Grootrivier Pass
Encyclopedia
Grootrivier Pass, is situated in the Western Cape
province of South Africa
on the R102 regional road. The Grootrivier (Afrikaans for "Great River") is one of various mountain streams that over millions of years have cut through the coastal plateau towards the sea.
The R102 winds its way from the N2 on the coastal plateau at 220m altitude, through dense coastal forest, down to the resort of Nature's Valley
on the Grootrivier and then climbs the opposite slope, back to the plateau. The pass was finished in 1880 by Thomas Bain
and major reconstruction was carried out on both sections in 2010. The route from plateau down to sea-level and then back to the plateau, was dictated by the wide and deep gorge carved by the Grootrivier and stretching inland to the Tsitsikamma Mountains
. Modern bridge-building techniques spanned the three gorges of the Grootrivier, the Bloukrans River
and the Storms River
, allowing the opening of the freeway in June 1984. The forest is home to a myriad of bird species as well as small antelope, vervet monkeys, baboons and leopards. The road features various viewpoints and picnic spots.
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
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...
on the R102 regional road. The Grootrivier (Afrikaans for "Great River") is one of various mountain streams that over millions of years have cut through the coastal plateau towards the sea.
The R102 winds its way from the N2 on the coastal plateau at 220m altitude, through dense coastal forest, down to the resort of Nature's Valley
Nature's Valley
Nature's Valley is a holiday resort and small village on the Garden Route along the southern Cape coast of South Africa, tucked between the Soutrivier, the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, the Indian Ocean and the Groot River lagoon...
on the Grootrivier and then climbs the opposite slope, back to the plateau. The pass was finished in 1880 by Thomas Bain
Thomas Charles John Bain
Thomas Charles John Bain was a South African road engineer, the son of Andrew Geddes Bain, also a road engineer in South Africa.-Biography:...
and major reconstruction was carried out on both sections in 2010. The route from plateau down to sea-level and then back to the plateau, was dictated by the wide and deep gorge carved by the Grootrivier and stretching inland to the Tsitsikamma Mountains
Tsitsikamma Mountains
The Tsitsikamma mountains are a mountain range located in the Garden Route region of the southern South African coast in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. Stretching just over 80 km from the Keurbooms River in the west just north of Plettenberg Bay, to Kareedouw Pass in the east near the...
. Modern bridge-building techniques spanned the three gorges of the Grootrivier, the Bloukrans River
Bloukrans River (Cape)
Bloukrans River , is a short river, located in the Tsitsikamma region of the Garden Route, South Africa. It is located on the border between Western and Eastern Cape provinces. The river mouth is located east of Nature's Valley, the Bloukrans Bridge spans the river near the mouth, and the Bloukrans...
and the Storms River
Storms River
Storms River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park.- See also :* Tsitsikamma National Park* Paul Sauer Bridge* List of rivers of South Africa...
, allowing the opening of the freeway in June 1984. The forest is home to a myriad of bird species as well as small antelope, vervet monkeys, baboons and leopards. The road features various viewpoints and picnic spots.