Yzerfontein

Yzerfontein

Yzerfontein seen from the town harbour
Yzerfontein
Yzerfontein
Yzerfontein

 Yzerfontein shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 33°19′59″S 18°09′43″E / 33.333°S 18.162°E / -33.333; 18.162Coordinates: 33°19′59″S 18°09′43″E / 33.333°S 18.162°E / -33.333; 18.162
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District West Coast
Municipality Swartland
Established 1937
Area[1]
  Total 6.68 km2 (2.58 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 1,140
  Density 170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 8.9%
  Coloured 5.6%
  Indian/Asian 0.5%
  White 81.4%
  Other 3.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
  Afrikaans 71.5%
  English 25.3%
  Xhosa 1.2%
  Other 1.9%
PO box 7351
Area code 022
Yzerfontein in 2006

Yzerfontein is a small harbour town with about 1200 inhabitants on the west coast of South Africa about 90 km north of Cape Town. The name in Dutch or Afrikaans means "Iron Fountain". The main sources of income are tourism (especially during the wildflower season from August to October) and fishing.

Beach at Yzerfontein

Yzerfontein is known for its Sixteen Mile Beach, the longest uninterrupted sandy beach on the South African coastline, stretching north from the main beach of the town, to the West Coast National Park, which borders the town. Dassen Island, another nature reserve, is about 10 km offshore.

Yzerfontein is the landing point for the ACE and WACS submarine communications cables.

Outside of the town is the Darling Wind Farm. This is producing power and there are plans for expansion.

Pearl Bay suburb, a new development in the south of Yzerfontein

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.