| Great Fish River | |
| River | |
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The Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape in South Africa from Dubbeldrift naturereserve.
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| Country | Republic of South Africa |
|---|---|
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| Town | Chalfont |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
| Length | 644 km (400 mi) |
The Great Fish River (called great to distinguish from the Namibian Fish River) (afrikaans: Groot-Visrivier) is a river running 644 kilometres (400 mi) through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it. Thence it makes a jig-jag turn to Cookhouse, from where it meanders before its final near-straight run to its estuary just north of Seafield, into the Indian Ocean. The river generally runs (naturally) all year round, although its headwaters rise in an arid region, and the natural flow can be sluggish in the dry season beyond the ebb and flow of the tidal reaches; now, water from the Orange River system can be used to keep up its flow in dry periods. The river is tidal for approximately 20 km.
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River mouth: The climate is temperate with around 650mm of rainfall that falls mainly during spring and autumn. Mean temperatures range from 12°C to 24°C with extremes as low as 2°C or as high as 40°C.
River mouth: Valley thicket, dune thicket, riparian vegetation and fynbos. The Giant Eastern Cape Cycad and the White and Red Milkwood are protected trees found on the premises. Other significant species include the acacia, white pear, Karoo boer-bean, strelitzia, dune poison bush, wild plum, coral tree and small knobwood.
The Fish River mouth area supports several species of large and small mammals including five antelope species, bushpigs, various rodent species including mongoose, hyrax, hares, rats and mice, bats, and the shy African Wild Cat, Small Spotted Genet, Striped Polecat and Cape porcupine. The most commonly viewed wild mammal is the Vervet Monkey, which has been known to grab food under the nose of unsuspecting guests at the Fish River Sun Resort. There are over 135 species of marine and terrestrial birds found along the river including the colourful Knysna Lourie and Giant Kingfisher and the majestic Fish Eagle. There are 26 species of snakes, of which only five are venomous.
During the 19th century, the river formed the border of the Cape Colony[1] and was hotly contested during the Xhosa Wars of 1779 to 1878 between the Xhosa nation on the one side and the Dutch farmers and the 1820 Settlers from England on the other,[2] and in 1835, the Fingo tribe was permitted to settle on the river's banks. During apartheid, the lower reaches formed the western boundary of the nominally independent Ciskei homeland. Between 1846 and 1847, the Fish River mouth area became a hive of activity during the War of the Axe, one of several frontier wars at the time between the Xhosa nation and the British colonists. A ferry was constructed at the Fish River to link the Cape Colony (western side of the river) with Waterloo Bay (the small bay near the mouth of Old Woman’s River which now flows through the Fish River Sun resort). Waterloo Bay, named after the first ship which unloaded cargo in the bay, served as a landing place for soldiers and supplies in the war. Several ships wrecked along the Fish Rover coast during these years.[3] The following are notable historical sites at the Fish River mouth, mostly encompassed within the Fish River Sun Resort premises which the establishment has endeavoured to protect:
The main military camp was on the eastern bank of the Old Woman’s River, called Cape Maitland, in honour of Sir Peregrine Maitland, Governor of the Cape Colony. The name was later changed to Fort Albert in honour of Queen Victoria’s husband. The camp consisted of huts and tents surrounded by an earthwork and was abandoned at the end of the war. The camp site was ‘rediscovered’ when large quantities of artifacts were unearthed during the construction of the Fish River Sun golf course.[3]
A certain Sergeant C. Broxholm is rumoured to have built the only structure that survived the war, located on the eastern side of the river. Built in 1846, he sold the building a year later to Mr. J Kidd of the Wesleyan Missionary Society who hoped to undertake missionary work at Waterloo Bay.
Some of the soldiers that died during the occupation of Waterloo Bay were buried in a small cemetery near the eastern bank of the Old Woman’s River. The graves were not marked but it is believed that members of the 6th and 45th regiments and Cape Levy were buried there. A clearing among the dune scrub marks the site on the Fish River Sun Resort property.[3]
A large civilian camp with the accompanying trading stores and inns which followed the military activities was apparently situated on the western side of the Old Woman’s River. All historical remains are currently covered by the golf playing surface.[3]
The remains of the vessels Catherine and Justina can still be seen by divers. The ships were wrecked in the 1840s and are located within 1 km of the mouth of the Fish River.[3]
In the 1970s, a major water project brought Orange River water, via the Fish River, for agricultural and industrial use. The tunnel for this was a major engineering undertaking, with the intake at Oviston (an acronym, in Afrikaans, for Orange-Fish Tunnel). Oviston is on the shores of the Gariep Dam.
A hydro-electric generating plant is placed at the Fish River egress, but is uneconomic and is not in use.
Mixing of waters from two watersheds has been environmentally disastrous - much of the Fish River ecosystem is now taken over by Orange River flora and fauna.
The Fish River Sun Hotel and Country Club Resort is a Sun International resort destination at the mouth of the Fish River on the south-eastern coastline of South Africa. The Fish River Sun opened its doors in March 1989 as a hotel and casino. The 184 000 hectare property on the eastern banks of the Fish River fell within the then Ciskei region, a former Bantustan homeland during the apartheid administration. The hotel, casino and golf course continued to be a popular and successful tourism attraction in the region, mostly due to the casino as licenses are awarded sparingly in South Africa. The resort establishment suffered a huge knock when its casino license was not extended after its ten-year period, ending in 1999. The accommodation format was converted from a hotel to a vacation club functioning on a timeshare basis. The Eastern Cape Gambling Board granted another casino license in nearby Port Elizabeth, also operated by Sun International, in the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World Complex. As part of the license bid, the Boardwalk agreed to supplement the costs of maintaining the Fish River Sun as part of its obligation to rural development in the province. Activities include swimming, guided nature walks, golf, dune boarding, canoeing, fishing, mini-golf, and even spa treatments. Golf course The resort’s greatest attraction is its golf course, designed by Gary Player and rated in the top 30 golf courses in South Africa .[4] Although the course is situated adjacent to the beach, it is not classified as links. The course has hosted some large events including the Africa Open in 2008.
Cradock is a significant town through which the Fish River runs. The area between Port Elizabeth and the Fish River is known as the Sunshine Coast.
Great Fish Point is a lighthouse situated near the mouth of the Great Fish River, about 25 km from the coastal holiday resort of Port Alfred.
Before the lighthouse was built in 1898, two ship's lamps exhibiting fixed green lights were erected on a flagstaff at Port Alfred, but these lights later proved to be inadequate. The clockwork system which used to drive the lens is still intact and on display.
Although the lighthouse itself is only 9 meters high, it is situated 76 meters above sea level.