ISimangaliso Wetland Park

iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Greater St. Lucia Wetlands
Location in South Africa
LocationKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nearest cityDurban, South Africa
Coordinates27°39′S 32°34′E / 27.650°S 32.567°E / -27.650; 32.567
Area3,280 km2 (1,270 sq mi)
Established1895
Governing bodyiSimangaliso Authority
CriteriaNatural: (vii), (ix), (x)
Reference914
Inscription1999 (23rd Session)
Area239,566 ha (924.97 sq mi)
Websitehttp://www.isimangaliso.com/
Official nameSt. Lucia System
Designated2 October 1986
Reference no.345

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 235 km (146 mi) north of Durban by road. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km (170 mi) of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the Lake St. Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km2 (810,000 acres) of natural ecosystems, managed by the iSimangaliso Authority.

The park was previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, but was renamed on 1 November 2007. The word isimangaliso means "a miracle" or "something wondrous" in Zulu. The name came as a result of Shaka's subject having been sent to the land of the Tsonga. When he came back he described the beauty that he saw as a miracle.

The park includes:

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