Cape Cross

Photo

by Visem

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Cape Cross is a prominent headland located on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, famous for its historical and ecological significance. It is renowned for its large colony of Cape fur seals, which attracts thousands of tourists annually. The site is also historically important as it marks the spot where Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão first set foot on the Namibian coast in 1486, erecting a padrão (stone cross) to signify Portuguese territorial claims. Today, a replica of this cross stands at the site, while the original can be found in Germany. Cape Cross is part of the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, a protected area that aims to conserve the seal population and their habitat.