St Helena Bay

Saint Helena Bay St. Helenabaai
Sandy Point, St Helena Bay View of Britannia Bay west of St Helena Bay
Saint Helena Bay Show map of Western Cape Saint Helena Bay Show map of South Africa Saint Helena Bay Show map of Africa  Saint Helena Bay shown within Western Cape
Coordinates: 32°45′30″S 18°01′40″E / 32.75833°S 18.02778°E / -32.75833; 18.02778Coordinates: 32°45′30″S 18°01′40″E / 32.75833°S 18.02778°E / -32.75833; 18.02778
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	West Coast
Municipality	Saldanha Bay
Area
• Total	26.92 km2 (10.39 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	11,529
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	29.7%
• Coloured	59.3%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	10.3%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	68.9%
• Xhosa	25.7%
• English	3.5%
• Other	1.9%
Postal code (street)	7390

Saint Helena Bay (Afrikaans: St. Helenabaai) is a settlement in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Nicknamed by locals as Agterbaai, the town is located on the shore of the bay, from which it derives its name and is approximately 150 km north of Cape Town, South Africa. It surrounds the towns of Vredenburg and Paternoster, and is located across the bay from Laaiplek.

Historically, Saint Helena Bay is the location where Vasco da Gama, first set foot in South Africa. The date of this event was recorded as November 7, 1497.

The bay was named Bahia de Santa Helena (Portuguese for its current name) after Saint Helena a devout, influential Christian and mother of Constantine I. This location was also the first setting of a battle between the indigenous Khoikhoi people and a European explorer took place.

Saint Helena Bay is a major fishing town. It is home to Sandy Point Harbor - one of two ports to the bay, (the other being in Laaiplek) on the West Coast of South Africa. In winter it is host to many fishing activities, where snoek is found in its waters, as well as an endangered species of rock lobster and crayfish.