Paleolimnology of a coastal lake on the Southern Cape coast of South Africa: Sediment geochemistry and diatom distribution

► The paleolimnology of Soetendaslvlei was described. ► Diatom preservation was poor and hence the need for multiple proxies. ► Holocene sea-level fluctuations events evident from stable isotopes and diatoms. ► Results compare well with South African sea-level change models. ► Inverse relationship evident for paleo-salinity and trophic status of coastal lake.