Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve

Nature reserve in South Africa
29°42′33″S 31°05′51″E / 29.70917°S 31.09750°E / -29.70917; 31.09750Area26 hectares (64 acres)

uMhlanga Lagoon is a 26 hectares (64 acres) nature reserve on the shore of the Indian Ocean at uMhlanga Rocks, South Africa.[1] The reserve encloses the Ohlanga River's lagoon and mouth.[2] The forest forms a natural extension of the less accessible Hawaan Forest, of which the greater part lies inland of the busy M4 road. The reserve trails start at a car park at the northern end of Lagoon Drive, uMhlanga.

The reserve has picnic sites, the remains of a prehistoric shell midden[3] and walking trails,[2] with a walkway and pedestrian bridge that span the lagoon.

At the mouth of the Ohlanga lagoon, there is a popular but unofficial nudist beach.[4][5][6] Increased use of the area by non-nudist walkers and families resulted in complaints about nudism and antisocial behaviour.[7] The area was at one time a ‘no-go’ area, due to a serious crime problem.[7]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Bainbridge 2010.
  2. ^ a b Ballard 1998.
  3. ^ Beater & Maud 1963.
  4. ^ Steele 2012, p. 234.
  5. ^ "Uncovering Umhlanga's secret 'Nude Beach'". Phoenix Sun. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  6. ^ "uMhlanga nudist beach, a possibility". Northglen News. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  7. ^ a b Anthony, Lauren (26 February 2013). "Lewd beach behaviour exposed". News. looklocal.co.za. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  • Bainbridge, James (2010). South Africa Lesotho and Swaziland. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-74220-375-1.
  • Ballard, Sebastian (1998). South Africa Handbook. Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 978-0-8442-4966-7.
  • Beater, B. E.; Maud, R. R. (Apr 1963). "The Occurrence of a Coastal Midden near Umhlanga Rocks, Natal". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 18 (69). South African Archaeological Society: 21–23. JSTOR 3887491.
  • Steele, Robert (2012). Naked Magazine's Worldwide Guide to Naked Places. The Nazca Plains Corporation. ISBN 978-1-61098-305-1.

Media related to Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve at Wikimedia Commons

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