Western Cape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Western Cape
Wes-Kaap
iNtshona-Koloni |
|
|---|---|
| Motto(s):
Spes Bona (Good Hope)
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Location of the Western Cape in South Africa
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| Country | South Africa |
| Established | 27 April 1994 |
| Capital | Cape Town |
| Districts |
6
City of Cape Town
West Coast Cape Winelands Overberg Eden Central Karoo |
| Government | |
| • Type | Parliamentary system |
| Area | |
| • Total | 129,462 km2 (49,986 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 4th in South Africa |
| Highest elevation | 2,325 m (7,628 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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|
| • Total | 5,822,734 |
| • Estimate
(2018)
|
6,621,100 |
| • Rank | 3rd in South Africa |
| • Density | 44.97639/km2 (116.4883/sq mi) |
| • Density rank | 4th in South Africa |
| Population groups | |
| • Coloured | 48.8% |
| • African | 32.8% |
| • White | 15.7% |
| • Indian or Asian | 1.0% |
| Languages | |
| • Afrikaans | 49.7% |
| • Xhosa | 24.7% |
| • English | 20.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| ISO 3166 code | ZA-WC |
Western Cape is one of South Africa's nine provinces. It surrounds the Cape of Good Hope. It was made in 1994 by splitting the old Cape Colony into three. The majority of the people live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town, which is also the capital.
Geography
Western Cape borders the provinces of Northern Cape and Eastern Cape, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. On its southwestern tip is the Cape of Good Hope.
Images for kids
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A diagrammatic 400 km north–south crosssection through the southern portion of the country at approximately 21° 30’ E (i.e. near Calitzdorp in the Little Karoo), showing the relationship between the Cape Fold Mountains (and their geological structure) and the geology of the Little and Great Karoo, as well as the position of the Great Escarpment. The colour code for the geological layers is the same as those used in the diagram above. The heavy black line flanked by opposing arrows is the fault that runs for nearly 300 km along the southern edge of the Swartberg Mountains. The Swartberg Mountain range owes some of its great height to upliftment along this fault line. The subsurface structures are not to scale.
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Provincial government headquarters in Cape Town
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A wheat field near Porterville in the Bergriver Municipality. Wheat is a common agricultural crop in the area.
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The N1 national route atop the Hex River Pass
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The University of Cape Town
