While in search of the sea route to India the seafarer Bartolomeu Dias stopped at the place where Lüderitz is situated nowadays. About the previous names of Lüdenitz- in 1487 going southwards Dias gave the name of Angra das Voltas to the place. The next year on the way back to Europe he renamed the place. The new name was Golfo de Sao Cristovao (the name of his flag ship had been São Cristóvão).
The next visitor, Vasco da Gama , renamed the bay .The new name was Angra Pequena (in English "small cove"), or a small bay.
Seeking for the sea route to India Dias left there the smallest of his three vessels with 9 seamen keeping guard on it, but later when he returned there were only three of them left. Link. The locals had killed six of his men, the seventh was seriously wounded and died at the time when his companions arrived. The small vessel was in such a poor condition as well, that Dias decided to burn the ship, and returned back to Europe with two vessels.
Dias Point is situated 18 miles west of Lüderitz, at the top of the cape. The first stone cross was built here by Padrão Dias in July 25, 1488, and in spite of the wind and weather conditions - lasted until the 19th century. In 1825 the cross was found broken and smaller pieces of it were taken to the Cape Town Museum.
This cross in the picture was put up in 1988, when the Dias Festival took place. Dias Point is the Namibia National Monument since 1973.
To visit the Cross one must go over the wooden bridge, built in 1911.
Before the bridge there is a warning, on the whole –there are warnings in many places that "Visitors enter this area at their own risk". The risk is that the strong wind can carry you into the sea. It makes no sense to use metal bulletin boards here as well. Could stand up to the wind perhaps half of the day.
But here is also a camping and a small cafe, the signboard of the cafe is wind-resistant.
The Cafeteria itself.
Further away is the campsite.
There is a display of the older technique at the coffee shop.
Even mini-golf can be played.
At the camping site with the Germans. In the advertisements of the camping there is the word Eco - a word that generally means that there is no electricity but water and washing facilities are available. And there is always The Wind - and most of the time from the south.
Sunset by the ocean.
One of the campsites is with the boat. You can either spend the night next to the boat or inside it using built-in sleeping places. With heavier wind it is safer inside the boat. One should not even think of putting up a tent.
Some interesting GPS devices inside the boat.
A view from the ocean at Dias Point and the bridge.
Finally, a map of Namibia, the journey so far is in red.
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