Palm Beach is a seaside town in Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
Palm Beach | |
|---|---|
  Palm Beach  Palm Beach | |
| Coordinates: 30°59′17″S 30°16′19″E / 30.988°S 30.272°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | Ugu |
| Municipality | Ray Nkonyeni |
| Main Place | Port Edward |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.87 km2 (1.49 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 529 |
| • Density | 140/km2 (350/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 11.5% |
| • Coloured | 6.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 4.2% |
| • White | 77.7% |
| • Other | 0.2% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 64.1% |
| • Afrikaans | 26.6% |
| • Zulu | 6.3% |
| • Xhosa | 2.5% |
| • Other | 0.6% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| PO box | 4275 |
Etymology edit
Palm Beach is named after the Ilala Palm (hyphaene critina), a species indigenous to sub-tropical Southern Africa and used by rural communities for centuries. The trees' leaves are used for woven rooftops, baskets and mats and the sap is used for liquor.[2]
Geography edit
Palm Beach is located on the southern bank of the Mpenjati River which enters the Indian Ocean at the Mpenjati Nature Reserve.
The Mpenjati Nature Reserve surrounds the Mpenjati River lagoon and extends some 500 metres out to sea in order to protect the unique fossil found in the area. [2]
Beach edit
The village boasts a beach with its own natural tidal pool and nearby estuary.[3]
Kitesurfing edit
Palm Beach has been and continues to be rated as one of the best wind sport wave riding venues in the world although it is not exploited much by kitesurfers.
Palm Beach is a microcosm on its own. It is in fact the combination of an outer reef, a rocky outcrop in the form of a point and a river system that feeds sand into the equation that makes this place unique. The outer reef transforms the ocean swells into sought after waves while at the same time disarming the waves' explosive energy.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Sub Place Palm Beach". Census 2011.
- ^ a b "Palm Beach". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ "The 10 best places in Palm Beach, KwaZulu-Natal — Best Price Guarantee". www.afristay.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ Bottcher, Dean (2011-08-19). "Palm Beach: Kwazulu Natal Kitesurfing at its Best". inMotion Kitesurfing. Retrieved 2020-06-17.