Kommetjie

Introduction

Seaside village in the Western Cape, South Africa Place in Western Cape, South AfricaKommetjieKommetjie viewed from Hout BayStreet map of KommetjieKommetjieShow map of Western CapeKommetjieShow map of South AfricaCoordinates: 34°08′25″S 18°19′45″E / 34.14028°S 18.32917°E / -34.14028; 18.32917CountrySouth AfricaProvinceWestern CapeMunicipalityCity of Cape TownMain PlaceKommetjieArea • Total2.56 km2 (0.99 sq mi)Population (2011) • Total2,435 • Density951/km2 (2,460/sq mi)Racial makeup (2011) • Black African2.7% • Coloured3.5% • Indian/Asian0.4% • White92.0% • Other1.3%First languages (2011) • English86.5% • Afrikaans10.3% • Other3.2%Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)Postal code (street)7976PO box7976 Kommetjie (Afrikaans for "small basin," approximately pronounced caw-me-key) is a small town near Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metro area. It lies about halfway down the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, at the southern end of the long wide beach that runs northwards towards Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek. The community of Ocean View is located to its immediate south east. It was founded in 1902 when a consortium of businessmen developed the area as a residential suburb of Cape Town. The town was modernised in the 1960s when electricity and municipal running water was installed. The area is a popular spot for surfing, since powerful waves from the Atlantic Ocean rise up over rocky reefs formed by hard sandstones of the Table Mountain Group. Wherever the bottom is rocky, the shallower waters are thick with giant kelp forests. Kommetjie is famous for its excellent crayfishing although changes in fishing quotas have drastically reduced the daily catch allowed.

Geography

[edit] Kommetjie is situated on the narrow coastal plain below the mountains, on the western side of the southern Cape Peninsula, beside the Atlantic Ocean which has cold currents in this region, and is exposed to the prevailing south westerly swell from the Southern Ocean. The Slangkop Lighthouse, which stands about 33 meters tall, is situated on the beach. The lighthouse can be seen from the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass and has been around since 1919.

Sport and recreation