Dwarskersbos | |
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Coordinates: 32°42′S 18°14′E / 32.700°S 18.233°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Western Cape |
District | West Coast |
Municipality | Bergrivier |
Area | |
• Total | 1.53 km2 (0.59 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 670 |
• Density | 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 29.9% |
• Coloured | 9.7% |
• Indian/Asian | 2.7% |
• White | 57.5% |
• Other | 0.1% |
First languages (2011) | |
• Afrikaans | 94.5% |
• English | 4.5% |
• Other | 1.0% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Area code | 022 |
Website | www.dwarskersbos.com |
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.
The name is said to be derived from the name of the plant Euclea polyandragenus Euclea(Afrikaans: dwarskers or kersbos) which grows abundantly in the region.
of theThe 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.
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]
Municipalities and communities of West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape | ||
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District seat: Moorreesburg | ||
Matzikama | ||
Cederberg | ||
Bergrivier | ||
Saldanha Bay | ||
Swartland |