The area of wetlands of isimangaliso wetland Park, known as the sanctuary of Santa Lucia, located on the East coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was renamed in November 2007, with the merger to its territory of a number of ecosystems. The isimangaliso wetland Park on the Zulu language means "miracle". Later, Park the isimangaliso wetland Park must be integrated in the cross-border nature Reserve of Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay, capturing the territory of three countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. In the future we plan to enter him in the management of Large transboundary Reserve, Lubombo.
Currently the reserve has a 280 km of pristine coastline and occupies 328 000 hectares with magnificent landscapes. The Park covers a huge mosaic of land, ranging from coral reefs and beaches with coastal forests in swampy areas, sea and fresh water in the lake St. Lucia, to lush coastal plains and green forests. This is an amazingly beautiful place in South Africa located in the coastal plain near the cities of Saint Lucia, Mtubatuba, Hluhluwe, Mkuze, Mbazwana and Manguzi. This zone is located between the temperate zone in the South and the tropics to the North. Many species of plants and animals are endemic to this coastal plain.
The Park was declared a world heritage site because of its rich biodiversity, integrating several unique ecosystems of amazing beauty, located in a relatively small area. Caused a huge diversity of fauna and flora is the large number of different ecosystems, ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches to subtropical forests, savannahs and wetlands. The reserve is inhabited by leopards, black and white Rhino, Buffalo, antelope, Zebra. In the coastal waters of the Park you can see whales, dolphins and sea turtles. Since 2001, the reserve elephants appeared. The Park is also home to 1200 Nile crocodiles and 800 hippos. In December 2013, after 44 years of absence, to the reserve were brought lions.
The coastal area of the Park is also rich in a large number of reefs that are home to colorful fish and corals. The greatest diversity of corals in the world is located in Sodwana Bay, located on the reserve. Reefs also inhabit the octopus and squid. At the Park you can sometimes see the giant whale shark, moving through the water. In the lake St Lucia, which is a significant part of the Park, home to 24 species of bivalves.
More than 500 different species of birds live here or pass through the system wetland reserve during the year. The Park is also home to several species of frogs, snakes and a great variety of species of snakes, found in subtropical coastal forest.
The Park is a popular destination among tourists. Here you can enjoy fishing, boating, bird watching, scuba diving or take up a camera and try to capture the wonderful world of the reserve.
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