Nqweba Dam

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Nqweba(org. van Ryneveld's Pass Dam)
Nqweba Dam Graaff-Reinet Camdeboo National Park South Africa.jpg
South Africa Eastern Cape relief location map.svg
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Location of Nqweba(org. van Ryneveld's Pass Dam) in Eastern Cape
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Nqweba Dam (South Africa)
Official nameNqweba Dam
Country South Africa
Location Camdeboo National Park, Graaff-Reinet
Coordinates 32°14′08″S24°31′40″E / 32.23556°S 24.52778°E / -32.23556; 24.52778
Construction began1920 (1920)
Opening dateJuly 14, 1925;98 years ago (1925-07-14)
Operator(s) Department of Water and Sanitation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam earth-fill
Impounds Sondags River
Height46 m
Length357 m
Reservoir
CreatesNqweba Dam Reservoir
Total capacity46 369 000 m³
Catchment area 3 668 km2
Surface area1 028.5 ha

Nqweba Dam (previously known as Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam), is an earth-fill type dam located on the Sundays River in the Camdeboo National Park, in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Contents

It was opened in 1925. The dam has a capacity of 46,369,000 cubic metres (1.6375×109 cu ft), and a surface area of 10.285 square kilometres (3.971 sq mi), the wall is 46 metres (151 ft), and is 357 metres (1,171 ft) long. Once an irrigation dam, it now mainly serves to supply potable water for domestic and industrial use to the residents and businesses of Graaff-Reinet. Its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).

Etymology

The new name given in 2001, Nqweba, means "meeting place" in Xhosa. [1]

See also

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References

  1. "Construction of Graaff-Reinet's Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam Wall (1920-1925) - Three photographic collections present a historic engineering narrative | The Heritage Portal". www.theheritageportal.co.za. Retrieved 10 March 2023.