Cape Town, South Africa - Lion's Head & Signal Hill - Kimble postcard 1956

Postcard
• Picture / Image:  Lion's Head and Signal Hill, Cape Town, South Africa
• Publisher:  Kimble Production
• Postally used:  yes
• Stamp:  South African 2d Zebra definitive
• Postmark(s):  Kaalstad 1956 cds
• Sent to:  Heswall, Wirral, Cheshire, UK
• Notes / condition: 

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Image may be low res for illustrative purposes - if you need a higher definition image then please contact me and I may be able to send one.

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I will give a full refund if you are not fully satisfied with the postcard.

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Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information (internal links may not  work) :

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Lion's Head is a mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Lion's Head peaks at 669 metres (2,195 ft) above sea level. The peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park.

The suburbs of the city surround the peak and Signal Hill on almost all sides, but strict management by city authorities has kept development of housing off the higher ground. The area is significant to the Cape Malay community, who historically lived in the Bo-Kaap quarter close to Lion's Head.

There are a number of historic graves and shrines (kramats) of Malay leaders on the lower slopes and on Signal Hill.

In the 17th century the peak was known as Leeuwen Kop (Lion's Head) by the Dutch, and Signal Hill was known as Leeuwen Staart (Lion's Tail), as the shape resembles a crouching lion or a sphinx. The English in the 17th Century called the peak Sugar Loaf.^[1][2]

Lion's Head is known for spectacular views over the city, and the hour-long walk to the top is particularly popular during full moon.^[1] Its slopes are also a popular launching point for paragliders.

Signal Hill (Afrikaans: Seinheuwel),^[1] or Lion's Rump, is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain.

The hill was also known as ""The Lion's Flank"", a term now obsolete. Together with Lion's Head, Signal Hill looks like a lion sphinx

Signal flags were used to communicate weather warnings as well as anchoring instructions to visiting ships in order to ensure that they prepared adequately for stormy weather while in the bay. Similarly, ships could use flags to signal for assistance if, for example, an anchor line parted during a storm.^[3]

It is known for the Noon Gun that is operated there by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory. In 1836, a time ball was set up at the Cape Town observatory,^[4] however it was not visible to ships in the harbour, so a second time ball was erected on Signal Hill in order to relay the precise moment of 1pm Cape Mean Time. In this way ships in the bay were able to check their marine chronometers.^[3] The daily practice of dropping of the ball continued until 1934, when it was made redundant by radio signals.^[5]

The guns on Signal Hill were used to notify the public when a ship was in trouble and there was a possibility of casualties on the coast near Cape Town. Three guns would be fired from Chavonnes Battery, followed by a single gun in answer from Imhoff Battery.^[3]

There is a road to the summit and that vantage point provides spectacular views over Cape Town and surroundings, especially at dawn or sunset. Along Signal Hill Road one can also find the Appleton Scout Campsite^[6] owned and operated by the South African Scout Association.

There are several tombs, or kramats, on the hill for Muslim missionaries and religious leaders. The most conspicuous one, a white square building with a green dome, is for the sheikh Mohamed Hassen Ghaibie (Shah al-Qadri), a follower of Sheikh Yusuf. Other tombs consist of raised rectangles, decorated with satin. They are still visited by some local Muslim.

type=printed postcards

theme=topographical: rest of the world

sub-theme=africa

county/ country=south africa

number of items=single

period=1945 - present

postage condition=unposted