Table Bay

Table Bay (Afrikaans: Tafelbaai) is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town (founded 1652 by Van Riebeeck) and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.

Table Bay, the harbour and the City Bowl from the summit of Table Mountain in 2022.

History

Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this region in 1486. The bay, although famous for centuries as a haven for ships, is actually a rather poor natural harbour and is exposed to storm waves from the northwest. Many sailing ships seeking refuge in the bay during the 17th and 18th centuries were driven ashore by winter storms.

The Dutch colonists nevertheless persisted with their efforts on the shores of Table Bay, because good natural harbours along this coastline are almost non-existent. The best of them, Saldanha Bay, lacked fresh water. Simon's Bay was well protected from westerly winter storms and swells, but more exposed to summer southeasterly storms and difficult to access overland from Cape Town. Hout Bay was small and exposed to the prevailing southwesterly swell. Eventually a harbour was built in Table Bay by a process of land reclamation and was protected from storm waves by breakwaters. The older part of this development is called the Victoria Dock; the newer part, the Duncan Dock. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, is in this bay.

The bay's beaches were oiled following an accident involving the Dutch tanker Sliedrecht in November 1953. The vessel moved 96 km (60 mi) offshore to pump out 1,000 tonnes of oil that had been fouled with seawater after the initial impact.^[1]

Image gallery

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  Dutch ships off Table Bay in the 17th century
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  Looking over sailing ships in Table Bay in 1727 with Table Mountain in the background
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  Map of Table Bay (1882)
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  Map of the Docks and Infrastructure (1884)
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  Cape Town from space, looking south over False Bay with Hangklip Point (top left), Cape Point (top right) and Table Bay south and east of the clearly visible, circular Robben Island, February 1995.
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  Synthetic perspective with 2× exaggerated elevation, from satellite elevation and image data. Looking east over Cape Peninsula and False Bay (behind) with Robben Island (front left), Table Mountain (centre front) and Cape Point (front right).
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  Sketch of Cape Town from the East India Company Ship Defense, en route from the Downs to Bombay, anchored in Table Bay on January 24, 1739.

See also

• False Bay
• Eduard Bohlen

References

• v
• t
• e

Cape Town

City of Cape Town

Natural environment

Cape Flats Cape Peninsula Geology Helderberg Bays Bantry Bay Camps Bay False Bay Gordon's Bay Granger Bay Hout Bay Simon's Bay Smitswinkel Bay Table Bay Beaches Bloubergstrand Boulders Beach Camps Bay Clifton Glen Beach Melkbosstrand Muizenberg Sandy Bay Strand Hills Blaauwberg Skapenberg Signal Hill Tygerberg Mountains Chapman's Peak Constantiaberg Devil's Peak Helderberg Hottentots Holland Mountains Lion's Head Table Mountain Twelve Apostles Islands Duiker Island Robben Island Seal Island Headlands Cape of Good Hope Cape Point Miller's Point Rivers and wetlands Bokramspruit Buffels River Eerste River Kuils River Diep River Else River Hout Bay River Krom River Lourens River Modder River Salt River Black River Elsieskraal River Liesbeek River Sand River Schusters River Silvermine River Sir Lowry’s Pass River Sout River Steenbras River Zandvlei Zeekoevlei Climate and weather Cape Town water crisis Cape Doctor Berg wind World heritage sites Cape Floristic Region Table Mountain National Park Robben Island Biodiversity of Cape Town Nature reserves in Cape Town Helderberg Marine Protected Area Robben Island Marine Protected Area Table Mountain National Park Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area Vegetation types Atlantis Sand Fynbos Boland Granite Fynbos Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos Hangklip Sand Fynbos Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos Peninsula Granite Fynbos Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos Southern Afrotemperate Forest Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Swartland Alluvium Fynbos Swartland Shale Renosterveld Parks and gardens Arderne Gardens Company's Garden De Waal Park Green Point Common Helderberg Nature Reserve Keurboom Park Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Rondebosch Common Rondebosch Park Tokai Arboretum Tokai Park Wynberg Park Nature reserves Blaauwberg Conservation Area Bracken Nature Reserve Cecilia De Hel Nature Area Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary Die Oog Conservation Area Diep River Fynbos Corridor Durbanville Nature Reserve Edith Stephens Wetland Park Glencairn Wetland Harmony Flats Nature Reserve Helderberg Nature Reserve Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area Koeberg Nature Reserve Kogelberg Nature Reserve Lourens River Protected Natural Environment Lower Silvermine River Wetlands Macassar Dunes Conservation Area Mamre Nature Garden Meadowridge Common Milnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary Rietvlei Wetland Reserve Rondebosch Common Rondevlei Nature Reserve Silwerboomkloof Natural Heritage Site Tygerberg Nature Reserve Uitkamp Wetlands Witzands Aquifer Conservation Area Wolfgat Nature Reserve Zoarvlei Wetlands Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve

Communities

Atlantic Seaboard Bakoven Bantry Bay Camps Bay Clifton Fresnaye Green Point Llandudno Mouille Point Sea Point Three Anchor Bay Blaauwberg Atlantis Bloubergstrand Brooklyn Century City Dunoon Duynefontein Joe Slovo Park Killarney Gardens Mamre Melkbosstrand Milnerton Montague Gardens Paarden Eiland Parklands Rugby Table View West Beach Ysterplaat Cape Flats (Klipfontein district) Athlone Belgravia Bishop Lavis Crawford Crossroads Gugulethu Hanover Park Heideveld Kalksteenfontein Kenwyn Lansdowne Lavender Hill Manenberg Nyanga Ottery Philippi Browns Farm Philippi Horticultural Philippi East Samora Machel Rondebosch East Rylands Strandfontein Valhalla Park Khayelitsha Bongweni Harare/Holimisa Ikwezi Park Mandela Park Griffiths Mxenge QQ Section Silver Town Victoria Merge Mitchells Plain Rocklands Westridge Portlands Tafelsig Eastridge Beacon Valley Lentegeur Woodlands Weltevreden Valley Colorado Mandalay Montclair Watergate Developments Heinz Park Morgans Village Rondevlei Westgate Montrose Park Lost City City Bowl Bo-Kaap De Waterkant Devil's Peak Estate District Six Foreshore Gardens Higgovale Lower Vrede Oranjezicht Robben Island Schotsche Kloof Tamboerskloof University Estate Vredehoek Walmer Estate Woodstock Zonnebloem Helderberg Eerste River Faure Firgrove Gordon's Bay Macassar Sir Lowry's Pass Village Somerset West Parel Vallei Strand Lwandle Nomzamo Northern Suburbs Acacia Park Belhar Bellville Boston Eversdal Kenridge Stellenberg Blue Downs Bonteheuwel Bothasig Brackenfell Canal Walk Delft Blikkiesdorp Durbanville Edgemead Elsie's River Epping Fisantekraal Goodwood Joostenbergvlakte Kensington Kraaifontein Kuils River Langa Joe Slovo Loevenstein Maitland Mfuleni Monte Vista Ndabeni Norwood Panorama Parow Philadelphia Plattekloof Pinelands Ravensmead Richwood Scottsdene Sonnestraal Thornton Tygerberg Tyger Valley Wallacedene Southern Suburbs Bergvliet Kreupelbosch Bishopscourt Claremont Harfield Village Constantia Diep River Grassy Park Pelican Park Heathfield Kenilworth Kirstenhof Lakeside Lotus River Marina da Gama Meadowridge Mowbray Muizenberg Newlands Observatory Plumstead Retreat Rondebosch Rosebank Salt River Southfield Steenberg Tokai Wetton Wynberg South Peninsula Capri Village Clovelly Da Gama Park Fish Hoek Glencairn Hangberg Hout Bay Imizamo Yethu Kalk Bay Kommetjie Masiphumelele Noordhoek Ocean View Scarborough Simon's Town St James Sunnydale Sun Valley Vrygrond Neighbourhoods Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Built environment

Maclear's Beacon Foreshore Freeway Bridge Grand Parade Greenmarket Square Adderley Street Long Street Strand Street Chapman's Peak Drive Hospital Bend Kloof Nek Road Metropolitan Routes in Cape Town M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 M12 National roads N1 N2 N7 Sir Lowry's Pass Ou Kaapse Weg Peninsula Expressway (Cape Town) R300 Skyscrapers List of tallest buildings in Cape Town 1 Thibault Square Atterbury House Cape Town Civic Centre Metlife Centre Mutual Building Naspers Centre Portside Tower Triangle House

Government

National government Parliament of South Africa Houses of Parliament Genadendal Residence Highstead Tuynhuys Defence Air Force Base Ysterplaat Naval Base Simon's Town SAS Wingfield South African Naval College Provincial government Leeuwenhof City of Cape Town Government of Cape Town Mayor Deputy Mayor Cape Town City Hall Cape Town Civic Centre Cape Town Partnership Coat of arms of Cape Town Flag of Cape Town Elections 2018 Cape Town mayoral election Erasmus Commission Wards Law and enforcement Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa Municipal Police Pollsmoor Prison

History

Invasion of the Cape Colony Battle of Blaauwberg Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 Noon Gun Timeline of Cape Town Fortifications Amsterdam Battery Castle of Good Hope Chavonnes Battery Fort de Goede Hoop Redoubt Duijnhoop Monuments and memorials Artillery Memorial, Cape Town Japanese Lantern Monument Rhodes Memorial The Cenotaph Treaty Tree Van Riebeeck's Hedge Lists of heritage sites Near Cape Town Bo-Kaap CBD and the Waterfront Simon's Town Helderberg Bellville Table Mountain Wynberg district Historical buildings African Theatre Alhambra Theatre Breakwater Lodge Church Square Coornhoop Graaff Electric Lighting Works

Culture

Demographics Languages Afrikaans South African English Xhosa Cuisine Cape Town wine Constantia (wine) Gatsby (sandwich) Performance art Cape Town City Ballet Musical ensembles Cape Town Opera Cape Town Philharmonia Choir Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra Theatres Artscape Theatre Centre Baxter Theatre Centre Labia Theatre Little Theatre Magnet Theatre Maynardville Open-Air Theatre Space Theatre The Independent Armchair Theatre Theatre on the Bay Events and festivals Cape Town Book Fair Cape Town International Jazz Festival Kaapse Klopse Museums and art galleries Air Force Museum Bertram House Chavonnes Battery Cape Town Science Centre District Six Museum Gallery Mau Mau Groote Schuur Heart of Cape Town Museum Hout Bay Museum Holocaust Centre Koopmans-de Wet House Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island Medical Museum Mostert's Mill Simon's Town Museum Naval Museum South African Sendinggestig Museum Waterworks Museum Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa Iziko Museums Bertram House Bo-Kaap Museum Groot Constantia Koopmans-de Wet House Maritime Centre Michaelis Collection at the Old Town House Rust en Vreugd Slave Lodge Social History Centre SAS Somerset South African Museum National Gallery William Fehr Collection at the Castle of Good Hope Public art Statues Nelson Mandela Cecil Rhodes Nobel Square George Grey Jan Hendrik Hofmeyer Jan van Riebeeck Maria van Riebeeck Bartolomeu Dias Religion Anglican Diocese of Cape Town Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town Religious buildings Auwal Mosque Gardens Shul Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George Groote Kerk Lutheran Church in Strand Street Nurul Islam Mosque Palm Tree Mosque Queen Victoria Mosque St. George's Cathedral St. James Church St. Mary's Cathedral Secular architecture Cape Dutch architecture Tallest buildings in Cape Town Athlone Power Station Atterbury House Bertram House Boshofpoort Cape Town City Hall Cape Town Civic Centre Castle of Good Hope Centre for the Book Coornhoop Disa Park Egyptian Building Genadendal Residence Hawthorndon House Houses of Parliament Huguenot Memorial Building Leeuwenhof Mandela Rhodes Building Metlife Centre Mutual Building Naspers Centre Portside Tower Rhodes Memorial Royal Observatory Triangle House Media Newspapers Cape Times The Cape Messenger Radio and television Bush Radio CapeTalk Cape Town TV Fine Music Radio Good Hope FM Kfm 94.5 UCT Radio Voice of the Cape

Economy

Entrepreneurship and innovation Silicon Cape Initiative Companies based in Cape Town Naspers Travelstart MWEB Sanlam Woolworths Holdings Limited Of historical interest: Garlicks Hotels and resorts Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel Protea Hotels by Marriott Shopping areas, malls and markets Canal Walk Cavendish Square Golden Acre Greenmarket Square N1 City Tygerberg Mall Somerset Mall Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Exhibition centres Cape Town International Convention Centre Good Hope Centre Restaurants and cafés Café Caprice Perseverance Tavern Tourism Beaches of Cape Town Cape of Good Hope Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Groot Constantia Mariner's Wharf Nature reserves in Cape Town Ratanga Junction Two Oceans Aquarium Victoria & Alfred Waterfront World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park

Transport

Air transport Airports in Cape Town Air Force Base Ysterplaat Cape Town International Airport Cape Winelands Airfield Wingfield Aerodrome Maritime transport Port of Cape Town Safmarine Road transport Buses in Cape Town Golden Arrow Bus Services MyCiTi MyCiTi bus stations Roads in Cape Town Trolleybuses in Cape Town Rail transport Blue Train Commuter rail lines Metrorail Western Cape Cape Flats Line Central Line Northern Line Southern Line Railway stations Bellville Cape Town Claremont Crawford Mowbray Mutual Newlands Observatory Pinelands Retreat Rondebosch Rosebank Salt River Simon's Town Steenberg Woodstock Trams in Cape Town

Sports

Soccer Cape Town Spurs F.C. Cape Town City F.C. Rugby Western Province Ikey Tigers Cricket Cape Cobras Other Cape Town Tigers (basketball) Sports events 2010 FIFA World Cup Cape Town Cycle Tour Cape Town Open Cape Town Ladies Open Cape Town Marathon South Africa Sevens Table Mountain Challenge Two Oceans Marathon Sports venues Athlone Stadium Bellville Stadium Bellville Velodrome Cape Town Stadium Erica Park Good Hope Centre Green Point Stadium Hartleyvale Stadium Killarney Motor Racing Complex Milnerton Racecourse Newlands Cricket Ground Newlands Stadium NNK Rugby Stadium Parow Park Philippi Stadium Royal Cape Golf Club University of the Western Cape Stadium Wynberg Military Base Stadium

Education

Libraries Biblionef Central Library Cape Town Centre for the Book Fish Hoek Library Jacob Gitlin Library Meadowridge Library National Library of South Africa Rondebosch Library SAAO Library Strandfontein Library University of Cape Town Libraries Universities Cape Peninsula University of Technology University of Cape Town University of the Western Cape Colleges Qualitas Career Academy South African College Yeshiva of Cape Town Private schools American International School of Cape Town Cannons Creek Independent School Cape Town French School Christel House South Africa Darul Islam Islamic High School Diocesan College German International School Cape Town Herschel Girls' School Herzlia Schools Mountain View Academy Parklands College St. Cyprian's School St. George's Grammar School Michael Oak Waldorf School Oakhurst Primary School Public schools Alexander Sinton Secondary School Belgravia High School Belhar Secondary School Bellville High School Bergvliet Primary School Bergvliet High School Bosmansdam High School Brackenfell High School Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology Cape Town High School Chris Hani Secondary School Claremont High School COSAT D.F. Malan High School Durbanville High School Eben Dönges High School Eersterivier Secondary School Fairbairn College Fairmont High School Gardens Commercial High School Grove Primary School Harold Cressy High School Hottentots Holland High School Jan van Riebeeck High School Lavender Hill High School Livingstone High School Masiphumelele High School Milnerton High School Mondale High School Parel Vallei High School Pinelands High School Range High School Rondebosch Boys' High School Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School Rustenburg School for Girls Sea Point High School Sinenjongo High School Spine Road High School South African College Schools Stellenberg High School Strand High School Table View High School The Settlers High School Trafalgar High School Tygerberg High School Westerford High School Windsor High School Wynberg Boys' High School Wynberg Girls' High School Alternative schools GlenBridge Special School Tafelberg School Former schools Ellerslie Girls' High School Tot Nut van het Algemeen Art & Music schools Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre South African College of Music Peter Clarke Art Centre Not yet allocated College of Magic Montebello Design Centre

Services

Hospitals Alexandra Hospital Groote Schuur Hospital Karl Bremer Hospital Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital Somerset Hospital Tygerberg Hospital Valkenberg Hospital Lighthouses Cape Point Lighthouse Green Point Lighthouse Milnerton Lighthouse Roman Rock Lighthouse Slangkop Lighthouse Western Cape Water Supply System Dams and resrvoirs Alexandra Dam Berg River Dam De Villiers Dam Hely-Hutchinson Dam Kleinplaats Dam Land-en-Zeezicht Reservoir Lewis Gay Dam Molteno Dam Silvermine Dam Steenbras Dam Theewaterskloof Dam Victoria Dam Voëlvlei Dam Wemmershoek Dam Woodhead Dam Electrical power generation Athlone Power Station Graaff Electric Lighting Works Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme Emergency services Cape Town Fire Department Metro Emergency Medical Services Mountain Club of South Africa National Sea Rescue Institute

Cape Town • Outline