Town
metropolitan municipality. The city is
famous for
its harbour as well as its natural setting
in the
Cape floral kingdom, including such
well-known landmarks as
Table Mountain and
Cape Point. Cape Town is also Africa's most
popular tourist destination.[6]
Located on the
shore of
Table Bay, Cape Town was originally
developed by the
Dutch East India Company as a victualling
(supply) station for Dutch ships sailing to
Eastern Africa, India, and the Far East.
Jan van Riebeeck's arrival on 6 April 1652
established the first permanent European
settlement in South Africa. Cape Town quickly
outgrew its original purpose as the first
European outpost at the
Castle of Good Hope, becoming the economic
and cultural hub of the
Cape Colony. Until the
Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the development
of
Johannesburg, Cape Town was the largest city
in South Africa.
Today it is one
of the most multicultural cities in the world,
reflecting its role as a major destination for
immigrants and
expatriates to South Africa. As of 2007[update]
the city had an estimated population of
3.5 million.[3]
Cape Town's land area of 2,455 square kilometres
(948 sq mi) is larger than other South African
cities, resulting in a comparatively lower
population density of 1,425 inhabitants per
square kilometre (3,690 /sq mi).[2]
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