What are the landforms of Table Mountain?

Table Mountain, Afrikaans Tafelberg, flat-topped mountain in southwestern South Africa, overlooking Cape Town and Table Bay and dominating the northern end of the high, rocky Cape Peninsula. Its tabular shape results from nearly horizontal layers of sandstone exposed by vigorous wind and water erosion.

Who Discovered Table Mountain?

In 1497, Vasco da Gama spotted it as well. The first recorded climb of the mountain was done by the Portuguese navigator, Admiral Antonio de Saldanha in 1503. It was de Saldanha who gave the mountain its name, naming it Taboa da caba, meaning table of the cape.

What Stone is Table Mountain?

Table Mountain Sandstone
Table Mountain Sandstone is made up predominantly of quartzitic sandstone laid down between 510 (Cambrian Period) and 400 (Silurian Period) million years ago. It is the hardest, and most erosion resistant layer of the Cape Supergroup.

Is Table Mountain one of the 7 Wonders of the World?

Table Mountain has been announced as one of the New7Wonders of Nature along with the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Is Table Mountain a volcano?

Table Mountain, an andesitic stratovolcano at the NW corner of Lassen National Park, is an andesitic stratovolcano active about 1-2 million years ago.

Why is Table Top mountain famous?

The table top mountains are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago. As they are completely isolated from the ground, these ”islands above the rainforest” have a large number of unique plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world.

What is the real name of Table Mountain?

Hoerikwaggo
The original name for Table Mountain was “Hoerikwaggo” meaning “Mountain in the Sea”, given to it by the Khoisan. This later changed when, in 1503, Portuguese explorer, Antonio de Saldanha, hiked the mountain (the first recorded hike in history) and renamed it Tabao de Cabo (“table of the Cape”).

How Table Mountain got its cloud?

Table Mountain is easily Cape Town’s most recognised natural icon. Its flat tabletop is a result of nature as is its unusual cloud cover. The latter is caused by the South Easter winds and is often referred to as a tablecloth.

Is Table Mountain granite?

Photo: Jane Whaley Table Mountain dominates the city of Cape Town. It is one of the oldest mountains in the world and is made up of great thicknesses of Ordovician sandstone overlying the Precambrian shales and granite, the unconformity between them identified by a clear break in slope.

What are the 7 wonders of South Africa?

7 Wonders of South Africa

  • The Drakensberg.
  • Tsitsikamma Forest.
  • The Blyde River Canyon.
  • The Cradle of Humankind.
  • The Karoo National Park.
  • Cape Point.
  • Table Mountain.