Poortjieskloof Dam

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Poortjieskloof Dam
Official name Poortjieskloof Dam
Location Western Cape, South Africa
Coordinates 33°51′29″S20°22′16″E / 33.85806°S 20.37111°E / -33.85806; 20.37111 Coordinates: 33°51′29″S20°22′16″E / 33.85806°S 20.37111°E / -33.85806; 20.37111
Opening date 1955 (renovated in 1968)
Operator(s) Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam and spillways
Type of dam double curvature arch
Impounds Groot River
Height 33.5 m
Length 144 m
Reservoir
Creates Poortjieskloof Dam Reservoir
Total capacity 9 680 000 m3
Catchment area 94 km2
Surface area 305 ha

Poortjieskloof Dam is a double curvature arch type dam located in the Groot River in Western Cape, South Africa. It was created in 1955 has been renovated in 1968. The dam mainly serves for irrigation purposes and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).

Groot River (Western Cape) river in Western Cape Province, South Africa

The Groot River is a river in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is part of the Olifants/Doring River system. It is not to be confused with the Groot River of Eastern Cape or the Groot River of Southern Cape provinces.

Western Cape Province of South Africa on the south-western coast

The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of 129,449 square kilometres (49,981 sq mi), and the third most populous, with an estimated 6.6 million inhabitants in 2018. About two-thirds of these inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town, which is also the provincial capital. The Western Cape was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province.

South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of Whites, Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

There is a lovely gravel road pass that was built by the Department of Water Affairs as part of the access road and construction for the Poortjieskloof Dam. Access is available within certain hours, by permit only. This is a popular fresh water fishing venue. The road is an out and back route and terminates at a view-site adjacent to the dam wall. The road is 5.5 km long and you have to return the way you entered, making the total drive 11 km.

The road has some very sharp turns and one or two places where the gradient is 1:4 (steep!).


See also

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