Cape Cross |
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Cape Cross |
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 Headlights on in daytime |
 C34 salt road |
 Two replica crosses at Cape Cross |
Slippery road |
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Cape Cross was proclaimed a National Monument on1.11.1968
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The original Cross
Replica Cross
Dimensions |
The Early Portuguese Explorer Mariner Diogo Cão At Cape Cross: This is the desolate and remote rocky outcrop of land at co-ordinate 26°47' South on which Diogo Cao the Portuguese Explorer Navigator erected a limestone Padrao (Cross) in January 1486. It being the furthest south that any European had been known to travel. The Padrao was to stand a lonely vigil for over four centuries
The German Period: In August 1884 Captain von Raven of the German ship 'Wolf' landed at Cape Cross Bay where his crew erected a wooden sign proclaiming German sovereignty. However, the landing party failed to notice the Padrao of Diogo Cao.
The Padrao was to remain undiscovered until late January 1893 when Captain Becker of the German Naval Cruiser 'Falke' and his men were ashore surveying the area. They found the Padrao laying over at an angle and protruding only 1.8 meters out of the sand. Becker realized the importance of a find of this historical landmark and replaced it with a 5 meter wooden double cross that would allow for an easier sighting from ships at sea. He arranged for the Padrao to be shipped to Germany, where it was placed at the Naval Academy ay Keil. The Kaiser ordered that a similar stone cross be carved, but depicting the Kaiser's Crest along with the advice "Erected at the command of the German Kaiser and King of Prussia Wilhelm ll 1894 on the site of the original which was weathered by the years". This command was fulfilled on 27 January 1895 by Captain Reinecke of the Naval Cruiser SMS Sperba, but the stone cross was placed 15 meters south east of the 5m high wooden cross.
The 'Kaiser's' Stone Cross stood alone until In 1980 when the National Monuments Council of Namibia commissioned an exact replica of the Diogo Cao Padrao to be carved from Namibia Dolerite and be erected on the exact, original site of the Diogo Cao Padrao. This was unveiled on 12th October 1980 by the Administrator General. Thus the reason for the two crosses that can be seen on the site to this day.
The Location of the original Padrao at Cape Cross In Germany the Diogo Cao Padrao was again moved from Kiel to the Oceanographical Museum in Berlin, which was later destroyed by allied bombing in 1944. It has since been relocated and now stands in the New Hall - Deutsches Technikmuseum, Berlin.
The Technical details of the Padrao at Cape Cross The Padroes comprise of two parts, as did the original. The upright pillar sections have a hole drilled down the centre from the top face. At the time of erecting the Padrao, the crucifix section was positioned into the hole and molten lead was poured in to secure it in place. The 'Kaiser' Padrao: is 2.6m in height, and is made from black granite The Namibia Padrao: is 3.5m in height, and is made from Dolerite The Diogo Cao Padrao: Dimensions are shown on the left. Approx weight 360kg
The Cape Cross Site is Managed by the Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Permits to visit the Cape Cross site are available at the office on-site. Opening hours are: 10h00 to 17h00 |
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