Cape St. Francis ( af, Kaap St Francis) is a village in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
, situated on a
headland in the
Eastern Cape Province
The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha.
The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in 199 ...
. It is popular for its clean beaches and as a
surfing location.
The village is home to the
Seal Point Lighthouse.
The Irma Booysen Floral Reserve is the home to many species of flowers and plants.
The adjacent village,
St Francis Bay
St Francis Bay ( af, St Francisbaai) is a holiday town in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, roughly one hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth.
On 11 November 2012 a fire destroyed 76 homes, almost ...
, was the site of "ten-million-to-one" surfing waves seen in the 1966 surf/travel
documentary, ''
The Endless Summer
''The Endless Summer'' is a 1966 American surf documentary film directed, produced, edited and narrated by Bruce Brown. The film follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on a surfing trip around the world. Despite the balmy mediterrane ...
''.
Cape St. Francis is now known as one of the best surfing locations. Given its geological location, it is susceptible to swell year round from large low pressure systems that form between Antarctica and the southern tip of Africa. When large south west swells wrap around Seal Point and the prevailing offshore winds come up, the surfing is world class.
It is also featured in the 2014 film
The Perfect Wave, starring
Scott Eastwood
Scott Eastwood (born Scott Clinton Reeves; March 21, 1986) is an American actor. His notable films are '' Flags of Our Fathers'' (2006), ''Gran Torino'' (2008), '' Invictus'' (2009), '' The Forger'' (2012), ''Trouble with the Curve'' (2012), '' ...
.
Bartolomeu Dias originally named the cape Ponta das Quiemadas because of the fires he spotted there while sailing past.
See also
*
St. Francis Bay
St Francis Bay ( af, St Francisbaai) is a holiday town in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, roughly one hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth.
On 11 November 2012 a fire destroyed 76 homes, almost ...
*
Venpet–Venoil collision
References
External links
Proposed E Cape nuclear plant met with resistance
Surfing locations in South Africa
Beaches of South Africa
Populated coastal places in South Africa
Populated places in the Kouga Local Municipality
{{EasternCape-geo-stub