Cape Flats, Territory in Western Cape, South Africa
Cape Flats is a large lowland area southeast of Cape Town, spreading between the Cape Peninsula mountains and the Hottentots Holland range. The sandy plain lies close to sea level and contains several residential settlements, industrial zones and open areas with low vegetation.
In the 1950s, new residential areas appeared here after the government moved people from the city center. The forced relocation under apartheid policy turned the sparsely inhabited land into densely populated neighborhoods.
The names Langa, Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha reflect when each area was founded, while residents today maintain their own church groups, music styles and local celebrations. Each community has its own gathering points where people meet to trade, talk and celebrate.
The area experiences dry summers and rainy winters, so some streets and residential sections can flood during heavy rainfall. Travelers should check weather reports when planning a visit in winter and expect wet conditions.
Below the sand layer several meters thick lie ancient rocks of shale, siltstone and sandstone from the Malmesbury Group. These deposits originally came from the ocean floor and today form the hidden foundation of the plain.
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