Outeniqua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Outeniqua Mountain Range is a mountain range located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is traversed by the Montagu Pass and the Outeniqua Pass.
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[edit] Location
The Outeniqua range rises from the Indian Ocean coastal plain, north of the town of Mossel Bay. It continues for about 100 km to the east before ending at the Keurbooms River Valley, which enters the ocean at Plettenberg Bay. The range runs parallel to the Swartberg Mountain Range.
[edit] Nomenclature
The name Outeniqua is thought to be derived from that of a Khoisan tribe that once lived in these mountains and means "they who bear honey". Rock paintings from these people can still be found in the area.
[edit] Geography
The southern slopes of this range are gentle, and rise to form a series of peaks. The northern slopes drop to the Little Karoo, a broad low-lying valley north of the Outeniquas, with very low rainfall. The highest peak is Cradock's Mountain at 1578m just to the north of George.
This distinct difference in altitude and conditions results in a wide diversity of habitats along the mountain slopes. On the wetter, higher parts of the south-facing slopes, there is moist high-altitude montane fynbos, while lower rainfall on the low-lying parts of the north-facing slopes gives rise to karroid and renosterveld scrubland.
On the mesic southern slopes there are Afromontane gallery forests.
[edit] Weather
While the climate along the range is generally hot to moderate with an average summer temperature of 20.5 °C, weather conditions can vary greatly. In winter the temperature can drop to 5 °C (and even lower on the southern slopes) and snowfalls may occur on the higher peaks.
The weather conditions in the Outeniqua mountains could change at any time. In winter snowfalls may occur on the higher peaks. Heavy fog is very common and thunderstorms occur on between five to ten days per year.
[edit] Fauna and flora
A variety of animal species are endemic to the Outeniqua range. Mammals occurring there include the klipspringer, grey rhebuck, leopard as well as a great variety of small rodents. Birds include large raptors such as the black eagle and smaller typical fynbos birds like the Cape sugarbird.
In order to protect these species, the Outeniqua Nature Reserve was established. It has an area of 380 square kilometres. It is located on the Garden Route, near the town of George.
[edit] Interesting facts
The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe - the last steam-hauled scheduled passenger train operating in South Africa - runs daily between the towns of George and Knysna.
