Gamka River
Encyclopedia
Gamka River, located in Western Cape
, South Africa
, the name 'Gamka' means 'Lion' and was probably named this by the San (Bushmen). The river originates north of Beaufort West
, generally flowing southwest towards the Gamkapoort Dam
.
The main tributaries of the Gamka River, are the Dwyka
River, Koekemoers River and Leeuw River, rise in the Great Karoo
, converge and
flow southwards through the Swartberg
Mountains. The Olifants River
joins the Gamka River south of Calitzdorp. Together these become the Gourits River
.
The Gamka River flows from the North East of the Gamka Dam and the Dwyka
River from the North West. Both rivers flow into the Gamka Dam from there the Gamka river flows south and becomes the Gourits River
at Calitzdorp.
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...
, 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 name 'Gamka' means 'Lion' and was probably named this by the San (Bushmen). The river originates north of Beaufort West
Beaufort West
Beaufort West is a town in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 37 000 inhabitants in 2001....
, generally flowing southwest towards the Gamkapoort Dam
Gamkapoort Dam
Gamkapoort Dam is a dam on the Gamka River, near Prince Albert, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1969.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
.
The main tributaries of the Gamka River, are the Dwyka
Dwyka
Dwyka is the name of a river in the Karoo in South Africa, adopted by geologists to define the Karoo Ice Age some 300 million years ago. Key sites in South Africa show evidence of glaciation, including Nooitgedacht near Kimberley. In South Africa, near the South Pole at that time as a result of...
River, Koekemoers River and Leeuw River, rise in the Great 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...
, converge and
flow southwards through the Swartberg
Swartberg
The Swartberg mountains make up a mountain range that runs roughly east-west along the northern edge of the semi-arid Little Karoo in the Western Cape province of South Africa...
Mountains. The Olifants River
Olifants River (Southern Cape)
Olifants River has its origins in the Traka and Kalkwal Rivers north of the Swartberg, and becoming the Olifants River after flowing through the Toorwaterpoort, flowing west through Oudtshoorn and joining the Gourits River, then heading south to its mouth at Gouritsmond.The northern tributaries of...
joins the Gamka River south of Calitzdorp. Together these become the Gourits River
Gourits River
Gourits River, sometimes spelled Gouritz River, is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa.The Gourits River flows from the confluence of the Gamka River and Olifants River and is joined by the Groot River, before flowing through the Langeberg Mountains and coastal plain. It eventually drains...
.
The Gamka River flows from the North East of the Gamka Dam and the Dwyka
Dwyka
Dwyka is the name of a river in the Karoo in South Africa, adopted by geologists to define the Karoo Ice Age some 300 million years ago. Key sites in South Africa show evidence of glaciation, including Nooitgedacht near Kimberley. In South Africa, near the South Pole at that time as a result of...
River from the North West. Both rivers flow into the Gamka Dam from there the Gamka river flows south and becomes the Gourits River
Gourits River
Gourits River, sometimes spelled Gouritz River, is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa.The Gourits River flows from the confluence of the Gamka River and Olifants River and is joined by the Groot River, before flowing through the Langeberg Mountains and coastal plain. It eventually drains...
at Calitzdorp.
Dams in the Gamka River
- Doornfontein Dam (capacity 4400000 cubic metres (155,384,531.3 cu ft)),
- Gamka Dam (capacity 1800000 cubic metres (63,566,399.2 cu ft)),
- Springfontein Dam,
- Leeu-Gamka DamLeeu-Gamka DamLeeu-Gamka Dam is a dam on the Leeuw River, near Beaufort West, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1958.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
(capacity 14300000 cubic metres (504,999,726.8 cu ft)), - Gamkapoort DamGamkapoort DamGamkapoort Dam is a dam on the Gamka River, near Prince Albert, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1969.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
(capacity 44200000 cubic metres (1,560,908,246.6 cu ft)), - Oukloof Dam (capacity 4200000 cubic metres (148,321,598.1 cu ft)),
- Calitzdorp Dam (capacity 4800000 cubic metres (169,510,397.8 cu ft)),
- Tierkloof Dam (capacity 50000 cubic metres (1,765,733.3 cu ft))