Soetendalsvlei

Soetendalsvlei
Soetendalsvlei
Location	Western Cape, South Africa
Coordinates	34.718079°S 19.980412°E / -34.718079; 19.980412
Primary inflows	New Year River, Kars River
Primary outflows	Heuningnes River
Catchment area	1,400 km^2 (540 sq mi)
Basin countries	South Africa
Max. length	8 km (5.0 mi)
Max. width	3 km (1.9 mi)[1]
Settlements	Bredasdorp

Soetendalsvlei is a natural fresh water lake in the Agulhas Plains in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the southernmost lake of the African continent and South Africa's second largest freshwater lake after Lake Chrissie. The lake, situated in a landscape called strandveld, home to a particular type of fynbos vegetation, is a prominent area for twitchers. The lake gets its name from the Zoetendaal, a Dutch East India Company ship, that was wrecked on the coast near Cape Agulhas on 23 August 1673. It is the oldest shipwreck of the South African coast. The survivors started walking towards the Cape and reached a large unknown fresh water lake about three hours later. They named the lake out off relief and gratitude after their ship.[2]

References

1. "Soetendalsvlei (natural)". Water and Sanitation Department of South Africa.
2. "Agulhas Park eBulletin" (PDF). South African National Parks.