Cape Town is the second-most populous
city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the
Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the
legislative capital of the country.
It forms part of the City of Cape Town
metropolitan municipality. The city is famous for its harbour as well as
its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such
well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Cape Town is also
Africa’s most popular tourist destination.
Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape
Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a
victualling (supply) station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa,
India, and the Far East.
Jan van Riebeeck’s arrival on 6 April
1652 established the first permanent European settlement in South
Africa. Cape Town quickly outgrew its original purpose as the first
European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope, becoming the economic and
cultural hub of the Cape Colony.
Until the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the development of Johannesburg, Cape Town was the largest city in South Africa.
Today it is one of the most multicultural
cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for
immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.
As of 2007 the city had an estimated
population of 3.5 million. Cape Town’s land area of 2,455 square
kilometres (948 sq mi) is larger than other South African cities,
resulting in a comparatively lower population density of 1,425
inhabitants per square kilometre (3,690 /sq mi).
The city was named the World Design Capital for 2014 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.
