Panorama of the Baviaanskloof mountain range

This is a list of mountain ranges of South Africa.

Physiography

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

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

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

References

  1. ^ Pilanesberg, South Africa
  2. ^ Raper, Peter Edmund (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Johannesburg: Lowry. ISBN 0947042067.
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