Langebaan lagoon
The Langebaan Lagoon is 17km long, and 2 – 3km wide. It is the only tidal lagoon in South Africa and protects 30% of South Africa’s salt marshes. Thousands of Palaearctic migrant waders and other water birds travel to the lagoon in the summer months when they are not breeding It has deep blue/green waters and a soft sandy beach. Southern Right Whales visit the area. There are plenty of beaches with warm water. The surrounding wetland areas are rich in plankton and sustain massive bird populations and the Langebaan Lagoon is a Ramsar site. The lagoon is completely fed by the ocean and this gives rise to numerous salt marshes and the wetland habitat which is frequented by thousands of Pink Flamingos. Crowned Cormorants, Kelp Gulls, Black Oystercatchers, and Swift Terns visit Langebaan Lagoon. Some species come from as far afield as Siberia and Greenland. There are four islands within the lagoon Schaapen, Malgas, Marcus, and Jutten. These are important breeding grounds for the birds, including the rare Cape Gannets, which have colonized Malgas Island. Similarly, Marcus Island is a home for local African Penguins, which can be viewed from the nearby rocks. Some islands can be visited by boat while others are out of bounds.
The islands in the lagoon have been used as a resource for guano for centuries. By the 1930s guano had been discovered as a wonderful fertiliser. The first guano shipment was sent to Cape Town in 1666 on the Gecroonde Haring. By the mid-1800s there were over 300 ships loading guano. It was reported that guano on Malgas island was 10 m deep. Guano collecting was a lucrative business and the local community of workers flourished. Guano was a valuable commodity so naturally the Cape Colony imposed a tax levy on guano sales.
Today the islands are protected areas for seabirds. Abandoned buildings on Vondeling Island are now occupied by Cape Fur seals.
The intertidal areas support about 55,000 water birds in summer. However, Langebaan Lagoon is under pressure. Sand washed in by strong tides causes it to become shallower over time. The sand cannot return to the sea because of the jetty at Saldanha. The build-up of sand has killed hundreds of oysters where they line the floor of the lagoon.
Watersports on the lagoon include windsurfing, kitesurfing, power boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing, and sea kayaking. There are also several local houseboats for hire. You can also walk 3 km up the beach to see the wreck of the Pantelis A Lemos.
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Pantelis A. Lemos MV was a Greek Bulk carrier that ran aground and was wrecked on the 17th of March 1978. She was owned by the Somelas Corp from Piraeus in Greece. There was no cargo on board. A fire was caused by a generator that overheated.
Check the tides here
