L'Agulhas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Script error: No such module "about".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator L'Agulhas is the southernmost coastal village and holiday resort in South Africa, located within the Cape Agulhas Local Municipality at the southernmost tip of the African mainland. It is situated next to the town of Struisbaai and about Script error: No such module "convert". south of the regional centre of Bredasdorp. Some of the older residents and documents refer to the town as by its former name Cape Agulhas or Cape L'Agulhas or simply Agulhas which were the names that referred to this town before it was changed to L'Agulhas to avoid confusion when the Bredasdorp Municipality changed its name to The Cape Agulhas Municipality (CAM).

Etymology

Agulhas is the plural form of “agulha” in Portuguese. It is derived from the Late Latin word, “acūcula,” and the Latin word “acula,” both meaning a needle or pin. They trace back to the theorized Proto-Indo-European word “h₂eḱ.”

According to local legend, when sailing to the cape, sailors saw the compass needle point North, directly to the modern day location of L’Agulhas.

Lighthouse

File:Cape Agulhas Lighthouse.jpg
The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse.
File:Postbox at Cape Agulhas.jpg
Post box at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost post box in Africa.

The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, the second-oldest working lighthouse in South Africa, is at the southern end of the town. Designed by Colonel Charles Cornwell Michell in homage to the Pharos of Alexandria, the lighthouse was lit on March 1, 1849. Some 150 ships lay scattered along the South African coast, many due to the treacherous Agulhas Reef. The lighthouse was declared a National Monument in 1973.

File:Meisho Maru shipwreck 12.jpg
The wreck of the Meisho Maru near Cape Agulhas.

Geography

Climate

L'Agulhas has a mild semi-arid climate (BSk, according to the Köppen climate classification). Summers are mild and dry, winters are cool and wetter. The average annual precipitation is Script error: No such module "convert"., with most rainfall occurring mainly during winter.

Fishing

The local Agulhas Bank, known for its fishing, is reputed to have the richest fishing area in the Southern Hemisphere.[1]

L'Agulhas
Climate chart (explanation)
Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header
 
 
10
 
 
25
15
 
 
11
 
 
25
15
 
 
17
 
 
24
14
 
 
28
 
 
22
12
 
 
32
 
 
20
9
 
 
35
 
 
18
7
 
 
36
 
 
17
7
 
 
33
 
 
17
7
 
 
23
 
 
19
8
 
 
23
 
 
20
10
 
 
18
 
 
22
12
 
 
10
 
 
24
14
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: SA Explorer
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.4
 
 
77
59
 
 
0.4
 
 
77
59
 
 
0.7
 
 
75
57
 
 
1.1
 
 
72
54
 
 
1.3
 
 
68
48
 
 
1.4
 
 
64
45
 
 
1.4
 
 
63
45
 
 
1.3
 
 
63
45
 
 
0.9
 
 
66
46
 
 
0.9
 
 
68
50
 
 
0.7
 
 
72
54
 
 
0.4
 
 
75
57
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

Another source gives different data, showing that it has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb), with most precipitation falling in June.[2]

Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

Cape of Gòod Hope

External links

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Script error: No such module "Navbox".