The little patch named The Red Desert, with the Mtamvuna River which flows
into the Indian Ocean, and the bridge between KZN and Eastern Cape.
My little village of Port Edward, on the border of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, has the world's smallest desert, known as the Red Desert. It is only 200 metres across and 11 hectares in its entirety, and is surrounded by the lush, tropical vegetation of the Red Desert Nature Reserve.
I'm fortunate to work at a preschool within walking distance of this national treasure!
Different theories exist as to its origins, from excessive overgrazing to extra-terrestrial landings! The red colour is actually due to the high iron content, and the dune formations known as “yardangs” were sculpted by wind. Together with the rhizoliths (signs of ancient plant roots) it has an erosional appearance.
The area was declared a nature reserve in 2015 and the site is rich with threatened vegetation, special endemic plants and stone artefacts.
Information from Port Edward Travel Information, and IOL. Photos supplied to IOL, and Pinterest
