Winterberg, Eastern Cape

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The Winter Mountains are a mountain range in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. He rises up to 2371 meters above sea level.

Geography

The winter mountains lie in the interior of the Eastern Cape Province. They range in west-east direction for about 70 km and a north-south direction over 30 kilometers. The highest elevation is the Great Winterberg Peak ( Groot Winterberg) with 2371 meters. The name comes from the occasional snowfall in the mountains. A southwestern foothills named Baviaansrivierberge. The only enclosed village in winter mountains is Spring Valley.

In the winter mountains of the Kat River ( Katrivier ) and Koonap River spring ( Koonaprivier ), the tributaries of the Great Fish River ( Groot- Visrivier ) are. Northwest of them is the Great Fish River Basin, a large sink with a high evapotranspiration, which is responsible for the climate of winter mountains and some east -lying landscapes of importance. The Tarka River ( Tarkarivier ) has its source tributaries in the western and northern flank region of the Great Winterberg peak and drained as the main run with its tributaries the mountains north to the Great Fish River Basin. In the eastern edge of the mountains of the Black Kei River ( Swart - Keirivier ) riverbed, the water in the upper reaches by a dam ( Thrift Dam ) has collected for irrigation and then flows further to the north.

In the Indian Ocean facing south the rainfall is relatively high, so that there is lush vegetation.

South of the winter mountains are the towns of Bedford, Adelaide and Fort Beaufort. East of the winter mountains lie the massive Elandsberg and the Amathole Mountains. To the north are the place Tarkastad and the Tarka River, to the west flows the Great Fish River.

The 1860-1864 furnished Katberg Pass crosses with the regional road R351 the winter mountains in the eastern foothills of the mountain range. It connects the cities of Fort Beaufort and Queenstown in the south to the north. Across the winter mountains leads the R344, which tapers from Adelaide coming over Spring Valley to the north on Tarkastad.

Geology

The mountain range consists of sandstone and shales of the Beaufort Group with frequent dolerite intrusions.