Agulhas
What It Means

Cape Agulhas is the most southerly point of the Africa, where the Atlantic and the Indian oceans meet.

South of Africa, the warm Agulhas Current flows along the east coast of the continent into the Indian Ocean. It is a key element of the global salt and heat conveyor, driving the Earth’s climate.

There are different theories about how Portuguese navigators gave the Cape its name (which means “needles”).  Either they saw from their compasses that the direction of magnetic north corresponded with true north as they passed the Cape, or they named it after the sharp rocks they passed.