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Dwarskersbos

Dwarskersbos
Beach house in Dwarskersbos
Beach house in Dwarskersbos
Dwarskersbos is located in Western Cape
Dwarskersbos
Dwarskersbos
Dwarskersbos is located in South Africa
Dwarskersbos
Dwarskersbos
Coordinates: 32°42′S 18°14′E / 32.700°S 18.233°E / -32.700; 18.233
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictWest Coast
MunicipalityBergrivier
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.53 km2 (0.59 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
670
 • Density440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African29.9%
 • Coloured9.7%
 • Indian/Asian2.7%
 • White57.5%
 • Other0.1%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Afrikaans94.5%
 • English4.5%
 • Other1.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Area code022
Websitewww.dwarskersbos.com
Sunset shot over a beach house in Dwarskersbos.

Dwarskersbos is a fishing village and vacation resort some 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) north of Laaiplek in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Etymology

[edit]

The name is said to be derived from the name of the plant Euclea polyandra [af] of the genus Euclea(Afrikaans: dwarskers or kersbos) which grows abundantly in the region.

History

[edit]

The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama first set foot on South African soil on 7 November 1497 near here when he explored the present St Helena Bay.

The town was established on the farm “Dwarskersbos” that belonged to the Smit family[2] in 1920.

A 6m high storm surge struck Dwarskersbos on 27 August 1969.

Geography

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Its beach stretches from Velddrif and Dwarskerbos almost 40 kilometres north towards Elands Bay,[3] making it the longest uninterrupted sandy beach in South Africa. [4]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Dwarskersbos". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Dwarskersbos: Tranquil Village".
  3. ^ "Dwarskersbos: Tranquil Village".
  4. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 148.