In December 1999 the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was inscribed as South Africa's first world heritage site as an area of exceptional and outstanding universal heritage significance. The natural values in terms of which the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List include outstanding examples of ecological processes, superlative natural phenomena and scenic beauty, and exceptional biodiversity and threatened species. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park has thus received recognition under three of four natural criteria recognised by the World Heritage Convention.