Baviaanskloof River
Encyclopedia
The Baviaanskloof River is a river flowing through the Cape Fold Mountains
of the Western Cape
and eventually Eastern Cape
provinces of South Africa
. The river's origin is in the eastern extremity of the Little Karoo
, and follows a valley
between these mountains eastwards. It ends at a confluence with the Kouga River
, some 80km from its source.
It is flanked by the Baviaanskloof Mountains to the north and the Kouga Mountains to the south, and it receives numerous small tributaries from both. Agricultural settlements along the river include Studtis and Sandvlakte. The valley is situated about 35km north of the Langkloof
, which is comparable though larger.
The Kouga River
, which rises in the Langkloof has the isolated Baviaanskloof River as its major tributary.
Baviaan, meaning baboon, is a translation of the river's original Khoikhoi
name, i Ncwama, also believed to mean "baboon". Beutler consequently named the river the Gomee or Baviaans. Robert Gordon
however named it the Prehns River, in honour of a commander of the Cape garrison.
Cape Fold Belt
The Cape Fold Belt is the folded sedimentary sequence of rocks in the southwestern corner of South Africa. It is related to the Ventana Mountains near Bahía Blanca in Argentina...
of the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
and eventually Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
provinces of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The river's origin is in the eastern extremity of the Little Karoo
Karoo
The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
, and follows a valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
between these mountains eastwards. It ends at a confluence with the Kouga River
Kouga River
Kouga River originates near Haarlem, Western Cape, South Africa, and flows eastward, where it joins the Gamtoos River just past the Kouga Dam. Tributaries include the Baviaanskloof River and the Nabooms River.- Also see :* List of rivers of South Africa...
, some 80km from its source.
It is flanked by the Baviaanskloof Mountains to the north and the Kouga Mountains to the south, and it receives numerous small tributaries from both. Agricultural settlements along the river include Studtis and Sandvlakte. The valley is situated about 35km north of the Langkloof
Langkloof
Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa, lying between Herold, a small village north of George, and Humansdorp. The kloof was given its name by Isaq Schrijver in 1689, and more thoroughly explored by a later expedition under ensign August Frederik Beutler in 1752.The valley has been...
, which is comparable though larger.
The Kouga River
Kouga River
Kouga River originates near Haarlem, Western Cape, South Africa, and flows eastward, where it joins the Gamtoos River just past the Kouga Dam. Tributaries include the Baviaanskloof River and the Nabooms River.- Also see :* List of rivers of South Africa...
, which rises in the Langkloof has the isolated Baviaanskloof River as its major tributary.
Baviaan, meaning baboon, is a translation of the river's original Khoikhoi
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi or Khoi, in standardised Khoekhoe/Nama orthography spelled Khoekhoe, are a historical division of the Khoisan ethnic group, the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen . They had lived in southern Africa since the 5th century AD...
name, i Ncwama, also believed to mean "baboon". Beutler consequently named the river the Gomee or Baviaans. Robert Gordon
Robert Jacob Gordon
Robert Jacob Gordon , was a Dutch explorer, soldier, artist, naturalist and linguist of Scottish descent.-Life:...
however named it the Prehns River, in honour of a commander of the Cape garrison.