GPS coordinates: lat: -33.376244 - lng: 18.380484

Biosphere Reserve

Address:

10 Kalkoenjie Street, 7345 Darling

Telephone:

+27 22 492 2750

Description

Cape Town is rapidly developing northwards along the West Coast because, according to census, its population is projected to double between 2002 and 2012. Housing estates, industries and increased traffic through the area threaten to destroy its integrity and character. This conflict between urban, industrial and agricultural land uses and the terrestrial, marine and aquatic natural ecosystems requires careful planning and management to ensure socioeconomic growth.

Keywords

Marine, Volunteer, Climate, Oil Refinery, Ecosystems, Aquatics, Terrestrial, City Boundary, Nuclear Power Station, Natural Ecosystems, Expanding Residential Area, Ramsar, Fossil Park, Shore-Based Whale Watching, Championship Sailboard Competition, Toxic Dump Site, Kite Surfing Venues

Company description

It is the only Biosphere run by elected volunteers (others are run by state employees).
It is the only biosphere that has a nuclear power station and an oil refinery.
It is the only biosphere with a toxic dump site.
It is the only biosphere that encompasses a city boundary.
It is an excellent venue for shore-based whale watching, and is not not overcrowded like most other spots.
It includes the fastest expanding residential area in South Africa (Parklands/Table View).
It has been ignored historically by botanists and other academics as having no real merit.
It includes a RAMSAR site (Langebaan lagoon) with a deep-sea harbour to accommodate ore carriers.
It includes Dassen Island, one of only two breeding sites in the country for Pelicans, (the other is St. Lucia.) as well as the largest penguin colony.
It is the hub of the pelagic fishing industry, based in Saldanha.
Yzerfontein harbour produces the largest amount of line fish in the country.
It has the largest colony of gannets, based at Lamberts Bay.
It has a Fossil park.
Groote Post vineyard produces Chardonnay of choice for SAA business class and has won many awards.
Darling Cellars, the largest local producer of a fine selection of wines is based in the Bisophere.
Most large industries in the area are currently BEE compliant.
The Swartland wheat fields described as the "Breadbasket of South Africa" are part of the Biosphere.
Langebaan hosts the largest hobie cat sailing regatta in the country every Easter weekend.
The World championship sailboard competition is annually held at Big Bay.
Blouberg is one of the top five kite surfing venues in the world.
The Berg River estuary is one of the largest salt producers in country (Cerebos).
It is the home of the dried fish industry (Bokkems).
It has an excellent climate, lower rainfall and warmer winters than Cape Town; and cooler summers owing to the cold Atlantic

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