Kalk Bay (
Afrikaans:
Kalkbaai) is a
fishing village on the coast of
False Bay,
South Africa and is now a suburb of greater
Cape Town. It lies between the
ocean and sharply rising mountainous heights that are buttressed by crags of grey
sandstone. A literal translation from the
Dutch/
Afrikaans name "Kalkbaai" is "Lime Bay". This derives from the vast deposits of mussel shells found there, which early settlers burned to make lime for construction. Lime kilns to roast mussel shells are still found along the west coast. The
railway from the central business district of Cape Town to
Simon's Town passes through Kalk Bay and in some places the line is only metres from the water's edge.