![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Baviaanskloof.jpg/740px-Baviaanskloof.jpg)
This is a list of mountain ranges of South Africa.
Physiography
[edit]The list includes chains of mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys. Some ranges in South Africa are relatively isolated, while others are physiographically part of larger geographical ranges such as the Drakensberg.
Geology
[edit]Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology; for example, in the [dubious – discuss] Witwatersrand there is Pilanesberg, a mountain having a different orogeny from the main range and its subranges.[1]
Geologically, many ranges are part of the Cape Fold Belt system, a wide geological system that also includes the Drakensberg.[citation needed]
List of mountain ranges of South Africa
[edit]Name of Range | English translation | Location | Length (km) | Highest elevation (m) | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amatola Mountains (also known as Knysna-Amatola) | Calves (in Xhosa) | Eastern Cape, Western Cape| | |||
Asbestos Mountains | named for minerals mined | Northern Cape | |||
Balelesberge | Balele Mountains | KwaZulu-Natal | |||
Bamboesberg | named for Thamnocalamus tessellatus | Eastern Cape | An outlier of the Drakensberg Mountains | ||
Bankberg | Bank Mountains | Eastern Cape | |||
Baviaanskloof berge | Baboon's Gorge Mountains | Eastern Cape | |||
Blouberg | Blue Mountains | Limpopo | |||
Bronberge | Source/Well Mountains | Gauteng | |||
Cederberg | Ceder Mountains | Western Cape | |||
Drakensberg called Maloti Mountains in Lesotho | Dragons Mountains | Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal | This range is made up of the "High Berg" basalt range, and the "Small Berg" sandstone range. | ||
Drakenstein | Dragons stone Mountains | Western Cape | 1,590 m (5,220 ft) | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | |
Du Toitskloof | Du Toit's Canyon | Western Cape | 1,995 m (6,545 ft) | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | |
Gatsrand | Hole Ridge | Gauteng | |||
Groot Swartberge | Great Black Mountains | Western Cape | |||
Groot Winterhoekberge | Great Winter Corner Mountains | Western Cape | |||
Hawekwa Berge | Hawequa Mountains - Khoi word meaning "the man in the mountain" | Western Cape | North of the Du Toitskloof Range. Part of the Cape Fold Belt System | ||
Hex River Mountains | Witch River Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Hottentots-Holland | (Hottentot: old name for Khoi aboriginal inhabitants) | Western Cape | 1,590 m (5,220 ft) | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | |
Kammanassieberge | Kammanassie Mountains | Western Cape | 1,995 m (6,545 ft) | ||
Kamiesberge | Jumbled Mountains | Northern Cape | 1,706 m (5,597 ft) | ||
Kareeberge | Karoo Mountains | Western Cape | |||
Kleinrivier Mountains | Small River Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Kogelberg | Bullet, or cone-shaped Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Komsberg | Rough mountain (in Khoekhoen)[2] | Eastern Cape | Part of the Drakensberg system | ||
Koranna Mountains | named after a tribe | Northwest | |||
Kouebokkeveld Mountains | Cold Bucks Field Mountains | Western Cape | |||
Kouga Mountains | named after the Kouga River (‘hippos’) | Eastern Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Langeberg | Long Mountains | Western Cape | 2,075 m (6,808 ft) | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | |
Langkloof Mountains | Long Valley/Gap Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Lebombo Mountains | Big nose (in Zulu) | from KwaZulu-Natal to Limpopo | |||
Magaliesberg | Mogale's Mountain | North West | |||
Murchison Range | named after a prospector | Limpopo | |||
Nuweveldberge | New Field Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Drakensberg system | ||
Olifants River Mountains | Elephant's River Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Onverwacht series | Unexpected Mountains | Limpopo | |||
Outeniqua | They who bear honey, Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Piketberg | Picket Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Rietfonteinrand | Reed Fountain Ridge | Gauteng | |||
Riviersonderend Mountains | River without end Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Roggeveld Mountains | Rye Field Mountains | Northern Cape | |||
Rooiberg | Red Mountains | Rooiberg | |||
Simonsberg | Simon's Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Skurweberge | Rough or scaly Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Sneeuberge | Snow Mountains | Eastern Cape | |||
Soutpansberg | Saltpan Mountain | Limpopo | |||
Steenkampsberg | Steenkamp's Mountain | Mpumalanga | |||
Stettynsberge | Stettyn's Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Stormberg Mountains | Storm Mountains | Eastern Cape | Part of the Drakensberg system | ||
Strydpoort Mountains | Battle Gate Mountains | Limpopo | |||
Suikerbosrand | Sugar Bush Ridge | Gauteng | |||
Suurberg | Sour Mountains | Eastern Cape | Part of the Drakensberg system | ||
Swartberg | Black Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Table Mountain Group | a mesa (tableland) | Western Cape | |||
Tsitsikamma Mountains | Place of Much Water Mountains | Eastern Cape and Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Waterberg [Rooiberg] (Waterberge) | Water Mountain Massif (Water Mountains) | Limpopo | |||
Winterberg | Winter Mountains | Eastern Cape | |||
Winterhoek | Winter Corner Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system | ||
Witfonteinrand | White Fountain Ridge | North West | |||
Witteberge | White Mountains | Free State | |||
Witwatersberg | White Water Mountains | Gauteng | |||
Witwatersrand | White Waters Ridge | Gauteng | 280 | ||
Wolkberg | Cloud Mountains | Limpopo | Part of the Drakensberg system | ||
Zuurberge | Sour, acid or acidic Mountains | Western Cape | Part of the Cape Fold Belt system |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Pilanesberg, South Africa
- ^ Raper, Peter Edmund (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Johannesburg: Lowry. ISBN 0947042067.