What You Need to Know About Cape Town

Article source: Fresh Web Content
by Glenda Capman

Cape Town is the capital of the Western Cape of South Africa. It is the second most populated city in all of South Africa and is its legislative capital. The city is governed by a large city council that reports to a smaller executive council that is headed by a city manager and an executive mayor. This area of the Western Cape of South Africa has a rich history, varied geography, and a booming economy.

Early Cape Town

The earliest evidence of human occupation in the area of the Western Cape of South Africa currently known as Cape Town are from more than twelve thousand years ago. In 1652 the area was settled by employees of the Dutch East India Company to facilitate trade. The company needed labor and imported slaves from Indonesia and Madagascar.

The Cape Town area of the Western cape of South Africa was traded between nations repeatedly. In 1814 it was given to the British government. After that the style of government and governmental policies fluctuated. The implementation of apartheid and the more recent abolishment of this movement are some of the more captivating portions of the area history.

Weather and Geography

Cape Town in the Western Cape of South Africa is home to almost three and a half million people. These people live within an area of only nine hundred forty-seven square miles. The town is ringed by mountains, more than seventy of which are over a thousand feet high. Cape Town is located at the northern tip of Cape Peninsula.

The area of the Western Cape of South Africa has a wide array of temperatures. The City of Cape town has an average low of fifty-two degrees and an average high of seventy-two degrees. The record low for the town is thirty degrees and the record high one hundred six degrees. Yearly precipitation averages just over twenty inches, most of which occurs during the winter months.

Economy in Cape Town

Cape Town is the center of economy for the Western Cape of South Africa and the regional center of manufacturing. Most of the agricultural goods grown in the area are processed in the industrial areas of the town. Other parts of the town are made up of business districts, which are responsible for a large portion of the job opportunities in the area.

This area of the Western Cape of South Africa has also benefited by hosting the nations governmental seat. The city of Cape Town is the home of the Cape Town International Airport and the Port of Cape Town. Having access to such major transportation centers has helped the economy thrive, especially within the tourism industry.

What to do in Cape Town

The Port of Cape Town docks are the home of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront complex. The complex rests atop a portion of the docks. The complex is one of the many popular destinations in the Western Cape of South Africa. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is home to hundreds of shops as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium. Sports are also a favorite past time for residents and visitors of the Western Cape of South Africa. Cricket, football, and ruby are all quite popular and each sport has its own stadium.

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