Guardafay

Far to the depth of Indian Ocean comes the African Peninsula of Somalia with with a sharp cape Guardafay. The name comes from the Portuguese word "gaurdafu", which means "beware".

Far to the depth of Indian Ocean comes the African Peninsula of Somalia with with a sharp cape Guardafay

During the time of geographical discoveries, the name of this African cape Guardafay for a long time caused horror even among experienced seamen. The fact is that in those days people still did not know the land very well. Until the 15th century there were allegations that somewhere in the south there is a hot belt of land where water in the ocean is boiling and no ship can pass through it.

With the expansion of trade ties, ships of different countries, exploring the sea route to India, gradually bypassed the Cape of Guardafay and became convinced of deception.

Arab merchants, who for a long time held in their hands all the trade between the countries of Europe and India to get rid of competition, came up with a fairy tale about the terrible eastern Cape of Guardafay of the Somali peninsula, where supposedly there is a large mountain composed of magnetic ore that "pulls" which swims near, all the nails and iron parts, and the ship breaks up, and it absorbs the oceanic abyss.

So the name of Cape Guardafay appeared on the map, that is, "beware".

Tools