Table Mountain

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/table-mountain

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Table Mountain?Approximately 221 square kilometers (85 square miles)
2. What is the location?Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
3. What is the geological composition?Primarily Precambrian sandstone (Cape Supergroup)
4. What is Table Mountain and why does it look like a table?Table Mountain is a big, flat‑topped mountain in Cape Town. Its flat top looks like a table because the rock has been worn away over millions of years, leaving a smooth plateau.
5. Why is Table Mountain so important for plants?The mountain is home to many special plants called fynbos. About 8,200 different kinds grow there, and many of them are found only on Table Mountain.

Precambrian: The earliest eon of Earth's history, before the Cambrian period.
Rain Shadow Effect: A region of significantly reduced rainfall on the leeward side of a mountain range.
Biome: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
Alien Invasive Species: Non-native organisms that can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.