Interpreting Earth

Towering above the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain has a tumultuous story to tell that extends back over 500 million years. The iconic landmark at the southwestern tip of Africa has been a welcome sight to locals and overseas visitors for more than 500 years. One of the most-climbed mountains in the world, Table Mountain has inspired many to record their thoughts and impressions.

While the rocky massif has remained virtually unchanged, people's perceptions of it have changed dramatically. The written records of those who encountered Table Mountain reveal how we learned to read the deep history of the region in parallel with the development of geology as a science. "Interpreting Earth" chronicles the evolution of how we think and feel about mountains.