Hex River

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Hex River
Hexrivier
Data
location Western Cape Province , South Africa
River system Breede River
Drain over Breede River  → Indian Ocean
source when Hex pass in the Bonteberg Mountains
33 ° 24 '5 "  S , 19 ° 44' 58"  O
Source height approx.  1000  m
muzzle not far from the city of Worcester north of Brandvlei Dam in the Breede River Coordinates: 33 ° 41 ′ 45 ″  E , 19 ° 27 ′ 13 ″  E, 33 ° 41 ′ 45 ″  S , 19 ° 27 ′ 13 ″  E

The Hex River is a watercourse in the Western Cape Province of South Africa . The most important settlements along the river are the small towns of De Doorns and Touwsrivier .

description

The headwaters of the Hex River are located on the southern slopes of the Bonteberg Mountains at about 1000 m altitude at the Hex Pass, which leads over to the Great Karoo . In this region, its watercourse is created by the confluence of several small mountain streams. The mountains here can be covered in snow in winter. Its broad valley is largely accompanied by mountain ranges. The Hex River flows into the Breede River not far from the city of Worcester north of the Brandvlei Dam .

Along with a few other valleys, the valley is one of the most water-rich regions in the Cape region . These conditions are based on the numerous permanent mountain streams in the precipitation-rich Hex River Mountains and Kwadouw Mountains. The delayed settlement by European immigrants despite the favorable conditions for agriculture is due to the unfavorable geographical location.

The Hex River Valley has 5,200 acres of irrigated agricultural land, about 86 percent of which is used for growing lemons . In addition, about 450 wells are used for extraction of ground water used, on average, with a bulk quantity of 5 liters per second.

Major tributaries of the Hex River are the Amandels River and the Sanddrift River .

Culture and settlement history of the valley

The earliest European settlements have been here since the 18th century . By 1700, already have treks of Boers the valley towards the Great Karoo happens. The valley was difficult from Cape Town and only accessible via detours. This required a further arc to the north, which led through the Tulbagh Basin and the Nuwekloof (Kl. Berg River), and from 1835 also over the Bainskloof Pass. In 1944, after construction work, the road from Worcester to Paarl and Cape Town could be driven over the Du Toitskloof Pass.

The construction of the railway line to Kimberley provided the impetus for irrigation agriculture in the Hex River Valley. An extensive fruit-growing agriculture established itself here early on , which later became known beyond its region. The further construction of traffic routes, especially of roads, promoted the development of agriculture to a considerable extent.

environmental issues

The extensive removal of the bank vegetation and the modification of the natural course of the river and the canal courses through sandstone rubble mining have impaired the integrity of the lower Hex and Smalblaar river systems.

Orchards and vineyards extend to the banks of the Dwars , Hex and Upper Breede rivers . Their construction has led to the penetration of foreign invasive vegetation and to erosion phenomena in the area of ​​the river banks . To improve the situation, the restoration of retention areas , a sharp reduction in bulldozer activities to remodel the land surface are recommended, and improved land use management would be required in the entire catchment area of ​​the Hex River .

Water reservoirs in the catchment area

The Hex River, like its water-rich tributary, the Amandels River , does not have its own reservoirs for water production. In the upper reaches of the Sanddrift River ( Sanddriftskloof ) there are two dams, the Lakenvallei Dam (10.230 million cubic meters) near Ceres and the Roode Elsberg Dam (7.733 million cubic meters). Their storage capacity leads to very low water levels in the summer until the lower reaches dry up .

Transport infrastructure

The N 1 trunk road , an important thoroughfare in South Africa, runs in the valley of the Hex River . It offers motorized traffic an efficient road connection between Cape Town and Johannesburg . The Worcester - Beaufort West - Kimberley railway with the Hex River Tunnel runs parallel to it .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF): State of Rivers Report: Rivers of the Breede Water Management Area 2011 . at www.dwaf.gov.za (English, PDF)
  2. ↑ a b c Traugott Molter: Water balance and irrigation agriculture in the Cape . Franz Steiner Verlag, Wiesbaden 1966, p. 144
  3. ^ G. Papini (Groundwater Consulting Services), Rep. Of South Africa - Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF): Breede River Basin Study. Groundwater Assessment . Rivonia, May 2003, online at www.dwaf.gov.za (English, PDF), PDF document p. 73
  4. ^ Department of Water and Sanitation: List of DWS Dams . on www.dwa.gov.za (English)