Touws River (river)

Last updated

Touws River
Touwsrivier
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
City Touws River (town)
Physical characteristics
Source Matroosberg
  location Hex River Mountains
  coordinates 33°21′S19°38′E / 33.350°S 19.633°E / -33.350; 19.633
  elevation1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Mouth Groot River
  coordinates
33°44′12″S21°10′55″E / 33.73667°S 21.18194°E / -33.73667; 21.18194
  elevation
239 m (784 ft)

The Touws River (Afrikaans : Touwsrivier) is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a tributary of the Groot River, part of the Gourits River basin. A notable resident of the town is Margaret Maritz (born 27 September 1906) who, as of 2022, aged 116, was regarded as one of the oldest people in South Africa. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Name

The name "Touws" originates from a Khoi word for ash, which also referred to the local "Ash-bushes" ( Salsola aphylla ). It is uncertain whether the name originally referred to the bushes, or to the colour of the river (historically, the Touws river was occasionally known as the "Ash river").

It also gave its name to the town of Touws River, which lies on the upper reaches of this river. [4]

Course

It sources are in the Matroosberg, Hex River Mountains, near the town of De Doorns. In its upper course it is known as the Smalblaar and the Donkies.

Flowing in a southeastern direction, it flows past Touws River town, meeting the right bank of the Groot River after briefly turning southwards. [5] Its tributaries include the Brand, Kalee, Brak, Slang and the Kruis; all are minor rivers.

The Touws is part of the Gouritz Water Management Area and falls within the Drainage system J.

Dams

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Cape</span> Province in South Africa

The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and an international park shared with Botswana. It also includes the Augrabies Falls and the diamond mining regions in Kimberley and Alexander Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breede Valley Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Western Cape, South Africa

Breede Valley Municipality is a local municipality located within the Cape Winelands District Municipality, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. As of 2007, it had a population of 166,825. Its municipality code is WC025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berg River</span> River in the Western Cape, South Africa

The Berg River is a river located just north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is approximately 294 km (183 mi) long with a catchment area of 7,715 km2 (2979 mi2) and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture. The major towns in the Berg River area are Velddrif and Laaiplek near the coast, and Piketberg, Hopefield, Moorreesburg and Darling further inland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constantia, Cape Town</span> Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Constantia is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, situated about 15 kilometres south of the centre of Cape Town. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious suburbs in South Africa. The Constantia Valley lies to the east of and at the foot of the Constantiaberg mountain. Constantia Nek is a low pass linking to Hout Bay in the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulbagh</span> Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Tulbagh, previously named Roodezand, later named after Dutch Cape Colony Governor Ryk Tulbagh, is a town located in the "Land van Waveren" mountain basin, in the Winelands of the Western Cape, South Africa. The basin is fringed on three sides by mountains, and is drained by the Klein Berg River and its tributaries. The nearest towns are Ons Rust and Gouda beyond the Nuwekloof Pass, Wolseley some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the south inside the basin, and Ceres and Prince Alfred Hamlet beyond Michell's Pass in the Warm Bokkeveld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sneeuberge</span> Mountain range near Nieu-Bethesda, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The Sneeuberge or Sneeuberg mountain range was historically known as “Sneeuwbergen”, meaning ‘snow mountains’ in Cape Dutch, and refers to a significant portion of Southern Africa's Great Escarpment in the Cradock, Murraysburg, Richmond, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda and Middelburg districts of the Great Karoo, most of which are in the Eastern Cape Province.

Olifants River is a river in the Klein Karoo area of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Gouritz WMA, or Gouritz Water Management Area , in South Africa includes the following major rivers: the Gouritz River, Olifants River, Kamanassie River, Gamka River, Buffels River, Touws River, Goukou River and Duiwenhoks River, and covers the following Dams:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levubu River</span> River in Limpopo, South Africa

The Levubu River or Levuvhu is located in the northern Limpopo province of South Africa. Some of its tributaries, such as the Mutshindudi River and Mutale River rise in the Soutpansberg Mountains.

The Great Brak River is a river in the Western Cape, South Africa. The mouth of the river lies at the town of Great Brak River which falls under the Mossel Bay Municipality. The nearest towns are Mossel Bay, 24 km to the west, and the largest town in the southern Cape George, 34 km to the east by road.

Bot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The Bot River mouth, located at Fisherhaven and Kleinmond, is a Ramsar site. Its tributaries include the Swart River. The river falls within the Drainage system G.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kouga River</span> River in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

The Kouga River originates near Uniondale, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and flows eastward, where it joins the Groot River to form the Gamtoos just past the Kouga Dam. Its main tributary is the Baviaanskloof River, which joins its left bank before the dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touws River (town)</span> Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Touws River is a small railway town of 8,126 people in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is located on the river of the same name, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north-east of Cape Town. The Touwsrivier CPV Solar Project is located just outside of the town and supplies 50 MW to the national electrical grid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Brak River (town)</span> Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Great Brak River is a coastal village in the Mossel Bay Local Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a historic village built around the lagoon of the Great Brak River, 17 kilometres (11 mi) north-northeast of the town of Mossel Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogalakwena River</span> River in Limpopo Province, South Africa

The Mogalakwena River is one of the main watercourses in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is also a major tributary of the Limpopo River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keurbooms River</span> River in the Western Cape, South Africa

The Keurbooms River is a river in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. The river has its sources south of Uniondale in the Langkloof and flows in a roughly southeastern direction. It passes De Vlugt and the Prince Alfred Pass, flowing along the northern side of the R340 road then it turns south. After crossing the N2 road, it flows into the Indian Ocean through the Keurbooms Estuary, located close to the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groot River (Southern Cape)</span> River in the Western Cape, South Africa

The Groot River is a river in the southern area of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a right hand tributary of the Gourits River.

<i>Gasteria carinata</i> Species of succulent

Gasteria carinata, commonly called Bredasdorp gasteria or keeled gasteria, is a small and variable succulent plant native to the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

The Hex River is a tributary of the Breede River located in the Western Cape of South Africa. The most important settlements along the river are the small towns of De Doorns and Touws River.

References

  1. Palm, Kaylynn. "'115 years of life of Margaret'- Zulu lauds milestone birthday of WCape elder". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  2. Daniels, Nicola. "Margaret Maritz turns 115, making her the oldest living person in Western Cape". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  3. "115th Birthday | WCape's oldest resident celebrated". www.enca.com. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  4. Etymology of Touws river [usurped]
  5. Gouritz WMA 16