Great Kei River
Great Kei River Groot-Keirivier | |
---|---|
Eastern Cape Province | |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Stormberg Mountains |
• location | Eastern Cape, South Africa |
• elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
Source confluence | Wit-Kei |
• coordinates | 32°13′34″S 27°30′36″E / 32.22611°S 27.51000°E |
• elevation | 540 m (1,770 ft) |
Mouth | Indian Ocean |
• location | By Kei Mouth, South Africa |
• coordinates | 32°40′34″S 28°22′51″E / 32.67611°S 28.38083°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 320 km (200 mi) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Xolobe |
• right | Kubusi |
The Great Kei River is a river in the
Course
The Great Kei River is a
The Great Kei previously formed the southwestern border of the Transkei region which can be accessed via the 'Pont', one of only two car-transporting river ferries in South Africa.[2] The pont is currently operational and motorists are frequently ferried from the southwestern bank to the northeastern bank into the Wild Coast.
Climate
The estuaries from the Great Kei river to southern Mozambique are classified as subtropical. These systems are characterized by warm waters of more than 16 degrees Celsius. The climate is warm and humid almost year-round as a result. Minimum winter temperatures range from 12- 14 degrees Celsius and the area receives rainfall throughout the year.[3]
Ecology
The inland sections of the Great Kei River flow through Albany thickets and Forest biomes, terminating in Indian coastal thicket at its mouth. The Kei river mouth hosts the southernmost naturally occurring mangrove forests in Southern Africa.[4] Swamp forests occur north of the Mngazana estuary, and salt marshes are found south of the Great Kei estuary.[5] The Great Kei river mouth is popular with anglers due its variety of estuarine fish species. However, some species such as the South African Cob and White steenbras are critically endangered. Many coastal bird species are found in the area such as the near-threatened African oystercatcher, sandpipers, and kingfishers.
Rail Bridge
Attempts to build a bridge over the Kei river started in 1877 when building materials were shipped into
Dams in the Great Kei basin
- Xonxa Dam in the White Kei River (Wit-Kei River).
- Wriggleswade Dam on the Kubusi River
- Bongolo Dam, in the Komani River, a tributary of the Klaas Smits River, itself a tributary of the Black Kei River
Great Kei Pass
The N2 road passes through
See also
References
- ^ SA Estuarine Land-cover: Great Kei Catchment Archived 2004-12-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Great Kei River". www.keimouth.co.za. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ Harrison T. D. (2002) Preliminary assessment of the biogeography of fishes in South African estuaries. Marine and Freshwater Research 53, 479-490. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF01121
- ^ "The Great Kei River". www.keimouth.co.za. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ BM Colloty, JB Adams* and GC Bate. Classification of estuaries in the Ciskei and Transkei regions based on physical and botanical characteristics. South African Journal of Botany 2002, 68: 312–321. ISSN 0254-6299
- ^ "Rail Bridge over the Great Kei River details". www.artefacts.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Kei Cuttings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Great Kei Bridge, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa". za.geoview.info. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Kei Cuttings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.