Dwarskersbos

Dwarskersbos

Dwarskersbos

Place in Western Cape, South Africa

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

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Sunset shot over a beach house in Dwarskersbos.

Etymology

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

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

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

References

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