Langeberg
| Langeberg | |
|---|---|
 Landscape of the Langeberg Range near Robertson | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Misty Point |
| Coordinates | 33°49′0″S 20°9′0″E / 33.81667°S 20.15000°ECoordinates: 33°49′0″S 20°9′0″E / 33.81667°S 20.15000°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 160 km (99 mi) NW/SE |
| Width | 20 km (12 mi) NE/SW |
| Geography | |
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| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| Parent range | Western Cape System |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Cape Fold Belt |
| Period | Paleoproterozoic |
| Type of rock | Sandstone |
The Langeberg Range is a mountain range in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The highest peaks of the range are located just to the north of Swellendam, in a subrange known as the Clock Peaks whose highest point is 1710 m high Misty Point. Local lore states one can tell the time by means of the shadows cast by the seven summits of the Clock Peaks.
Physiography and geology
The range runs in a roughly in a NW/SE in its western part and in an east-west direction in its mid and eastern section and is approximately 170 km long. The Langeberg's most westerly point is located 35 km west of the town of Swellendam; the range ends some 30 km north-east of Riversdale in the east. The open plains of the Little Karoo border the north of the mountain range, while to the south lies the Agulhas Plain and the Overberg wheatbelt.
The Langeberg Range is composed mostly of Table Mountain Sandstone and the range is part of the Cape Fold Belt.[1]
Ecology
On the southern slopes of the range mountain fynbos can be found, with Afromontane forest patches found in deep secluded gorges, while on the drier northern slopes karroid scrub is found.[2]
Protected areas
There are the following protected areas along the range:
- The Marloth Nature Reserve, in the area where the highest peaks are found
- The Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, which includes the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve near Barrydale
- The Garcia State Forest
Mountain passes
The range is traversed by four mountain passes, from west to east, they are:
- Cogmanskloof Pass, linking Montagu with Ashton.
- Tradouws Pass, linking Barrydale with Swellendam and Heidelberg
- Garcia's Pass, linking Riversdale and Ladismith, Western Cape
- Cloetes Pass, linking Mossel Bay with Ladismith, Western Cape