Cape Bojador

Not to be confused with Cape Bojeador.
Cape Bojador
بوجدور
Cabo Bojador
Cape Bojador is located in Western Sahara
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador
Location in Western Sahara
Cape Bojador is located in Africa
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador (Africa)
Coordinates: 26°08′N 14°30′W / 26.133°N 14.500°W / 26.133; -14.500
TerritoryWestern Sahara
Controlled byKingdom of Morocco
Claimed by
Population
 (2014)
 • Total
42,651[1]

Cape Bojador (Arabic: رأس بوجادور, trans. Rā's Būjādūr; Berber languages: ⴱⵓⵊⴷⵓⵔ, Bujdur; Spanish and Portuguese: Cabo Bojador; French: Cap Boujdour) is a headland on the west coast of Western Sahara, at 26° 07' 37"N, 14° 29' 57"W (various sources give various locations: this is from the Sailing Directions for the region), as well as the name of the large nearby town with a population of 42,651.[2] The name of the surrounding province also derives its name from the cape (Bojador Province).

The original name of the cape in Arabic is Abu Khaṭar (ابو خطر), meaning "father of danger".[3] The Spanish pronunciation of "Bojador", /boxad̪or/, is similar. It is shown on nautical charts, media and academic research with the original Portuguese name "Cabo Bojador", sometimes spelled "Cape Boujdour".[4][5][6] It is said that it is also known as the "Bulging Cape", although no references to this usage are to be found in standard geographical references.

The cape is not prominent on maps but may be located by looking 220 km (120 nautical miles) due south of the south-western point of the hook of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

  1. ^ "Western Sahara: Provinces & Urban Communes – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
  2. ^ "Western Sahara: Provinces & Urban Communes – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
  3. ^ Cape Bojador, Cape, Africa Encyclopædia Britannica. March 21, 2016
  4. ^ How Not To Sell A Mercedes In Africa NPR. March 21, 2016
  5. ^ Davison, Ian (2005). "Central Atlantic margin basins of North West Africa: geology and hydrocarbon potential (Morocco to Guinea)". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 43 (1–3): 254–274. Bibcode:2005JAfES..43..254D. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.07.018.
  6. ^ Mundy, Jacob (2008). "The Question of Sovereignty in the Western Sahara Conflict". Aper for la Cuestión del Sáhara Occidental en el Marco Jurídico Internacional, las Palmas, Canary Islands. 7–8 June.