The Lagoon

The heart of Knysna is the 18 sq. kilometer lagoon itself, home to the unique Knysna seahorse, the delicate Pansy shell, and at least 200 species of fish.  This lagoon is actually an estuary, since the Knysna River meets the tides of the Indian Ocean here.

The tides rise and fall an average 1,7m, flooding the lagoon through a turbulent channel between "The Heads", which are two great sandstone cliffs.  Many a vessel came to grief trying to ‘cross the bar’ here during the years when Knysna was used as a harbour.

Its biological richness and the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and forests make the lagoon particularly attractive for recreational, tourist and commercial activities.  These include angling, canoeing, diving, camping, swimming, walking, boating and commercial oyster cultivation.

The lagoon is permanently open to the sea, although the volume of influent fresh water is relatively small.  This stable, saline environment accounts for the remarkable diversity of species recorded here, the highest in any South African estuary.  Swampy areas, saltmarshes and eelgrass areas of the estuary, exposed at low tide, produce almost all the food used by other organisms in the estuary, as well as reducing water velocities during floods, and trapping sediment.

However, the sheer volume of human activity, boating, bait collection and fishing on the lagoon puts extreme pressure on the environment. This sensitive ecotone is seriously threatened by extensive pollution and silting. In addition, the removal of water for agriculture, industry and for the town restrict freshwater.

Today the lagoon is administered by the South African National Parks Board.  The lagoon has been zoned,  certain parts are maintained as nature reserves only, while others have been set aside for recreational activities like powerboating, waterskiing and sailing.  The Board also enforces boating safety regulations, angling and bait control.

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