Signal Hill (Cape Town)
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| Signal Hill | |
|---|---|
 Signal Hill as seen from the north side of Lion's Head |
|
| Elevation | 350 m (1,148 ft) |
| Location | Western Cape, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°55′4″S 18°24′10″E / 33.91778°S 18.40278°ECoordinates: 33°55′4″S 18°24′10″E / 33.91778°S 18.40278°E |
| Age of rock | Late Precambrian |
| Easiest route | Signal Hill Rd |
Signal Hill is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain.
The hill is also known as "The Lion's Flank", but this term is obsolete. It is still shown on many maps as 'Lion's Rump': together with Lion's Head, Signal Hill looks like a lion sphinx.[1]
Signal flags were used to communicate weather warnings as well as anchoring instructions to visiting ships in order to ensure that they prepared adequately for stormy weather while in the bay. Similarly, ships could use flags to signal for assistance if, for example, an anchor line parted during a storm..[2]
It is known for the Noon Gun that is operated there by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory. In 1836, a time ball was set up at the Cape Town observatory,[3] however it was not visible to ships in the harbour, so a second time ball was erected on Signal Hill in order to relay the precise moment of 1pm Cape Mean Time. In this way ships in the bay were able to check their marine chronometers.[2] The daily practice of dropping of the ball continued until 1934, when it was made redundant by radio signals.[4]
The guns on Signal Hill were used to notify the public when a ship was in trouble and there was a possibility of casualties on the coast near Cape Town. Three guns would be fired from Chavonne Battery, followed by a single gun in answer from Imhoff Battery.[2]
There is a road to the summit and that vantage point provides spectacular views over Cape Town and surroundings, especially at dawn or sunset.
[edit] References
- ^ Cape Town Magazine - Shooting in Cape Town with The Noon Gun
- ^ a b c William Henry Rosser, James Frederick Imray (1867). The Seaman's Guide to the Navigation of the Indian Ocean and China Sea. J. Imray & Son. pp. 275–276. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=_8BBAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA275. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ^ Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Howard Harrison, British Academy (2004). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. p. 780. ISBN 019861411X. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=tDwYAAAAIAAJ. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ^ Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. 1996. p. 109. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=okl-AAAAIAAJ. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
[edit] See also
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[edit] External links
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