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General |
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Knysna Estuary
is an S-shaped stretch of water with a channel about twelve miles long
(Day et al., 1952); 19km long (Day,1981). The tidal beach
is about 10 km. |
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There are two
islands, Leisure Island (Steenbokeiland) and Thesen's Island
(Paardeneiland) now connected by causeways to the mainland. A
third low marshy island called Rex Island is now protected by dykes to
prevent flooding of the airstrip on it. The area has
unfortunately been artificially extended by encroaching on the
saltmarshes. (Ref 1) |
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Knysna
nestles on the banks of an 18 kmē estuary where the
Knysna
River
meets the tides of the
Indian Ocean. (Ref 4)
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The Knysna Estuary is
classified as an estuarine bay, the only system of its kind in South
Africa (Whitfield, 1992). The total
surface are of the bay is estimated at 1827 hectares. The channel of
the estuary is ~ 19km long and 2km wide
(Grindley, 1985). The estuary is navigable by small craft over
almost its entire length. The main source of freshwater in the estuary
is derived from the Knysna River
catchment which has an annual rainfall of - 928 x 10 6 m-3 a-1. (Ref
5) |
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The name Knysna is a Khoi word but its
uncertain as to its exact meaning. It could mean place of wood, or it
could mean fern leaves, but its most probable meaning is straight down
- an obvious reference to the Heads. Knysna Heads must be the most
striking geological features along the entire southern African
coastline. They flank a deep but potentially treacherous channel
through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and breathtakingly
pretty lagoon at the mouth of the
Knysna
River
. (Ref 2) |
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Location
(co-ordinates) |
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The
Knysna estuary (34°5' S; 23°4' E) is situated near the coastal town
of the same name in the
Western Cape. (Ref 3) |
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Map
of the Knysna Estuary |
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Dimensions |
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Over 3km
wide.(Day, 1981)
12km long and up to 3,2km wide
(Department of Planning,1970)
19,2km from Heads to Charlesford
(Department of Planning,1970) (Ref 1) |
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