ISimangaliso Wetland Park description and photos - South Africa: KwaZulu Natal (Topic)

ISimangaliso Wetland Park description and photos - South Africa: KwaZulu Natal. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is ISimangaliso Wetland Park.

Photo & Description

The Isimangaliso Wetland Area, known as the Santa Lucia Conservation Area, is located on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It was renamed in November 2007 when a number of other ecosystems were combined to its territory. Ishimangaliso means `` miracle '' in Zulu. In the future, Isimangaliso Park should be integrated into the Ponta do Ouro Cosi Bay border reserve, capturing the territories of three countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. In the future, it is planned to include it in the Loubombo Large Transboundary Nature Reserve.

At present, the reserve has 280 km of pristine coastline and covers an area of 328,000 hectares with magnificent landscapes. The park covers a vast mosaic of lands ranging from coral reefs and beaches with coastal forests in marshlands, sea and fresh water in the Saint Lucia Lake area, to lush coastal plains and green forests. This amazingly beautiful place in South Africa is located in the coastal plain near the cities of St. Lucia, Mtubatumba, Hluhluwe, Mkuze, Mbaswana and Manguzi. This zone is located between the temperate zone in the south and the tropics in the north. Many plant and animal species are endemic to this coastal plain.

The park has been declared a World Heritage Site for its rich biodiversity, bringing together several unique ecosystems of amazing beauty located in a relatively small area. The huge diversity of fauna and flora is due to the large number of different ecosystems, ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches, to subtropical forests, savannas and wetlands. The reserve is inhabited by leopards, black and white rhinoceros, buffalo, antelopes, zebras. Whales, dolphins and sea turtles can be seen in the coastal waters of the park. Since 2001, elephants have appeared in the reserve. The park is also home to 1200 Nile crocodiles and 800 hippos. In December 2013, after 44 years of absence, lions were brought into the reserve.

The coastal area of the park is also rich in a large number of underwater reefs, which are home to colorful fish and corals. The largest variety of corals in the world is located in Sodwana Bay, located within the reserve. The reefs are also inhabited by octopuses and squids. On the banks of the park, you can sometimes see a giant whale shark gliding through the water. In Lake Saint Lucia which makes up a significant part of the park, is home to 24 species of bivalve molluscs.

More than 500 different bird species live here or fly through the wetland system of the reserve throughout the year. The park is also home to several species of frogs, vipers and a wide variety of snake species found in the coastal subtropical forest.

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Topic: ISimangaliso Wetland Park description and photos - South Africa: KwaZulu Natal.