Blaauwberg Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA) is a nature reserve
in Cape Town
, located north of the main city centre. With its impressive views over Table Bay
, this is the only viewpoint in the world where one can simultaneously look out over two official World Heritage Site
s (Table Mountain
and Robben Island
).
Proclaimed as a nature reserve
in 2007, this area has an important history. Shell middens dating from over 15 000 years ago can be found along the coast. The Battle of Blaauwberg
, that saw the Dutch lose control of the Cape to the British, took place here, and wartime infrastructure from WW II also survives on Blaauwberg Hill.
The BCA protects three endangered vegetation types: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
(critically endangered
), Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
(endangered) and Swartland Shale Renosterveld
(critically endangered
). This amounts to an incredibly rich biodiversity
within a relatively small 953 ha area.
The conservation area is also used for recreational activities such as surfing, hiking, wind surfing, whale watching and picnics.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, located north of the main city centre. With its impressive views over Table Bay
Table Bay
Table Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
, this is the only viewpoint in the world where one can simultaneously look out over two official World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s (Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
and Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
).
Proclaimed as a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
in 2007, this area has an important history. Shell middens dating from over 15 000 years ago can be found along the coast. The Battle of Blaauwberg
Battle of Blaauwberg
The Battle of Blaauwberg, also known as the Battle of Cape Town, fought near Cape Town on 8 January 1806, was a small but significant military engagement. It established British rule in South Africa, which was to have many ramifications during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries...
, that saw the Dutch lose control of the Cape to the British, took place here, and wartime infrastructure from WW II also survives on Blaauwberg Hill.
The BCA protects three endangered vegetation types: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos , previously known as Sand Plain Fynbos, is a critically endangered vegetation type that occurs only within the city of Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. Less than 1% of this unique lowland Fynbos vegetation is conserved.-Description:This is the richest and most...
(critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
), Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is an endangered vegetation type. This is a unique type of Cape Strandveld that is endemic to the coastal areas in Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. -Habitat:Strandveld means “beach scrub” in the Afrikaans language...
(endangered) and Swartland Shale Renosterveld
Swartland Shale Renosterveld
Swartland Shale Renosterveld is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa. -Distribution:...
(critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
). This amounts to an incredibly rich biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
within a relatively small 953 ha area.
The conservation area is also used for recreational activities such as surfing, hiking, wind surfing, whale watching and picnics.
See also
- Biodiversity of Cape TownBiodiversity of Cape Town- Floristic region :The city of Cape Town lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom . - Vegetation types :...
- List of nature reserves in Cape Town
- Cape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand Fynbos , previously known as Sand Plain Fynbos, is a critically endangered vegetation type that occurs only within the city of Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. Less than 1% of this unique lowland Fynbos vegetation is conserved.-Description:This is the richest and most...
- Cape Flats Dune StrandveldCape Flats Dune StrandveldCape Flats Dune Strandveld is an endangered vegetation type. This is a unique type of Cape Strandveld that is endemic to the coastal areas in Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. -Habitat:Strandveld means “beach scrub” in the Afrikaans language...
- Swartland Shale RenosterveldSwartland Shale RenosterveldSwartland Shale Renosterveld is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa. -Distribution:...