The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department has started active maintenance of the 22 tidal pools along the coastline in preparation for the influx of visitors during the summer season.
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While Cape Town’s ocean waters attract many visitors, the city’s tidal pools are another great addition to exploring the city’s oceans. Cape Town’s gorgeous tidal pools are important infrastructures as they attract many beachgoers to enjoy the coastline and safely swim in the ocean. The tidal pools are steeped in history with some being constructed as early as 1903.
As we all know, the Mother City’s tidal pools are not only pleasing to look at, but they also hold a very dear place in the hearts of locals and visitors. Many locals can recount countless visits to their favourite tidal pool, and the City wants to ensure that these facilities are in tip-top shape to help build wonderful memories for generations to come.
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The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross said: “The City is striving to manage tidal pools as more natural ecosystems, rather than artificial pools. Previously, some methods of cleaning tidal pools were deemed harmful to the species living in the pool and as such, many of the pools are now managed in a more environmentally and species-friendly manner.”
In addition, the biodiversity of tidal pools can be rich and supportive of life cycles. A recent study (2020) found 48 different species in Camps Bay’s tidal pool, including starfish, invertebrates, shelled species and seaweeds.
Furthermore, tidal pools provide a unique opportunity to see the wondrous underwater world and creatures as they are calm-watered, safe spaces in which to snorkel.
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Van der Ross explained that the pools are maintained by the Recreation and Parks department whose environmentally-friendly cleaning process includes emptying the pool in certain instances, scrubbing only the tops of walls, and cleaning the walls using a specialised high-pressure hosepipe and clearing it of litter and algae.
Beach managers are also onboard by keeping a close eye on the tidal pools to ensure their standards are upheld and safe for the public.
Camps Bay Ocean Pool next to Camps Bay Beach and Milton Tidal pool in Sea Point has managed to snag spots alongside some of the world’s most gorgeous tidal pools on the CN Traveller’s list of the 14 prettiest ocean pools in the world.
Milton tidal pool is important as there are few safe spaces to swim along the Sea Point rocky shore from Bantry Bay to Granger Bay and Camps Bay tidal pool has flourished recently with the increased popularity of cold water submersion.
‘The water quality of tidal pools within the City is monitored constantly and those at or near Blue Flag Beaches have their water quality monitored independently,” added Councillor van der Ross.
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Two Cape Town tidal pools named amongst ‘World’s 14 prettiest tidal pools’
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery