Quick Facts

Did you know that…

• It is run by elected volunteers.
• It is the only biosphere that has a nuclear power station and an oil refinery.
• It is the only biosphere with a toxic dump site.
• It is the only biosphere that encompasses a city boundary.
• It is an excellent venue for shore-based whale watching, and is not not overcrowded like most other spots.
• It includes the fastest expanding residential area in South Africa (Parklands/Table View).
• It has been ignored historically by botanists and other academics as having no real merit.
• It includes a RAMSAR site (Langebaan lagoon) with a deep-sea harbour to accommodate ore carriers.
• It includes Dassen Island, one of only two breeding sites in the country for Pelicans,
  (the other is St. Lucia.) as well as the largest penguin colony.
• It is the hub of the pelagic fishing industry, based in Saldanha.
• Yzerfontein harbour produces the largest amount of line fish in the country.
• It has the largest colony of gannets, based at Lamberts Bay.
• It has a Fossil park.
• Groote Post vineyard produces Chardonnay of choice for SAA business class and has won many awards.
• Darling Cellars, the largest local producer of a fine selection of wines is based in the Biosphere.
• Most large industries in the area are currently BBBEE compliant.
• The Swartland wheat fields described as the “Breadbasket of South Africa” are part of the Biosphere.
• Langebaan hosts the largest hobie cat sailing regatta in the country every Easter weekend.
• The World championship sailboard competition is annually held at Big Bay.
• Blouberg is one of the top five kite surfing venues in the world.
• The Berg River estuary is one of the largest salt producers in country (Cerebos).
• It is the home of the dried fish industry (Bokkems).
• It has an excellent climate, lower rainfall and warmer winters than Cape Town; and cooler summers owing to the cold Atlantic
• It still has large open spaces and a BIG blue unpolluted sky.