Cape Chaunar
Encyclopedia
Cape Chaunar, Cape Nun, Cap Noun, Cabo de Não or Nant is a cape
on the Atlantic coast of Africa
, south of Morocco
, between Tarfaya
and Sidi Ifni
. By the 15th century it was considered insurmountable by Arabs and Europeans, thus resulting its his name meaning cape "no" in Portuguese. Cape Chaunar is the true northern coastal limit of Sahara desert, although nearby Cape Bojador
is frequently mistakenly called this.
navigators Vandino and Ugolino Vivaldi
may have sailed as far as Cape Non before being lost at sea. It was named Cape de Não ("Cape No") by Portuguese
mariners during the fifteenth century, being considered the impassable limit for Arab
and Europe
an sailors, the non plus ultra beyond which no navigation could occur.
"Quem o passa tornará ou não" (those who cross it, return or not), wrote Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto in his book "Navigazione".
Starting in 1421, exploratory vessels were sent by Prince Henry the Navigator, managing to cross Cape Non and reaching Cape Bojador
, then considered the southern limit of the world, stretching into the "dark sea" (Latin
Mare Tenebrarum, Mare Tenebrosum or Bahr al-Zulumat in Arabic) the medieval name for the Atlantic Ocean inaccessible to the sailors of the time.
Cape
Cape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
on the Atlantic coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, south of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, between Tarfaya
Tarfaya
- References :CitationsBibliography* Didier Daurat, , France: Édition Dynamo, 1954....
and Sidi Ifni
Sidi Ifni
Sidi Ifni is a city located in southwest Morocco, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of 20,000 people. The economic base of the city is fishing. It belongs to the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region and to the Sidi Ifni province. Its inhabitants are mainly Chleuhs from the Ait...
. By the 15th century it was considered insurmountable by Arabs and Europeans, thus resulting its his name meaning cape "no" in Portuguese. Cape Chaunar is the true northern coastal limit of Sahara desert, although nearby Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador or Cape Boujdour is a headland on the northern coast of Western Sahara, at 26° 07' 37"N, 14° 29' 57"W. , as well as the name of a nearby town with a population of 41,178.It is shown on nautical charts with the original Portuguese name "Cabo Bojador", but is sometimes...
is frequently mistakenly called this.
History
The thirteenth century GenoveseGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
navigators Vandino and Ugolino Vivaldi
Vandino and Ugolino Vivaldi
Vandino and Ugolino Vivaldi were two brothers and Genoese explorers and merchants....
may have sailed as far as Cape Non before being lost at sea. It was named Cape de Não ("Cape No") by Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
mariners during the fifteenth century, being considered the impassable limit for Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sailors, the non plus ultra beyond which no navigation could occur.
"Quem o passa tornará ou não" (those who cross it, return or not), wrote Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto in his book "Navigazione".
Starting in 1421, exploratory vessels were sent by Prince Henry the Navigator, managing to cross Cape Non and reaching Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador or Cape Boujdour is a headland on the northern coast of Western Sahara, at 26° 07' 37"N, 14° 29' 57"W. , as well as the name of a nearby town with a population of 41,178.It is shown on nautical charts with the original Portuguese name "Cabo Bojador", but is sometimes...
, then considered the southern limit of the world, stretching into the "dark sea" (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Mare Tenebrarum, Mare Tenebrosum or Bahr al-Zulumat in Arabic) the medieval name for the Atlantic Ocean inaccessible to the sailors of the time.
Sources
- Robert Kerr, General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels
- Chambers Book of DaysChambers Book of DaysThe Chambers Book of Days was written by the Scottish author Robert Chambers and first published in 1864.A new version was published by Chambers Harrap known as the Chambers Book of...
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