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VASCO da GAMA
(1460?-1524)
The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama led an expedition at the end of the 15th century that opened the sea route to India by way of the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa.

He was born about 1460 at Sines. He was a gentleman at court when he was chosen to lead the expedition to India.

Many years of Portuguese exploration down the West African coast had been rewarded when Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. The Portuguese then planned to send a fleet to India for spices. Vasco da Gama was placed in command of the expedition.

Four ships left Lisbon on July 8, 1497--the Sao Gabriel, on which da Gama sailed, the Sao Rafael, the Berrio, and a storeship. They stopped in the Cape Verde Islands; from there they did not follow the coast, as earlier expeditions had, but stood well out to sea.

They reached the Cape of Good Hope region on November 7 1497. The ships rounded the Cape on November 22 1497. Vasco de Gama was an important explorer and made a very important trip around the tip of Africa. He completed what Bartolomeu Dias started. He had a hard voyage, but made it back from India successfully.

Source: library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html
www.asij.ac.jp/elementary/gr5web/c5r/explorer_reports/gwe...

An old romantic :-) Have a great day everyone!

Bordjiesdrif, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

Stern of the fishing vessel Annaliese and moored yachts at Hout Bay Harbour.