Pull up a Chair

Since Table Mountain became a contender for a spot in the 7 Wonders of Nature, everyone has been pulling up a chair at the table that everyone is welcome at. Voters have outdone themselves and as a result, Table Mountain has made it into the next round that paired down the original 261 magnificent natural sites to just 77. But the good news doesn't end there, after parading in swim wear for the panel of experts South Africa's landmark mountain made it into the top 28.

I think the best advice those highly competitive people can offer you is to know your competition. If it wasn't for an article of News24, I would have no idea who the other contestants are in the Mountains and Volcanoes category. So here goes...a little look and then decide for yourself...



The Matterhorn - this mountain in the Pennine Alps is often called the iconic emblem of this legendary mountain range. At nearly 4,500 metres, it is one of the Alps' highest peaks and lies on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Known in German as the Matterhorn, in Italian as Cervino and as Cervin in French, this peak is one of the great north faces of the Alps. As deadly as it is beautiful, The Matterhorn as claimed over 500 lives since it was first tackled in 1865.

Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain is located in Tanzania with the highest peak reaching 5,891 metres. Mount Kilimanjaro includes three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, but don't panic - none have ever erupted in recorded history. As one of the largest stratovolcanoes in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of numerous layers of lava, tephra and volcanic ash. The only volcanic activity recorded includes the emission of gases from fumaroles on the main summit of Kibo.

Mount Olympus - Known as Óros Ólimbos on Greek maps, this is the highest mountain in Greece at 2,919 metres. With a base located at sea level, Mount Olympus is also one of the highest mountains in Europe. Located in Macedonia, any climbing expedition would start in the town of Litochoro and traverse a rich floral kingdom along the way. The mountain is also prominent in Greek mythology as the "home of the gods" - the Twelve Olympians or principal gods of the ancient Hellenistic world. Mount Olympus also shares its name with a more out-of-this-world mountain - Olympus Mons (Latin for Mount Olympus) on planet Mars.

Mud Volcanoes in Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia (in case you also didn't know) and is home to nearly 300 of the world's 700 mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes are formations that were created by geo-excreted liquids and gases. The biggest mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan are Galmas, Toragay and Big Kanizadag. Most of them have a cone shape with heights that vary from 20 to 400m and bases that can be between 100 and 4500 metres in diameter.

Table Mountain - we know our own famous mountain needs little introduction, but a few facts never hurt anyone. Located in Cape Town in South Africa, Table Mountain's highest point is marked by Maclear's Beacon at 1,086 metres above sea level - about 19 metres higher than the cable station! The mountain's original name was Hoeri 'kwaggo (sea mountain) according to the San people, but today it is an icon for all South Africans.

Vesuvius in Italy - Known as Monte Vesuvio in Italian, Mount Vesuvius' reputation precedes it. This stratovolcano located east of Naples in Italy is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years. The most destructive eruption in AD 79 obliterated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killed between 10,000 and 25,000 people. With a population of three million living nearby and many subsequent eruptions, Mount Vesuvius is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

Yushan - also known as Jade Mountain or Yu Mountain, Yushan is a national park and central mountain range in Chinese Taipei with the highest point of the range towering 3,952 metres above sea level. The park is also known for its diverse wildlife and ecology and the environment around Yushan itself spans from sub-tropical forests at its base to alpine conditions at its peak.

Unfortunately not all of these incredible mountains made it through to the next round. Take a look at the new list of finalists.

Now it is up to you again. Voting has once again opened to the public and you have the power. To vote for Table Mountain visit www.new7wonders.com or call 0041 77 312 4041 and select Table Mountain's four-digit code 7725.

You can show your support in another way too...log onto www.hummba.com and upload a clip about Table Mountain to share with the world!

10 facts about Cape Town in 60 seconds!

• The first inhabitants of Cape Town were pastoralists called ‘Hottentots’, coastal dwellers called ‘Strandlopers’ and hunter-gatherers named ‘Bushmen’.

• Cape Town has a few well known nicknames. The first that most people know it by is the “Mother City”. Another one, which was used by sailors, is “Tavern of the Seas”. This term was used by the sailors because it was a welcome stop for fresh produce and change of scenery.

• Cape Town’s motto is “Spes Bona” which is Latin for “Good Hope”

• Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and former Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu all have homes in Cape Town.

• Cape Town’s sister cities are Nice in France and Haifa in Israel

• The city is home to Table Mountain. The mountain is the most recognized landmark in the city and is even the symbol on Cape Town’s flag.

• The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest standing building in South Africa. It was constructed in 1666 as a replenishment station. Today it acts as a ceremonial facility and a home for the Cape Military Museum.

• Cape Town is South Africa’s legislative capital.

• When there is a cap cloud (cloud that covers the top of a mountain) over Lions Head, one of the peaks in the Table Mountain range, rain is guaranteed within 12 hours.

• Cape Town has been the setting for many medical breakthroughs. This was where the first heart transplant by Dr. Chris Barnard took place as well as where the first recorded caesarean birth was done by Dr. James Barry in 1826.

Want more?

Visit http://www.tourismradio.info to find out how you can tune into the number one information station.

Tourism Radio votes YES for Table Mountain

Earlier this month, Table Mountain officially became the South African nominee in the second phase of the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign. Tourism Radio has put their vote in for Table Mountain and lends their full support.

On the 31st of December 2008, Table Mountain (backed by the Table Mountain National Park), became the last South African nominee standing. Other SA nominations were unable to secure official support.

Chief Operations Officer and founder of Tourism Radio, Mark Allewell says:

“The Tourism Radio family could not be happier to have the chance to support Table Mountain and South Africa in the New7Wonders campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity for the world to see what our country has to offer and we can only hope that it will become one of the final seven to walk away with the title.”

Tourism Radio was founded at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain in 2005 as the world’s first GPS-driven radio station. The station acts as an on-board guide for self-drive tourists. In 2006, after being featured in a new inventions program on the Discovery Channel, Tourism Radio was bought by an international venture capitalist. Since then, the company has expanded from South Africa to Namibia, Spain, New Zealand and the American state of Hawaii.

Back home in South Africa, Tourism Radio is expanding their service to Kwa-Zulu Natal, scheduled to launch in May this year. Visitors to KZN will then also have access to local music, fun and informative radio shows and area-specific information. Tourism Radio does not only tell listeners about the area that they’re driving through, it also draws their attention to points of interest or landmarks as the car approaches them, a specialised system known as “intellipoints.”

“This expansion is something we’re very excited about. It has always been one of our goals to have Tourism Radio in every part of South Africa and this expansion up to KZN is just the beginning. We’re sure that visitors to Kwa-Zulu Natal will find our product just as useful and entertaining as those in the Western Cape have. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be voting for a natural wonder to come out of the KZN province!” said Chief Operations Officer Mark Allewell.

For more information or to cast your vote, visit the New7Wonders Foundation site.

Tourism Radio votes 'YES' for Table Mountain

Earlier this month, Table Mountain officially became the South African nominee in the second phase of the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign. Tourism Radio has put their vote in for Table Mountain and lends their full support.

On the 31st of December 2008, Table Mountain (backed by the Table Mountain National Park), became the last South African nominee standing. Other SA nominations were unable to secure official support.

Chief Operations Officer and founder of Tourism Radio, Mark Allewell says:

“The Tourism Radio family could not be happier to have the chance to support Table Mountain and South Africa in the New7Wonders campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity for the world to see what our country has to offer and we can only hope that it will become one of the final seven to walk away with the title.”

Tourism Radio was founded at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain in 2005 as the world’s first GPS-driven radio station. The station acts as an on-board guide for self-drive tourists. In 2006, after being featured in a new inventions program on the Discovery Channel, Tourism Radio was bought by an international venture capitalist. Since then, the company has expanded from South Africa to Namibia, Spain, New Zealand and the American state of Hawaii.

Back home in South Africa, Tourism Radio is expanding their service to Kwa-Zulu Natal, scheduled to launch in May this year. Visitors to KZN will then also have access to local music, fun and informative radio shows and area-specific information. Tourism Radio does not only tell listeners about the area that they’re driving through, it also draws their attention to points of interest or landmarks as the car approaches them, a specialised system known as “intellipoints.”

“This expansion is something we’re very excited about. It has always been one of our goals to have Tourism Radio in every part of South Africa and this expansion up to KZN is just the beginning. We’re sure that visitors to Kwa-Zulu Natal will find our product just as useful and entertaining as those in the Western Cape have. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be voting for a natural wonder to come out of the KZN province!” said Chief Operations Officer Mark Allewell.

For more information or to cast your vote, visit the New7Wonders Foundation site.