Saldanha Bay

Saldanha Bay Saldanhabaai
Present day Saldanha Bay. To the right (south) is the Langebaan lagoon
Saldanha Bay Location in South Africa
Coordinates	33°02′05″S 18°00′35″E / 33.03472°S 18.00972°E / -33.03472; 18.00972Coordinates: 33°02′05″S 18°00′35″E / 33.03472°S 18.00972°E / -33.03472; 18.00972
Ocean/sea sources	Southern Indian Ocean
Basin countries	South Africa
Max. length	12 km (7.5 mi)
Max. width	11 km (6.8 mi)
Islands	St Croix Islands, Bird Islands
Settlements	Saldanha, Langebaan

Saldanha Bay (Afrikaans: Saldanhabaai) is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of the municipality is estimated at 72,000.

The place is mentioned in the first edition of John Locke's Two Treatises of Government as an example of the state of nature.

Saldanha Bay's location makes it a paradise for the watersport enthusiast, and its local economy being strongly dependent on fishing, mussels, seafood processing, the steel industry and the harbour. Furthermore, its sheltered harbour plays an important part in the Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project (connected by the Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line) at which Saldanha Steel takes center stage.

Saldanha Bay is located about 105 kilometres (65 mi) north west of Cape Town. It faces southwest and is 11 km long and 12 km wide. The Langebaan Lagoon, a SE prolongation of the bay, extends for 14 km southeastwards from the SE corner of the inner bay by Langebaan.

Outer bay with surf pounding the shore

View of the inner bay from Langebaan

View of the Langebaan Lagoon

Saldanha Bay is named after António de Saldanha, captain of a vessel in Albuquerque's fleet which visited South Africa in 1503. The name was first given to Table Bay, where Saldanha's ship cast anchor. On Table Bay being given its present name in 1601, the older appellation was transferred to the bay now called after Saldanha. In 1781 a British squadron under Commodore George Johnstone seized six Dutch East Indiamen, which, fearing an attack on Cape Town, had taken refuge in Saldanha Bay. This was the only achievement, so far as South Africa was concerned, of the expedition despatched to seize Cape Town during the war of 1781-1783.