The R712 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Phuthaditjhaba with Bethlehem via the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Clarens. [1]
 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 In the Golden Gate Highlands | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 107 km (66 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| East end |  R74 near Harrismith | |||
 R57 near Phuthaditjhaba  R711 at Clarens | ||||
| West end |  N5 near Bethlehem | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | South Africa | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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The R712's eastern terminus is a junction with the R74 approximately 9 kilometres south of Harrismith. From there, it heads west-south-west for 29 kilometres to cross the R57 just north of Phuthaditjhaba (adjacent to the University of the Free State Qwaqwa campus). From the R57 intersection, it runs west for 48 kilometres, through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, to reach Clarens, where it meets the northern terminus of the R711. From the R711 junction, the R712 turns northwards and heads for 29 kilometres to reach its end at a junction with the N5 just east of Bethlehem. [1]
Tugela Falls is a complex of seasonal waterfalls located in the Drakensberg of Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa. According to some measurements, it is the world's tallest waterfall. A revisited validation of waterfall measurements is not available, and there's still uncertainty whether Tugela or Venezuela's Angel Falls is the tallest.
Bethlehem is a city in the eastern Free State province of South Africa that is situated on the Liebenbergs River along a fertile valley just north of the Rooiberg Mountains on the N5 road. It is the fastest growing city in the Free State province, with its target of being the third largest city after Bloemfontein and Welkom.
Fouriesburg is a small town situated at the junction of the R711 and R26 routes in the eastern Free State, South Africa. It is near the Maluti Mountains and only 10 km from Caledon's Poort border post, which gives access to Lesotho.
Harrismith is a large town in the Free State province of South Africa. It was named for Sir Harry Smith, a 19th-century British governor and high commissioner of the Cape Colony. It is situated by the Wilge River, alongside the N3 highway, about midway between Johannesburg, about 275 km to the north-west, and Durban to the southeast. The town is located at the junction of the N5 highway, which continues westward towards the provincial capital Bloemfontein, some 340 km to the south-west. This important crossroads in South Africa's land trade routes is surrounded by mesas and buttes. It is located at the base of one of these called Platberg.
The R26 is a provincial route in Free State, South Africa that connects Rouxville with Villiers via Zastron, Wepener, Ladybrand, Ficksburg, Bethlehem & Reitz.
The R30 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Bloemfontein with Rustenburg via Brandfort, Welkom, Bothaville, Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp. The southern part of the route is tolled, as the R30 forms the first section of the ZR Mahabane Toll Route, with the Brandfort Toll Plaza found 10 kilometres north of its southern terminus junction with the N1 national route. The tolled portion ends at the junction with the R730.
The R34 is a long provincial route in South Africa that connects Vryburg with Richards Bay via Kroonstad and Newcastle. It passes through three provinces, North West, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
The R42 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Vanderbijlpark with Bronkhorstspruit via Vereeniging, Heidelberg, Nigel and Delmas.
The R57 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Vanderbijlpark with Phuthaditjhaba via Sasolburg, Heilbron and Reitz.
The R59 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Hertzogville with Alberton via Bothaville, Parys and Vereeniging. The R59 is a freeway from the R57 Junction in Sasolburg until the N12 Reading Interchange in Alberton, signposted as the Sybrand van Niekerk Freeway.
The R71 is a provincial route in Limpopo, South Africa that connects Polokwane with the Kruger National Park via Tzaneen and Phalaborwa.
The R74 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Harrismith with KwaDukuza on the coast, via Oliviershoek Pass, Bergville, Winterton, Colenso, Weenen and Greytown.
The R82 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Johannesburg with Kroonstad via Vereeniging and Sasolburg. It starts just south of the M1 Johannesburg Municipal Highway's interchange with the N12 Southern Bypass, going south, meeting the R59, R54, R42 & R28 routes at Vereeniging before crossing the Vaal River into the Free State & proceeding to Kroonstad. It is an alternative, but longer route to the N1 national route between Johannesburg & Kroonstad.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in Free State, South Africa, near the Lesotho border. It covers an area of 340 km2 (130 sq mi). The park's most notable features are its golden, ochre, and orange-hued, deeply eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, especially the Brandwag rock. Another feature of the area is the numerous caves and shelters displaying San rock paintings. Wildlife featured at the park includes mongooses, eland, zebras, and over 100 bird species. It is the Free State's only national park and is more famous for the beauty of its landscape than for its wildlife. Numerous palaeontology finds have been made in the park, including dinosaur eggs and skeletons.
The N5 is a national route in South Africa that connects the N1 at Winburg with the N3 at Harrismith, via Senekal, Paul Roux and Bethlehem.
The QwaQwa National Park is part of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and comprises the former Bantustan (homeland) of QwaQwa. It is approximately 60 km from Harrismith on the Golden Gate Road (R712) and formed an integral part of the Highlands Treasure Route.
The R553 is a Regional Route in Gauteng, South Africa that connects Johannesburg with Vanderbijlpark via Eldorado Park, Ennerdale, Evaton and Sebokeng. It is known as the Golden Highway for much of its length.
The R707 is a Regional Route in Free State, South Africa that connects Frankfort with Marquard via Petrus Steyn, Lindley, Arlington and Senekal.
The R711 is a Regional Route in Free State, South Africa that connects Clarens with Fouriesburg.
The Brandwater Basin is the drainage basin of the Brandwater River, a tributary of the Grootspruit River in the south-east of Orange Free State, South Africa, north of Lesotho. The basin is situated south of Bethlehem and south-east of Senekal, between the Witteberg to the west and north, the Rooiberge to the east, and the Drakensberg over the Caledon River to the south. It is also northwest of the Slaapkrans Basin and the Maloti Mountains on the northern border of Lesotho. Towns in the Brandwater Basin are Fouriesburg, founded in 1892, and Clarens, established in 1912.
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