Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park
Encyclopedia
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
about 275 kilometres north of Durban
. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambic
an border in the north to Mapelane south of the St Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km² of pristine natural ecosystems, managed by iSimangaliso Authority. The park includes the:
The park was previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, but was renamed effective from 1 November 2007. The word 'isimangaliso' is Zulu
for 'a miracle'.
, straddling South Africa, Mozambique
, and Swaziland
. This is in turn planned to become a part of the greater Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
.
St. Lucia was first named in 1554 as "Rio de la Medaos do Oura" ("River of the Dows of Gold") by the survivors of the Portuguese
ship Saint Benedict. At this stage, only the Tugela River
mouth was known as St. Lucia. Later, in 1575, the Tugela River was named Tugela. On 13 December 1575, the day of the feast of Saint Lucy
, Manuel Peresterello renamed the mouth area to Santa Lucia.
There are large outcroppings of underwater reefs which are home to brightly coloured fish and corals. Some of the most spectacular coral diversity in the world is located in Sodwana Bay. The reefs are inhabited by colour-changing octopuses and squid ready to ambush unsuspecting prey. Occasionally gigantic whale sharks can be seen gliding through the water; mouth agape to scoop up tiny plankton.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
about 275 kilometres north of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambic
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
an border in the north to Mapelane south of the St Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km² of pristine natural ecosystems, managed by iSimangaliso Authority. The park includes the:
- St Lucia Game ReserveSt Lucia Game ReserveSt Lucia Game Reserve, is part of the St Lucia Estuary and with that the focal point of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in the KwaZulu-Natal, province of South Africa. The Game Reserve was established in 1895.- References :...
, - False Bay ParkFalse Bay ParkFalse Bay Park, also known as just False Bay, is situated along the Western Shores of False Bay which is part of Lake St. Lucia, and therefore part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in the KwaZulu-Natal, province of South Africa.- References :...
, - Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
, - Lake Etrza Nature Reserve,
- Lake SibhayiLake SibhayiLake Sibhayi, also known as Lake Sibaya, is the largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa, with a surface area of 64 km². The lake is also wrongly known as Sibaya or Sibayi....
, - St Lucia Marine Reserve,
- St. Lucia Marine Sanctuary,
- Sodwana Bay National ParkSodwana Bay National ParkSodwana Bay National Park, is situated on the coast within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in the KwaZulu-Natal, province of South Africa. In summer, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea to nest on the beaches.- References :...
, - Mapelane Nature Reserve,
- Maputaland Marine Reserve,
- Cape Vidal,
- Ozabeni,
- Mfabeni,
- Tewate Wilderness Area and
- Mkuze Game ReserveMkuze Game ReserveMkhuze Game Reserve is a game reserve in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was proclaimed a protected area on 15 February 1912....
.
The park was previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, but was renamed effective from 1 November 2007. The word 'isimangaliso' is Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
for 'a miracle'.
Transfrontier park
The Park is due to be integrated into a transfrontier park, the Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transfrontier Conservation AreaPonta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transfrontier Conservation Area
Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transfrontier Conservation Area is an extensions to the north of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in a similar area on the Mozambique side of the border, and including a few other parks in the process...
, straddling South Africa, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
. This is in turn planned to become a part of the greater Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area will be the next step in the Peace Parks for the future. It will include all the areas already mentioned under the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, as well as the following:-The 5 separate TFCA:...
.
History
In the northern part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park you will find Kosi Bay. It has an interesting history and even today it is unique.St. Lucia was first named in 1554 as "Rio de la Medaos do Oura" ("River of the Dows of Gold") by the survivors of the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
ship Saint Benedict. At this stage, only the Tugela River
Tugela River
The Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls...
mouth was known as St. Lucia. Later, in 1575, the Tugela River was named Tugela. On 13 December 1575, the day of the feast of Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy , also known as Saint Lucia, was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December; with a name derived from lux, lucis "light", she is the patron saint of those who are...
, Manuel Peresterello renamed the mouth area to Santa Lucia.
- In 1822, St. Lucia was proclaimed by the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a township. - In 1895, St. Lucia Game Reserve, 30 km north of the town was proclaimed.
- In 1971, St. Lucia Lake and the turtle beaches and coral reefs of Maputaland have been listed by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar ConventionRamsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
). - In December 1999, the park was declared a UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Facts
The iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared a world heritage site in 1999 at an unveiling ceremony where Nelson Mandela was the guest of honor. The park was proclaimed a world heritage site because of the diverse biodiversity, unique ecosystems and superlative natural beauty occurring in a relatively small area. The reason for the huge diversity in fauna and flora is the great variety of different ecosystems on the park, ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches to subtropical dune forests, savannas and wetlands. Animals occurring on the park include elephants, leopard, black and white rhino, buffalo, and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle.- The park is also home to 1,200 Nile CrocodileNile crocodileThe Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...
s and 800 HippopotamiHippopotamusThe hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
.
There are large outcroppings of underwater reefs which are home to brightly coloured fish and corals. Some of the most spectacular coral diversity in the world is located in Sodwana Bay. The reefs are inhabited by colour-changing octopuses and squid ready to ambush unsuspecting prey. Occasionally gigantic whale sharks can be seen gliding through the water; mouth agape to scoop up tiny plankton.