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eWISA
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Gamtoos:
MAIN INDEX |
ALPHABETICAL
LIST OF RIVERS |
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Map
of the Gamtoos River |
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TOPOGRAPHY
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The stretch of river known as the Gamtoos,
runs from the confluence of the Kouga and Groot Rivers to the sea and is
75km long. The distance from the source of the tributary furthest
from the sea to the mouth of the system is approximately 450km. (Ref 2)
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After the confluence of the Groot River and
Kouga River, the Gamtoos River meanders through a broad alluvial
floodplain for a distance of 90 km. At the upper end of the
estuary, i.e. where the Loeriespruit joins the Gamtoos, 8,5 km from the
mouth, it is approximately 80 m wide and flows between steepsided almost
parallel banks approximately 2,5 m high. (Ref 2)
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GEOLOGY
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Moderately deep to deep clayey loams
are found in the undulating terrain along the south-western edge
of the area in the Tsitsikamma Coast sub-area and on the floor of the
Langkloof Valley in the upper Kouga catchment. Shallow sandy loams are
found on the steep slopes of the mountains. The balance of the area
inland of the coastal mountain belt and the coastal area in and adjacent
to Port Elizabeth comprises moderately deep to deep sandy soil.
(Ref 1)
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The two main tributaries, the Kouga and
Groot Rivers cut through quartzitic material of the Table Mountain
sandstone series which make up the Kouga and Baviaanskloof mountain
range. Downstream of the confluence, these rivers become the Gamtoos
river, which follows a 90km long tortuous course through a flat alluvial
plain bounded by soft Enon Conglomerate. (Ref 2)
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In the upstream reaches, the conglomerate
consists of a homogeneous mixture of hard, well-rounded boulders,
cobbles and gravels. (Ref 2)
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SOILS
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References |
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Ref 1: Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Fish to Tsitsikamma Water
Management Area: Tsitsikamma
to Coega Internal Strategic Perspective. Prepared by Ninham Shand in
association with Umvoto Africa, on
behalf of the Directorate National Water Resources Planning. DWAF Report
no. P WMA 15/000/00/0304.
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Ref 2: Estuaries of the Cape Report
No. 7 GAMTOOS (CMS48) CSIR RESEARCH REP0RT 406
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Useful
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