Berg River
Encyclopedia
The Berg River is a river located just north of Cape Town
in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
. It is approximately 294 km (183 mi) long with a catchment area
of 7,715 km² (2979 mi²) and outlets into the Atlantic Ocean
. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture. The major towns in the Berg River area are Velddrif
and Laaiplek near the coast, Piketberg
, Hopefield
, Mooreesburg and Darling further inland, and Wellington and Paarl
in the upper catchment. The lead source of the Berg River is south of Franschhoek in the Drakenstein
Mountains.
The Great Berg River can be subdivided into the following segments:
sent him to trade with the Khoekhoe for meat for the settlement at the Cape. Gabbema named the river the ‘Groot Berg Rivier’. In years to follow many of van Riebeeck’s men relied on the river waters and followed its winding course as they ventured northwards. Despite Gabbema’s visit, the Berg Catchment was not developed until Governor Simon van der Stel
’s time (1679–1699), prior to which settlement was limited to the Peninsula. Governor van der Stel visited the area with the first free burghers, and prompted by the Berg River’s fertility and beauty, he established the first European settlements at Paarl and the Drakenstein valley in 1687. Wellington
, Franschhoek and Tulbagh
were established shortly after this as the farmlands expanded.
“Historically, the Berg River was one of many habitats in the Cape inhabited by hippos but, in the late 1600s, hunters began overexploiting the hippos for their meat and hides, resulting in a decline in their numbers. By the mid-1700s, they had declined to such an extent that governor Tulbagh introduced a fine of 1000 guilders for anyone caught killing a hippo. Despite this protection, their numbers continued to dwindle as human settlement altered and destroyed their habitat. By the early 1800s, perhaps only a dozen remained, sheltering in the region of Kersefontein and the estuary. In 1829, only six hippos remained. The last known hippo was shot in 1869 by Martin Melck when it attacked and killed one of his employees.” See Skead for more details.
The Berg River's native fishes contain some species
which are endemic to the region. They have been adversely affected by unsustainable human use of the water, but mainly by expanding stocks of exotic fishes, which were originally introduced to establish a European-type fishery. Most problematic among these is the predatory Smallmouth Bass
(Micropterus dolomieu). The Berg-breede River Whitefish (Barbus andrewi) – listed Endangered in the IUCN Red List
– seems to have disappeared from the Berg River proper in recent times; this large species it survives elsewhere and may be suitable for fishery or aquaculture. The Berg River Redfin
(Pseudobarbus burgi) has one of its last major populations in the Berg River; its decline there seems to have stopped or at least slowed, but it too is already listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in the Western Cape Province of 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...
. It is approximately 294 km (183 mi) long with a catchment area
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 7,715 km² (2979 mi²) and outlets into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture. The major towns in the Berg River area are Velddrif
Velddrif
Velddrif or Velddrift is a coastal fishing town in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. It is located on the estuary where the Berg River flows into St. Helena Bay.-Geography and environment:...
and Laaiplek near the coast, Piketberg
Piketberg
Piketberg is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. The original spelling of the name was "Piquetberg".The town is in the foothills of the Piketberg mountains, a range of low mountains formed from Table Mountain Sandstone....
, Hopefield
Hopefield, Western Cape
Hopefield is a settlement in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa....
, Mooreesburg and Darling further inland, and Wellington and Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
in the upper catchment. The lead source of the Berg River is south of Franschhoek in the Drakenstein
Drakenstein
The Drakenstein Mountains are part of the Cape Fold Belt and are in the Western Cape province of South Africa; they were named in honour of H.A. van Reede tot Drakenstein who visited the Cape as Commissioner-General in 1685; Drakenstein was the name of his estate in the Netherlands...
Mountains.
The Great Berg River can be subdivided into the following segments:
- Upper Berg River & Tributaries
- Upper Middle Berg River & Tributaries
- Lower, Middle Berg River & Tributaries
- Lower Berg River & Tributaries.
History
The first known European record of the Berg River was made by bailiff Abraham Gabbema in 1657 when Dutch Governor Jan van RiebeeckJan van Riebeeck
Johan Anthoniszoon "Jan" van Riebeeck was a Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town.-Biography:...
sent him to trade with the Khoekhoe for meat for the settlement at the Cape. Gabbema named the river the ‘Groot Berg Rivier’. In years to follow many of van Riebeeck’s men relied on the river waters and followed its winding course as they ventured northwards. Despite Gabbema’s visit, the Berg Catchment was not developed until Governor Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel was the last Commander and first Governor of the Cape Colony, the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.-Background:...
’s time (1679–1699), prior to which settlement was limited to the Peninsula. Governor van der Stel visited the area with the first free burghers, and prompted by the Berg River’s fertility and beauty, he established the first European settlements at Paarl and the Drakenstein valley in 1687. Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, Franschhoek and Tulbagh
Tulbagh
Tulbagh is a town in the Tulbagh valley and is situated in the Witzenberg Local Municipality, with the valley called "Die Land van Waveren" locally. Closest towns are Wolseley, Prince Alfred's Hamlet, Gouda and Ceres in the Boland district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The valley has...
were established shortly after this as the farmlands expanded.
Ecology
Extract from the River Health Programme report:“Historically, the Berg River was one of many habitats in the Cape inhabited by hippos but, in the late 1600s, hunters began overexploiting the hippos for their meat and hides, resulting in a decline in their numbers. By the mid-1700s, they had declined to such an extent that governor Tulbagh introduced a fine of 1000 guilders for anyone caught killing a hippo. Despite this protection, their numbers continued to dwindle as human settlement altered and destroyed their habitat. By the early 1800s, perhaps only a dozen remained, sheltering in the region of Kersefontein and the estuary. In 1829, only six hippos remained. The last known hippo was shot in 1869 by Martin Melck when it attacked and killed one of his employees.” See Skead for more details.
The Berg River's native fishes contain some species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
which are endemic to the region. They have been adversely affected by unsustainable human use of the water, but mainly by expanding stocks of exotic fishes, which were originally introduced to establish a European-type fishery. Most problematic among these is the predatory Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
(Micropterus dolomieu). The Berg-breede River Whitefish (Barbus andrewi) – listed Endangered in the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
– seems to have disappeared from the Berg River proper in recent times; this large species it survives elsewhere and may be suitable for fishery or aquaculture. The Berg River Redfin
Berg River Redfin
The Berg River Redfin or Berg Redfin is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. The Burchell's Redfin , the type species of its genus Pseudobarbus, is a very close relative...
(Pseudobarbus burgi) has one of its last major populations in the Berg River; its decline there seems to have stopped or at least slowed, but it too is already listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
See also
- Berg River DamBerg River DamThe Berg River Dam is a 68 m high dam on the Berg river in South Africa. It is the centerpiece of the Berg Water Project which is designed to capture the winter rainfall and store it for supply to Cape Town during the dry summer months...
(not far from Franschhoek)33.90240°N 19.057000°W - Berg River Canoe MarathonBerg River Canoe MarathonThe Berg River Canoe Marathon takes place annually in South Africa's Western Cape Province over a distance of some 240km from Paarl to the small harbour of Velddrif on the West Coast. The two other notable South African canoe races are the Dusi Canoe Marathon and the Fish River Canoe Marathon. ...
- Wemmershoek DamWemmershoek Dam- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
in the upper Berg River (north of Franschhoek) - Nantes Dam, and (west of PaarlPaarlPaarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
) - Bethel Dam, (west of PaarlPaarlPaarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
), in the Upper Middle Berg River - Voëlvlei DamVoëlvlei DamVoëlvlei Dam is dam in South Africa. It was established in 1971.The history of Voelvlei Dam located near Gouda in the Western Cape of South Africa date back for a thousand years or more...
in the Lower Middle Berg River, and (south of GoudaGoudaGouda is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Gouda, which was granted city rights in 1272, is famous for its Gouda cheese, smoking pipes, and 15th-century city hall....
) - Misverstand DamMisverstand DamMisverstand Dam is a dam on the Berg River, near Porterville, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1977.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
in the Lower Berg River.