The St Lucia Estuary is the focus of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s third-largest protected area, which consists of 3 280 sq km of pristine eco-systems and 280km of coastline. The habitats range from coral reefs and sandy beaches to sub-tropical rainforests, dune forests, savannahs and wetlands. A natural sandbar sometimes separates Lake St Lucia from the sea, often staying in place for years before washing away in violent storms. Salinity levels in the estuary can reach up to three times the levels in the sea, varying with the levels of water in the estuary itself.