Kaapstad

Kaapstad, Afrikaans name for Cape Town, is a major city in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It serves as the legislative capital of the country and is the largest city in the province. It lies at the southwestern tip of the African continent, on the shores of Table Bay and at the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean, near the Cape of Good Hope.

Kaapstad was founded in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company as a provisioning station for ships traveling to Asia. It developed into a major port and administrative center, and grew through the centuries into a diverse urban hub that hosts provincial government facilities and national parliamentary buildings.

Table Mountain provides a distinctive backdrop to the city. The coastal plain includes landmarks such as the V&A Waterfront, the Cape Town Stadium, and the historic Robben Island off the coast. The nearby Cape Floral Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting the biodiversity of the surrounding area. The city serves as a gateway to the Cape Winelands.

Kaapstad is a multilingual and multicultural city. Official languages include Afrikaans and English, with isiXhosa widely spoken as well. The metropolitan area is one of the largest in South Africa and supports a diversified economy based on tourism, finance, manufacturing, and services.

Transportation in Kaapstad includes Cape Town International Airport, a busy harbor, and a network of roads linking to the rest of the country. The city houses higher education institutions such as the University of Cape Town and various cultural institutions, museums, and festivals.