GREATKEI RIVER: Overview

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Map of Great Kei River

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The Great Kei catchment is a single fan shaped catchment draining an area bounded by the Amatola mountain range in the south, the Winterberg in the east and the Stormberg / Drakensberg range to the north of Queenstown at an altitude of 2400 masl. In the east the catchment is bounded by undulating hills running in a north-south direction to the coast separating the Kei catchment from the Mbashe catchment. (Ref 1)
The area is characterised by the picturesque Great Kei River valley, which is some 400 m below the surrounding plateau. On the left and right banks the valley rises steeply to meet the coastal plateau zone, which covers most of this sub-area. The Gcuwa River has its headwaters at the inland edge of this coastal plateau zone at 1200 masl. The topography of the Gcuwa River valley is undulating from its headwaters through to Butterworth before it steepens and enters the Great Kei River. The Kubusi River has its headwaters in the Amatola mountains above Stutterheim and meanders through the coastal plateau before falling away steeply to enter the Great Kei River. The coastal zone area comprises a very small section of the catchment around Kei Mouth. (Ref 1)
The Middle Kei sub-area lies predominantly within the inland plateau topographical zone. The Tsomo River valley has its source in the southern Drakensberg range (the Stormberg) at an altitude of approximately 2 500 masl and then descends in a fairly steep valley to enter the Great Kei River at 850 masl. The Thomas River has its source on the north eastern slopes of the Amatola mountain range at an altitude of approximately 1 800 masl before flowing in an easterly direction to join the Great Kei River at 1 000 masl. (Ref 1)
The Upper Kei catchment is approximately 11 500 km2 in extent. This is 55,8% of the total Great Kei catchment area of 20 699 km2. The area falls within the inland plateau topographical zone and occupies a broad undulating plateau with river valleys. (Ref 1)
  References                                      

Ref 1:  Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area : Amatole – Kei Internal Strategic Perspective. Prepared by FST Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd in association with Tlou & Matji and Umvoto Africa, on behalf of the Directorate : National Water Resource Planning. DWAF Report No. P WMA 12/000/00/0404.
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