Drakensberg

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Drakensberg

The up to 3482 meters high Drakensberg ( German " Dragon Mountains ", English Drakensberg ) are the highest mountain range in Southern Africa. In Lesotho, where the highest peak in the Drakensberg is, they are called Maloti Mountains. They consist largely of basalt rock.

The Zulu call the Drakensberg because of the numerous ravines, ridges, caves, overhangs and pinnacles uKhahlamba ( German: "Wall of prepared spears "). Because of the clear mountain air far away from civilization, the numerous waterfalls, wildflowers, birdlife and the many tall, multiform mountains are a popular tourist destination. 2000, a part of the mountain with the Ukhahlamba -Drakensberg Park was placed on the list of UNESCO world heritage.

The location of the Drakensberg

The high mountain range forms the eastern end of the South African inland highlands and at the same time the natural border of KwaZulu -Natal and Lesotho. From the north-eastern Mpumalanga on the Panorama Route in the Eastern Cape Province to extend over about 1000 km in north-south direction.

Formation

The Drakensberg originated in the time of the Jurassic period about 180 million years ago by volcanic activity, which was then widespread in the southern hemisphere. Existing thick sediment layers of the Karoo main basin were flooded by basaltic masses which today mark as high mountains and rugged rocky situations. Chance still occur sedimentary belts of the older layers within the Drakensbergmassivs. Subsequent erosion deepened the valleys and scree deposits generated. The adjacent parts of Kwazulu- Natal were affected by this volcanism as well. This produced the tectonic activities in addition lift in the sandstone layers that present themselves as extensions of the Drakensberg.

By the rivers debris was attached to the inside of the edge thresholds and worn on the outside of large quantities of basalt.

Classification

Northern Drakensberg

The northern part includes the spectacular amphitheater, an eight -kilometer-long, almost vertical rock wall, which is 1000 meters high.

The Royal Natal National Park, there are several hiking trails. This includes the path to the Tugela Gorge ( Gorge of the Tugela River with waterfalls ) and the path to the highest peak of the northern plateau, the 3282 m high Mont - Aux-Sources.

Central Drakensberg

This section is well served by footpaths and hotels. Prominent here hills such as the striking Cathkin Peak ( 3181 m; Zulu: Mdedelelo, German: Give him space ), Monk's Cowl ( 3234 m), the Champagne Castle (3377 m), Thabana Ntlenyana in Lesotho ( 3482 m; highest peak of Drakensberg ) and Giant's Castle.

Southern Drakensberg

The southern part is much less developed. There are nature reserves with rare animals.

There is also the Sani Pass, 2874 meters above sea level the highest mountain pass in South Africa and at the same time the only road connection from KwaZulu- Natal to Lesotho, which is only passable for four-wheel vehicles, however, from the South African border post. Because of his view alone makes it interesting for tourists.

At the southern end lies on the Lesotho side of the border of the National Park Sehlabathebe to which also the Tenahead Mountain Reserve is connected.

Petroglyphs

The Drakensberg also for the numerous rock carvings of San are known in almost every cave and under almost every rock overhang representations found in humans and animals, hunting, dance and rituals. It is believed that there are about 600 sites with a total of 35,000 individual representations in the area of the National Park. Unusual is not only the large number of images, but also the fact that they can be attributed all a single artistic tradition, namely the culture of the San.

In Lesotho there are San rock paintings, but they are difficult to access in the Drakensberg.

Others

The film ends in 2012 so that by the end of the world by raising the African plate now constitute the Drakensberg is the highest elevation of the earth.