Sneeuberge
Encyclopedia
The Sneeuberge are located in the far western portions of the Eastern Cape
province of South Africa
. They are the highest mountain range in South Africa
outside the Drakensberg
and stretch between Murraysburg of the neighbouring Western Cape
, north of Graaff Reinet
and almost to Cradock
.
They are geologically part of the Karoo System
and fall within the Karoo
semi-arid climatic region. As their name suggests, the mountains experience frigid winters with occasional snowfalls during strong cold front
s. Summers are hot with some late afternoon thunderstorms in summer. The highest peak is north of the small village of Nieu-Bethesda, called Kompasberg (2502m) (Afrikaans for Compass Mountain) and dominates all surrounding areas with its prominent steep-sided peak.
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...
province 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...
. They are the highest mountain range in 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...
outside the Drakensberg
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
and stretch between Murraysburg of the neighbouring 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...
, north of Graaff Reinet
Graaff Reinet
Graaff-Reinet is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam.-History:...
and almost to Cradock
Cradock, Eastern Cape
Cradock is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, in the upper valley of the Great Fish River, by rail northeast of Port Elizabeth. The town is the administrative seat of the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape. The estimated population...
.
They are geologically part of the Karoo System
Karoo System
The Karoo System or Karoo Sequence, is a geologic system of rock formations covering 1 500 000 square km and extending from the Equator south to the Cape of Good Hope...
and fall within the 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...
semi-arid climatic region. As their name suggests, the mountains experience frigid winters with occasional snowfalls during strong cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
s. Summers are hot with some late afternoon thunderstorms in summer. The highest peak is north of the small village of Nieu-Bethesda, called Kompasberg (2502m) (Afrikaans for Compass Mountain) and dominates all surrounding areas with its prominent steep-sided peak.
External links
- Data about Compassberg at dbpedia.org
- Geography and geology of the surroundings of Nieu-Bethesda
- Camdeboo National Park Description
- Compassberg picture from Panoramio
- Central Karoo:Murraysburg
- Gwema - Garden Route,Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Marketing Association
- Supersport.com
- Information About South Africa for British tourists
- http://www.sabinet.co.za/abstracts/nfi_annalstm/nfi_annalstm_v44_a3.html