Outeniqua Mountains
| Outeniqua Mountains | |
|---|---|
Outeniqua Pass
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Cradock Peak |
| Elevation | 1,578 m (5,177 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33°45′0″S 23°0′00″E / 33.75000°S 23.00000°ECoordinates: 33°45′0″S 23°0′00″E / 33.75000°S 23.00000°E |
| Geography | |
 Outeniqua Mountains
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| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
The Outeniqua Mountains form a mountain range located along the Garden Route of South Africa. They run parallel to the coast and form a continuous range with the Langeberg to the west and the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the east. The range was named "Serra da Estrela" ('Mountain of the Star') on old Portuguese charts.
'Outeniqua' is said to be derived from a Khoisan tribe that once lived in these mountains and means "they who bear honey"." Rock paintings from the Khoisan people can still be found in the area.
The range is characterized by gentle southern slopes and steep drops on the north side down to the low valley Little Karoo. High points include Cradock Peak at 1578 m and George Peak at 1370 m located to the north of George. The varying conditions create diverse habitats. On the south-facing slopes there is montane fynbos at higher, moister altitudes, while the north hosts karroid and renosterveld shrubland. On the mesic southern slopes there are Afromontane gallery forests.
The high rainfall on the range has created numerous perennial streams used for irrigation in the Olifants River valley. While the climate along the range is generally hot to moderate, with an average summer temperature of 20.5 °C, weather conditions can vary greatly. In winter the temperature can drop to 5 °C (and even lower on the southern slopes) and snowfalls may occur on the higher peaks.
Among the animals found in the Outeniqua range are klipspringer, grey rhebuck, leopard and various rodents. The Outeniqua mountain range is also home to a very small number of African elephants. Although described as functionally extinct, new sightings of these very elusive animals, including that of a young bull give hope that the fabled animals might with time become re-established in the Outeniqua reserve. Birds include black eagles and other raptors as well as the Cape sugarbird and other fynbos birds.
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Wikipedia