| Outeniqua Mountains | |
|---|---|
 Outeniqua Pass | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Cradock Peak |
| Elevation | 1,578 m (5,177 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33°45′0″S23°0′00″E / 33.75000°S 23.00000°E /-33.75000; 23.00000 |
| Geography | |
  Outeniqua Mountains | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
TheOuteniqua Mountains, named after the OuteniquaKhoikhoi who lived there, is a mountain range that runs a parallel to the southern coast of South Africa, and forms a continuous range with theLangeberg to the west and theTsitsikamma Mountains to the east. It was known asSerra de Estrella (Mountain of the Star) to the Portuguese.[1] The mountains are part of theGarden Route ofSouth Africa.
The term "Outeniqua", from the Khwemãna(!Kora) term ǂGoatanikua, is said to be derived from a Khwemãna-speaking clan that once lived in these mountains. This terms means "they who bear honey".[2]: 49 Indigenous rock paintings can still be found in the area.[3][4]
Khoekhoe and !Kwingkia speaking people inhabited the mountains before the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s. The rugged mountains have long posed a barrier to the Klein Karoo and early settlers in the late 1600s used to follow herds of elephants to find easier ways through the area.[5]
The region was first explored by white settlers in 1668. In 1782 French explorerornithologistFrançois Levaillant explored the area, and discovered farmers had settled at the foot of the mountain range.[2]: 49
On 1 June 2002, former South Africa cricket captainHansie Cronje's scheduled flight home fromJohannesburg toGeorge, Western Cape was grounded so he hitched a ride as the only passenger on board aHawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprop aircraft.[6] NearGeorge Airport, the pilots lost visibility in clouds and were unable to land, partly due to unusable navigational equipment. While circling, the plane crashed into the Outeniqua mountains northeast of the airport.[7] Cronje, aged 32, and the two pilots were killed instantly.[7]
The range is characterized by gentle southern slopes and steep drops on the north side down to the low valleyLittle Karoo.[8] High points include Cradock Peak at 1578 m and George Peak at 1370 m located to the north ofGeorge. The varying conditions create diverse habitats. On the south-facing slopes there is montanefynbos at higher, moister altitudes, while the north hosts karroid and renosterveld shrubland. On themesic southern slopes there areAfromontane gallery forests.[citation needed]
The high rainfall on the range has created numerous perennial streams used for irrigation in the Olifants River valley. 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.[citation needed]
Among the animals found in the Outeniqua range areklipspringer, grey rhebuck,leopard and variousrodents.[3] The Outeniqua mountain range is also home to a very small number of African elephants. Although described as functionally extinct, new sightings of these very elusive animals, including that of a young bull[9] give hope that the fabled animals might with time become re-established in the Outeniqua reserve. Birds include black eagles and otherraptors as well as theCape sugarbird and otherfynbos birds.[3]
In 1908, work started on a railway route over the range from George toOudtshoorn. This required the building of seven tunnels and numerous long cuttings. The line was opened in August 1913.[citation needed]
The first road pass to cross the range into theLangkloof went via Duiwelskop, some 32 km east of George.[citation needed]
In 1816,[10] Cradock Pass, named after the Governor, SirJohn Cradock, finished construction, and became known as the "Voortrekker Road".[citation needed] It had a difficult reputation. As early as 1831, Magistrate George van der Riet had inspected the road and found it to be a "complete bar" for all trade activities, and it had been characterised over time variously as "the most formidably bad, if not of all roads I ever saw", a "stupendous mountain" and "dangerous and very bad".[10]
In 1847, a vastly improved Montagu Pass was constructed by convict labour, and named after the Colonial Secretary,John Montagu. In 1943, to cope with the increasing demands of modern traffic, construction was started on theOuteniqua Pass, using the labour of Italian prisoners of war. At the end ofWorld War II the Italians returned home with the greater part of the pass unfinished. The pass was opened to traffic in September 1951, having cost approximately £500 000.[citation needed]
Two other road passes cross the Outeniqua: the Robinson Pass west of George; and Prince Alfred's Pass, which connectsUniondale withKnysna.[citation needed]