The Southern Tip
Listen to this lesson
Cape Agulhas is the southernmost point of Africa. It is officially where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The name comes from the Portuguese word for needles, a nod to the way compass needles behave here.
The coast is rough and rocky, and many ships were wrecked along it over the centuries. The Agulhas Lighthouse, built in 1849, still guides ships, and the nearby town of Bredasdorp has a shipwreck museum.
Two oceans
The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at the tip.
Agulhas Lighthouse
Built in 1849 and still working.
Elim
A historic mission village in the middle of the wine area.
🇿🇦 Cape spotlight
Elim was founded by Moravian missionaries in 1824, and the village's old thatched buildings are still in use today.
🧠 Quick check: tap to reveal
🤔 What does Agulhas mean?
Needles, from Portuguese.
🤔 Which two oceans meet at Cape Agulhas?
The Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Lesson 2: Agulhas fun facts