False Bay

Province

The False Bay ( Afrikaans: Valsbaai; German as: "wrong bay " ) is a bay on the Cape of Good Hope in the southwestern part of South Africa.

Description and location

The eastern and western shores of False Bay are very rocky; in some places lead large cliffs in deep water. The northern coast is on a long, curving sandy beach. At this beach is the area that is known as the Cape Flats. The bay comprises at its widest point, a range of 30 kilometers and is located southeast of Cape Town. The locations of Simon 's Town, Fish Hoek, Muizenberg and beach are located directly on the bay. At the level of city beach ranging Hottentots Holland Mountains, the southernmost point of the Cape fold belt, to the coast of the bay.

The Cape of Good Hope is located west of False Bay.

History

Bartolomeu Dias described the bay for the first time in 1488 as " golf between the mountains ". The name " False Bay " comes from sailors who steered out into the bay because they mistakenly thought the bay for Table Bay.

Climate

It has a Mediterranean mild climate with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. In winter storms can blow from the north-west of the country, in the summer the climate of warm winds from the southeast is determined. The water in the bay is around 6 ° C warmer than the water in the westerly Table Bay.

Tourism

The False Bay is suitable for fishing, as they often go by fish. In the bay, however, can form so-called " rogue waves " that hit with great force on the rocky cliffs of the bay. Many fishermen were these waves that occur without warning, to the victim. Also, the sailing is one of the many recreational activities in the bay. Around the bay are numerous sailing and yacht clubs located.

In the bay there is a small island that serves as a breeding ground for Kaprobben. The activity of seals attracts the attention of the great white shark by itself, which is often spotted there. Thus, on January 10, 2010 attack on a man from Zimbabwe, who swam in the village of Fish Hoek 100 meters off the coast and was attacked fatally occurred.