Cape of Good Hope (left) and Cape Hangklip (right) in South Africa, from space
In geography, a cape is a headland or a promontory of large size extending into a body of water, usually the sea.[1] A cape usually represents a marked change in trend of the coastline, often making them important landmarks in sea navigation. This also makes them prone to natural forms of erosion, mainly tidal actions, which results in them having a relatively short geological lifespan. Capes can be formed by glaciers, volcanoes, and changes in sea level. Erosion plays a large role in each of these methods of formation.[citation needed]
