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Summaries · Grade 5 Geography › The coastline and height above sea level
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The coastline and height above sea level

Capes, bays and peninsulas, and how a map shows height above sea level with colours. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Capes and bays

A cape is land that sticks out into the sea, like Cape Agulhas. A bay is sea that cuts into the land, like Table Bay. A peninsula is land almost surrounded by water.

Cape
A cape sticks out into the sea.
Rule

Bays are good places for harbours, because the water is calmer. The coast gives us access to trade by sea.

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Height above sea level

Height is measured from sea level. A town 1 500 m above sea level is not at the sea, but high up inland on the plateau. The highest points of the Drakensberg are more than 3 000 m high.

Colour on the mapHeight
Dark greenLow, near sea level
Light green and yellowA little higher
Light brownHigh: the plateau
Dark brownThe highest mountains

A spot height is a dot with a number that gives the exact height of that place, such as Mafadi 3 450 m.

100200300100200300From the sideFrom above: contour lines
Contour lines join places of the same height. Close together means steep.
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Higher is colder

The higher you climb, the colder it gets. That is why Johannesburg, high up on the plateau, is cooler than Durban at the sea. The Lowveld lies much lower than the Highveld and is warmer.

Bay
A bay cuts into the land.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • A cape sticks out into the sea; a bay cuts into the land.
  • Bays are good places for harbours, because the water is calmer.
  • Height is measured from sea level, in metres.
  • On a map colours show height: green is low, brown is high.
  • The higher you go, the colder it gets: Johannesburg is cooler than Durban.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

A cape is a nose sticking out; a bay is a bite taken out.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

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    Follows CAPS for Grade 5 Social Sciences (Geography). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

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