Natural wonder on our doorstep
WHILE the breathtaking natural beauty of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the obvious drawcard to the region and reason for its world heritage status, delving deeper into the history of the area reveals some interesting facts.
Perhaps the biggest ‘wow’ factor is that the southernmost part of the park, around St Lucia, was the site of South Africa’s largest tectonic earthquake which occurred in 1932.
The 6.3 magnitude quake shook the region for three minutes and could be felt as far as Johannesburg and Maputo. It was recorded on seismographs as far away as Finland and the USA.
There is still much to learn about the tectonic plates in this region, but there is one certainty – they are extremely deep, with sub-marine canyons reaching depths of 100 metres below sea level at Sodwana Bay.
And it is these canyons that are home to the coelacanth, which is the world’s oldest known living fish species.
Thirty-five years after the fact, St Lucia town still holds the record for the highest amount of rainfall recorded in 24 hours.
This occurred in 1984 when Cyclone Demoina hit the region, dumping 597mm of rain on St Lucia and submerging the only bridge into and out of the town.
Ancient fossils can also be found within the wetland park.
The Western Shores of Lake St Lucia, up to False Bay, are known for their rich deposits of fossilised ammonites – some up to one metre in diameter – dating back 60 million years.
These become exposed when the St Lucia lake system’s water levels are low.
Maphelane’s vegetated dunes, at around
25 000 years old and the highest measuring
183 metres, are the highest in Africa and are essential in enabling moisture run-off to seep through the soil, filling the park’s lakes and pans.
Lake Sibaya in the north of the park happens to be South Africa’s largest freshwater lake.
The largest peat deposits in the country and the last remaining significant swamp forests in southern Africa, both of which are under immense human pressure, also occur within the park.
On the wildlife side, the park is the southernmost nesting ground for turtles, boasts the highest number of frog species in southern Africa, and has the greatest bird diversity - home to 50% of South Africa’s and 25% of Africa’s bird species.
iSimangaliso is also the only place in South Africa where the Setaro’s dwarf chameleon is found.
Amid ongoing scientific research in the region, more interesting facts are found to support the need to protect this ecologically diverse region.
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The iSimangaliso region is home to:
The country’s strongest tectonic earthquake The world’s oldest living fish species (coelacanth)
The highest recorded rainfall in 24 hours 60-million-year-old fossilised ammonites
The highest vegetated dunes in Africa
South Africa’s largest freshwater lake
The country’s largest peat deposits
The last remaining significant swamp forests in southern Africa
Highest number of frog species in southern Africa
50% of SA’s and 25% of Africa’s bird species The Setaro’s dwarf chameleon (not found anywhere else in SA)
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