Sundays River Valley
Encyclopedia
The Sundays River Valley is a low-lying area along the Sundays River
. It forms part of the Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality
in Cacadu District Municipality
, Eastern Cape
, South Africa
.
The valley stretches from the Kirkwood
prison grounds in the west to Colchester and Kinkelbos in the southeast. It is characterized by high-intensity agricultural activities (in particular the production of citrus fruits) and a well-developed irrigation system. In addition to citrus cultivation, various tourist attractions, bed and breakfast facilities, packing sheds and game-related tourist facilities are present throughout the valley.
The main urban settlements in the valley are Kirkwood
, Enon, Bersheba and Addo. Smaller settlements include Sunlands and Kinkelbos.
The Sundays River Valley irrigation scheme was started in the early 1920's, targeting British settlers on small holdings (10 morgen
in size) along the banks of the Sundays River
. A large dam was constructed on the Sundays River (Lake Mentz) to supply the area with water for irrigation, and a canal system was put in place to supply water to farms from Kirkwood, at the upper end of the valley, to Addo at the lower end. The driving force of this development was Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
.
This area is now one of the key production areas for citrus in South Africa
.
Sundays River
The Sundays River is a river in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is said to be the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma because the river's banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs...
. It forms part of the Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality
Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality
Sundays River Valley Local Municipality is a local municipality in Cacadu District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It has a total population of nearly 70,000 people. This area is one of the key production areas for citrus in South Africa...
in Cacadu District Municipality
Cacadu District Municipality
Cacadu District Municipality is situated in the Western Portion of the Eastern Cape province, covering an area of 58 242 square kilometres. The area of the district municipality includes nine local municipalities and other portions collectively known as the District Management Areas . The seat of...
, 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...
, 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 valley stretches from the Kirkwood
Kirkwood, Eastern Cape
Kirkwood is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Sundays River in the eponymously-named Sundays River Valley, which forms part of the Sundays River Valley Municipality in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape....
prison grounds in the west to Colchester and Kinkelbos in the southeast. It is characterized by high-intensity agricultural activities (in particular the production of citrus fruits) and a well-developed irrigation system. In addition to citrus cultivation, various tourist attractions, bed and breakfast facilities, packing sheds and game-related tourist facilities are present throughout the valley.
The main urban settlements in the valley are Kirkwood
Kirkwood, Eastern Cape
Kirkwood is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Sundays River in the eponymously-named Sundays River Valley, which forms part of the Sundays River Valley Municipality in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape....
, Enon, Bersheba and Addo. Smaller settlements include Sunlands and Kinkelbos.
The Sundays River Valley irrigation scheme was started in the early 1920's, targeting British settlers on small holdings (10 morgen
Morgen
A morgen was a unit of measurement of land in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the Dutch colonies, including South Africa and Taiwan. The size of a morgen varies from 1/2 to 2½ acres, which equals approximately 0.2 to 1 ha...
in size) along the banks of the Sundays River
Sundays River
The Sundays River is a river in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is said to be the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma because the river's banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs...
. A large dam was constructed on the Sundays River (Lake Mentz) to supply the area with water for irrigation, and a canal system was put in place to supply water to farms from Kirkwood, at the upper end of the valley, to Addo at the lower end. The driving force of this development was Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
Percy Fitzpatrick
Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, KCMG , known as Percy FitzPatrick, was a South African author, politician, mining financier and pioneer of the fruit industry. He authored the classic children's book, Jock of the Bushveld ....
.
This area is now one of the key production areas for citrus 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...
.