update (25 April 2025): The management of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal confirmed on X that the St Lucia Estuary Mouth is still open!
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal has announced that the St Lucia Estuary Mouth has naturally breached to the ocean once more. Interestingly, this occurred near the same spot as the previous breach, close to the renowned Maphelane dune—the tallest vegetated sand dune in Africa and the second tallest in the world.
Heavy rainfall in KwaZulu-Natal during January 2025 played a significant role in this process. Floodwaters from the uMfolozi River flowed into the St Lucia Estuary, contributing to the natural breaching of the estuary mouth on the morning of 10 January 2025. Notably, the estuary mouth had remained closed since August 2024.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park regards this natural breaching as a positive ecological event aligned with the Estuary Management Plan. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park continues to monitor the St Lucia system, which involves the participation of other partners and stakeholders.
For context, the St Lucia Estuary Mouth also naturally breached on 14 April 2022, before closing again on 25 August 2024.
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