Macassar Dunes Conservation Area
Macassar Dunes Conservation Area | |
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Map of Cape Town Metropolitan area | |
Location | Macassar, Western Cape, South Africa |
Coordinates | 34°04′15″S 18°45′15″E / 34.07083°S 18.75417°E |
Area | 1,116 ha (2,760 acres) |
Macassar Dunes Conservation Area is a 1,116-hectare (2,760-acre) coastal nature reserve in Macassar, within the City of Cape Town, South Africa.[1]
Biodiversity
This conservation area conserves the unique local “
History
The area was originally inhabited by the
, who named the area after his home in Indonesia – the original Khoi name for the area was not recorded. The shrine (or “kramat”) of Sheikh Yusuf is located on a hill on the eastern edge of the reserve and is still a site of worship and pilgrimage. Even up until today, Muslims from all over South Africa still make their way to the Kramat in Macassar to camp for the entire Easter weekend.Threats and Conservation
The local ecosystem is classified as
However, community involvement in the management of the reserve is increasing. It is used by local people for hiking, whale watching, environmental education, school excursions and fishing. In addition, traditional healers gather plants and animals from the reserve to use in traditional medicine. The reserve also provides shelter for the communities from the strong winds and sand from the coast, as well as being a protection from storm damage and a source of fresh water.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "City of Cape Town Nature Reserves. Free Booklet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-22.
- ^ "Flora of the Western Cape".
- ^ "Environmental resources and downloads. City of Cape Town. Environmental Resource Management Dept". Archived from the original on 2012-12-23.