Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

A POR TR AIT OF SOUTH AFRIC A  29

Cape Agulhas
The southernmost point of
the African continent is not
Cape Point, but unassuming
Cape Agulhas on the rocky east
side of the windswept, shallow
Danger Point head land. The
Memorial plaque Portuguese word agulhas, from Various dolphin species
at Cape Agulhas which the Cape gets its name, can be seen frolicking in the
means “needles”. It was here warm currents off towns such
that early navigators discovered that the compass as Durban and Margate. They Kosi Bay
needle was not affected by mag netic deviation, but usually occur in groups of
pointed true north. A plaque is set into the rock, and 10 to 15 individuals.
markers give the distances to international cities. iSimangaliso
Wetland Park

The genus Crinum
(amaryllis family) is
commonly seen in
swampy grass land Umgeni River
along the East Coast. Durban Estuary
It flowers in summer.
Aliwal
Shoal
The knysna lourie
(Tauraco corythaix) is
found in the evergreen
forests of southern and
eastern South Africa. Natal Basin
It is most likely to be
spotted flying between
trees or hopping
along branches. Indian Ocean

Algoa Bay
Aguihas Basin The Port Elizabeth crayfish (or
shoveller), one of many species
of rock lobster found around
the South African coast, has
The warm Agulhas Current
causes humid conditions little commercial value.
along the East Coast.
The East Coast
The warm Agulhas Current that flows south
through the Mozambique Channel creates
hot, humid conditions along the East Coast.
Vegetation is subtropical and mangrove
forests flourish in the Umgeni River
Estuary near Durban. The annual
migration of big pilchard shoals
is eagerly awaited by fish, birds
and humans. Coral reefs, rare in
South African waters, are found
in the marine reserves of the
Nudibranch iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

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