Cape Cross Seal Reserve

Cape Cross was probably the southernmost point on the second voyage by the Portuguese explorer Diego Cão in 1484–1486. During this voyage he proceeded ca. 1,400 km farther than during the first one, which is thought to have taken place in 1482. He is known to have erected two pillars in the areas beyond his first voyage, one in Monte Negro, and the second at Cape Cross. The current name of the place is derived from this pillar. What can today be found at Cape Cross is a replica of that first cross.

Cão’s expedition took place only six years before Bartholomeu Dias successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope as the first European explorer in 1488.

Today Cape Cross is a protected area owned by the government of Namibia under the name Cape Cross Seal Reserve. The reserve is the home of one of the largest colonies of Cape Fur Seals in the world. The name refers to the large stone cross erected in the area by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century.

Cape Cross is one of two main sites in Namibia where seals are culled, partly for selling their hides and partly for protecting the fish stock. The economic impact of seals on the fish resources is controversial: While a government-initiated study found that seal colonies consume more fish than the entire fishing industry can catch, animal protection society Seal Alert South Africa estimated less than 0.3% losses to commercial fisheries.

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