Hiking Table Mountain

Over the weekend, I hiked to the top of the 1,086 meter Table Mountain in Cape Town. The name comes from the unusual top to the mountain, which is essentially a flat surface. Lengthwise, this surface is about 3 kilometers. Oftentimes, the mountain will be covered in clouds. This occurs when moist air from the ocean is lifted when it runs into the mountain. As this air rises, it reaches its dewpoint, forming the clouds. The "Mensa" constellation, appearing only in the Southern Hemisphere, is named after Table Mountain. This gives Table Mountain the distinction of being the only geological feature in the world that has a constellation named after it. In addition, the mountain is the only location where the Table Mountain Ghost Frogs resides.