iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

Satellite image with plotted Park

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park ( Greater St Lucia until October 2007 Wetland Park ) is a national park on the east coast of the South African province of KwaZulu -Natal. The park entrance is located near the small town of St. Lucia.

Description

The national park includes wetlands and coastal areas of Mapelane in the south right up to Sodwana Bay in the north and consists of many small protected areas with subtropical to tropical vegetation. To the north are the Mkuze swamps, while in the west are dry thorn savannah.

In the center of the park, the St. Lucia Lake, from which the park is named. With a length of 50 kilometers and a width of up to 15 kilometers, its area is 360 km ²; making it the largest lake in South Africa. In the 200- kilometer stretch of coastline you will find the second highest forested sand dunes in the world.

In the wetlands, the largest crocodile and hippo in South Africa live stocks. In the savannas to the west monkeys, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards. Between the lakes and marshes breed herons, pelicans and storks. The park has the highest density of amphibians, including many protected species. Also, you can on the sea side humpback whales seen.

In the vicinity of the national park is the town of St. Lucia, where there is overnight accommodation, leisure and shopping. St. Lucia is also the starting point for whale watching and trips on the St. Lucia lake to the hippos.

History

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was added to the list of World Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1999.

2004, the mouth of the wetland has been locked by a sand dune to fend off an oil spill following the sinking of the freighter Jolly Rubino. Since then, the water level has dropped significantly below sea level, so that the measure could not be undone.

Name

By 2007, was named the National Park Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. Since November 2007 he is called the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. iSimangaliso means 'miracle' and refers to a Zulu proverb about Ujeqe, a court official of the Zulu King Shaka: Ubone isimanga esabonwa uJeqe kwelama Thonga. - "If you have seen miracles, then you have seen the same thing as Ujeqe in Thonga. " Thonga or Tongaland is a historical name for the region of Maputaland to the park belongs.