Robben Island is an island located in Table Bay, off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. The island is approximately 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) long and 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide, with an area of 5.2 square kilometers (2.0 square miles). It is notable for being the site of a maximum-security prison during the apartheid era, and for being the place where Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in captivity.
Robben Island is home to a number of historical and archaeological sites. The island was first used as a prison in the 17th century, and it has been used as such off and on throughout its history. In the 20th century, the island became internationally known as the site of a maximum-security prison, which housed political prisoners during the apartheid era. The prison was closed in 1991, and the island was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Today, Robben Island is a popular tourist destination, and it is also home to a museum that tells the story of the island’s history. Visitors to the island can take a tour of the prison, see the cell where Nelson Mandela was held, and visit the museum.
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, located 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town, South Africa. The island is approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) long and 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It is owned by the City of Cape Town and is managed as a museum by the Robben Island Museum, who also run tours to and from the island.
The island was first used as a jail in the 17th century. It became a leper colony in the early 19th century, and was used as a military base during the Second Boer War and World War II. It was declared a National Heritage Site in 1999.
The island has a population of about 500 people, most of whom live in a small village on the north-eastern side of the island. The island also has a small harbour, which is used by fishing boats and the occasional pleasure craft.
The climate of the island is temperate, with an average temperature of 16 °C (61 °F) in winter and 22 °C (72 °F) in summer. The island experiences a moderate amount of rainfall, averaging about 900 millimetres (35 in) per year.
Robben Island is approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) long and 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It has an area of approximately 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi).
