Signal Hill (Cape Town)

Infobox Mountain
Name=Signal Hill
Photo=SignallHill.jpg
Caption=Signal Hill as seen from the north side of Lion's Head
Elevation=convert|350|m|ft|0|lk=on|abbr=on
Location=Western Cape, South Africa
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|33|55|4|S|18|24|10|E|name=Signal Hill|type:mountain_region:ZA|display=inline,title
Topographic

Age= Late Precambrian
Easiest route=Signal Hill Rd

Signal Hill is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain.

The hill is also known as "The Lion's Flank", but this term is obsolete. It is still shown on many maps as 'Lion's Rump': together with Lion's head, Signal Hill looks like a lion sphinx. [ [http://www.capetownmagazine.com/tododay/First-Visit~c17/Western-Cape/Have-a-fantastic-view-over-Cape-Town-city-from-Signal-Hill~191 Cape Town Magazine - Shooting in Cape Town with The Noon Gun] ]

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..

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, [cite book|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=tDwYAAAAIAAJ|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|author=Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Howard Harrison, British Academy|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2004|accessdate=2008-10-04|isbn=019861411X|pages=p780] 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.cite book|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=_8BBAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA275|title=The Seaman's Guide to the Navigation of the Indian Ocean and China Sea|author=William Henry Rosser, James Frederick Imray|pages=p275-276|date=1867|accessdate=2008-10-04|publisher=J. Imray & Son] The daily practice of dropping of the ball continued until 1934, when it was made redundant by radio signals. [cite book|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=okl-AAAAIAAJ|title=Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa|publisher=Astronomical Society of Southern Africa|date=1996|accessdate=2008-10-04|pages=p109]

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 fired from Chavonne Battery, followed by a single gun in answer from Imhoff Battery.

There is a road to the summit and that vantage point provides spectacular views over Cape Town and surroundings, especially at dawn or sunset.

References

ee also

*Lion's Head
*Table Mountain

External links

* [http://www.pbase.com/glassbottle/summer_dawn Photographs of a summer dawn taken from Signal Hill]