View source for Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

{{Short description|Biosphere reserve in South Africa}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
| alt_name =
| iucn_category =
| photo = Blyde-River-Canyon-Panorama-2009.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = The Three Rondavels promontory of the [[Drakensberg]] escarpment
| photo_width =
| map = South Africa Mpumalanga#South Africa
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Mpumalanga
| map_width =
| relief = yes
| location = Northern [[Mpumalanga]], [[South Africa]]
| nearest_city = [[Graskop]]
| coordinates = {{coord|24|36|00|S|30|49|30|E|type:landmark_region:ZA-MP_dim:20000|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|29000|ha|km2|abbr=on}}
| established =  November 1965
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA)
| url = http://www.mtpa.co.za/index.php?parks+1811
| child =
| embedded =
}}
'''Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve''' (or '''Motlatse Canyon Provincial Nature Reserve''') is situated in the [[Drakensberg]] escarpment region of eastern [[Mpumalanga]], [[South Africa]]. The reserve protects the [[Blyde River Canyon]], including sections of the [[Ohrigstad River|Ohrigstad]] and [[Blyde River]]s and the geological formations around Bourke's Luck Potholes, where the [[Treur River]] tumbles into the Blyde below. Southwards of the canyon, the reserve follows the escarpment, to include the Devil's and God's Window, the latter a popular viewpoint to the lowveld at the reserve's southern extremity.
The Mogologolo (1,794 m), [[Mariepskop]] (1,944 m) and Hebronberg (1,767 m) massifs are partially included in the reserve. Elevation varies from 560 m to 1,944 m above sea level.<ref name = Lotter>{{Citation | author = Lötter, Mervyn C. | author2 = Beck, Hans T. | title = Preliminary inventory and classification of indigenous afromontane forests on the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa | journal = BMC Ecology | date = 2 August 2004 | volume = 4 | page = 9 | doi = 10.1186/1472-6785-4-9 | pmid = 15287991 | pmc = 512296 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Its resort areas are F.H. Odendaal and Swadeni, the latter only accessible from [[Limpopo]] province. The area of approximately {{convert|29000|ha|km2}} is administered by the [[Mpumalanga Parks Board]].<ref name = Lotter/>
==Bourke's Luck Potholes==
[[File:Bourke's Luck Potholes 03.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Potholes and plunge pools of the Treur River]]
This geological feature and day visitors' attraction, named after prospector [[Bernard Bourke|Bernard Thomas Bourke]] (brother of [[Eddie Bourke]]), is situated at the confluence of the [[Treur River|Treur]] and [[Blyde River]]s, on the reserve's western boundary <small>{{coord|24|40|28|S|30|48|39|E|type:landmark_region:ZA|display=inline|name=Bourke's Luck Potholes}}</small>. The reserve's nature conservation headquarters is located here, beside the village of Moremela, at the canyon's southern, or upper reaches. Bourke's Luck Potholes marks the beginning of the [[Blyde River Canyon]].<ref name="Bourke's Luck Potholes">{{Cite web|title=Bourke's Luck Potholes|url=https://www.sabie.co.za/gallery/Bourkes%20Luck%20Potholes.html|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.sabie.co.za}}</ref>
Sustained [[Kolk (vortex)|kolk]]s in the Treur River's [[plunge pool]]s have eroded a number of cylindrical potholes or [[giant's kettle]]s, which can be viewed from the crags above. It was named after a local prospector, Tom Bourke, who predicted the presence of gold, though he found none himself.<ref name="Bourke's Luck Potholes"/> The [[Footbridge|pedestrian bridges]] connect the various [[overlook]]s of the potholes and the gorge downstream.
==The Three Rondavels==
[[File:Three Rondavels - panoramio.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The three rondavels]]
The Three Rondavels are three round, grass-covered mountain tops with somewhat pointed peaks. They quite closely resemble the traditional round or oval [[rondavels]] or African homesteads, which are made with local materials. Sometimes they are also called the Three Sisters, though this may confuse them with a similar threesome visible from the [[N1 road (South Africa)|N1 road]] in the [[Northern Cape]], very far to the south.<ref name=SA-Venues>{{cite web | url=http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsmpl/three-rondavels.htm | title=Three Rondavels | publisher=SA-Venues | access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref>
The names of the peaks commemorate a 19th-century chief, Maripi, and three of his wives. The flat-topped peak adjacent to the rondavels is Mapjaneng, "the chief", who is remembered for opposing invading [[Swazis]] in a memorable battle. The three rondavels are named for three of his more troublesome wives – Magabolle, Mogoladikwe and Maseroto. Behind the rondavels the distant high plateau of [[Mariepskop]] may be visible. Beside the dam, the isolated Thabaneng hill is known as the "sundial" or "mountain with a shadow that moves". It is said that the position of its shadow indicates the time of day.<ref name="rowe">{{cite web |last1=Rowe |first1=Christine |title=Heritage management of archaeological, historical and industrial resources on the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve |url=http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/27115/dissertation.pdf |website=repository.up.ac.za |publisher=[[University of Pretoria]] |access-date=20 April 2016}}</ref>
On a clear day the lookout point provides extensive views. From here one looks over the canyon to the Three Rondavels on the other side, which is flanked on various sides by promontories of the northern [[Drakensberg]] range.<ref name=SA-Venues/>
The formation of the attractive sedimentary formations are explained geologically as the slow erosion of underlying soft stone, leaving exposed the more resistant quartzite and shale that form the rondavels.
==God's Window==
[[File:South Africa-Mpumalanga-Gods Window002.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A southward view from God's Window towards [[Kowyn Pass]]]]
God's Window <small>{{coord|24|52|28|S|30|53|29|E| type:landmark_region:ZA | display=inline | name=God's Window}}</small> is a popular vantage point along the [[Drakensberg]] [[escarpment]], at the southern extremity of the Nature Reserve.
Here, sheer cliffs plunge over 700 metres to the Lowveld. From this escarpment&mdash;a mostly unbroken rampart of cliffs&mdash;opens a vista into the Lowveld expanse and escarpment forests, the [[Garden of Eden|Eden]]-like aesthetic appearance of which prompted the name.<ref>{{Cite web|title=God's Window {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/gods-window|access-date=2021-02-25|website=www.sahistory.org.za}}</ref> On a clear day it is possible to see over the [[Kruger National Park]] towards the [[Lebombo Mountains]] on the border with [[Mozambique]].
God's Window features prominently in the plot of the 1980 [[cult film]] ''[[The Gods Must Be Crazy]]''. Near the end of the movie, the [[Bushmen|Bushman]] character Xi (played by [[Namibia]]n bush farmer [[N!xau]]) travels to God's Window, and due to some low-lying cloud cover believes it to be the end of the Earth.
The original Window is a rock that is set further back on a private farm and due to quarry operations and tree plantation farming, this actual rock that looks like a square window could not be used. The site was moved by the government to the edge of the escarpment.
A viewing platform <small>{{coord|24|52|35.8|S|30|53|19.6|E| type:landmark_region:ZA | display=inline | name=God's Window viewing platform}}</small> near the car park gives extensive views down the gorge to the plain below.
==Fauna==
The high plateaus are inhabited by [[mountain reedbuck]], [[Chacma baboon|baboon]] troops and [[rock hyrax]]es. [[Impala]], [[kudu]], [[blue wildebeest]], [[waterbuck]] and [[zebra]] roam the wooded lowveld area. [[Hippopotamus|Hippo]] and [[Nile crocodile|crocodile]] are present in the [[Blyderivierpoort Dam]].
Three species of [[Afroedura|flat gecko]] were described in 2014 from the reserve and its vicinity. The [[Afroedura rondavelica|Blyde River flat gecko]], discovered in 1991, is as yet only known from the cliff face of one of the three rondavels,<ref name="trd1">{{cite web |last1=Uetz |first1=Peter |last2=Hallermann |first2=Jakob |title=Afroedura rondavelica JACOBSEN, KUHN, JACKMAN & BAUER, 2014 |url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Afroedura&species=rondavelica |website=The Reptile Database |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> while the [[Afroedura maripi|Mariepskop flat gecko]] was discovered on nearby [[Mariepskop]] in 1982.<ref name="trd2">{{cite web |last1=Uetz |first1=Peter |last2=Hallermann |first2=Jakob |title=Afroedura maripi JACOBSEN, KUHN, JACKMAN & BAUER, 2014 |url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Afroedura&species=maripi |website=The Reptile Database |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> The [[Afroedura rupestris|Abel Erasmus flat gecko]] is known to occur at Bourke's Luck inside the reserve.<ref name="trd3">{{cite web |last1=Uetz |first1=Peter |last2=Hallermann |first2=Jakob |title=Afroedura rupestris JACOBSEN, KUHN, JACKMAN & BAUER, 2014 |url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Afroedura&species=rupestris |website=The Reptile Database |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>
Exotic fish like [[smallmouth bass]], [[brown trout|brown]] and [[rainbow trout]] occur in the river, which have reduced the range of the local [[Treur River barb|Treur river barb]] to upper catchments of the Blyde River system.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Roux, F. |author2=Hoffman, A. |date=2017 |title=''Enteromius treurensis'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T2572A100159826 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2572A100159826.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> Thanks to reintroductions after its rediscovery in the 1970s, it now flourishes here.<ref name=srr>{{cite web |title=The Olifants River System, Ecoregions 4.03 & 4.05 |url=http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/state_of_rivers/state_of_crocsabieolif_01/olif_eco_4.03.html |work=State of the Rivers Report, South African River Health Programme |publisher=Water Affairs |access-date=25 December 2013 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309021319/https://www.dwaf.gov.za/IWQS/rhp/state_of_rivers/state_of_crocsabieolif_01/olif_eco_4.03.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Amphilius|Natal mountain catfish]] occurs as an isolated population in the [[Limpopo River|Limpopo]] system, and the Belvedere creek is the only place in the Limpopo system where the [[Barbus argenteus|Rosefin barb]] is found.<ref name=srr/>
[[African fish eagle]] and [[African finfoot]] are found along the Blyde River. The lowveld woodlands harbour [[purple-crested lourie]], [[African emerald cuckoo|emerald cuckoo]], [[red-backed mannikin]], [[golden-tailed woodpecker]], [[gorgeous bushshrike]], [[white-faced owl]] and a number of [[Bird of prey|raptor]]s like [[white-backed vulture]], [[gymnogene]], [[black-chested snake eagle]], [[Wahlberg's eagle]] and [[long-crested eagle]]. A number of raptors frequent the mountains and cliffs, including [[cape vulture]], [[black eagle]], [[jackal buzzard]], [[peregrine falcon]], [[lanner falcon]] and [[rock kestrel]].
Birds associated with flowering plants of the higher slopes include [[Gurney's sugarbird]] and [[malachite sunbird]]. A breeding colony of [[bald ibis]] occurs in the grassy uplands, besides small numbers of [[cape eagle-owl]] and [[red-breasted sparrowhawk]]. Forest birds include [[crowned eagle]], [[Knysna lourie]], [[Lemon dove|cinnamon dove]], [[olive bushshrike]], [[green twinspot]] and [[African wood owl|wood owl]].
==Flora==
[[File:Protea laetans.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ten species of the [[Proteaceae]] occur within the reserve's confines,<ref name = pap1>{{cite web | publisher = Protea Atlas Project | title = Species by Nature Reserve for Mpumalanga Parks Board: Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve | date = 2003-01-27 | url = http://protea.worldonline.co.za/splr_mpa.htm | access-date = 2 December 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120414212232/http://protea.worldonline.co.za/splr_mpa.htm | archive-date = 14 April 2012 }}</ref> among which the [[Protea laetans|Blyde river protea]] which is endemic to the canyon.]]
The reserve's vegetation is classified as the Northeastern Drakensberg High-Mountain Sourveld ecoregion, an area prone to lightning-induced burning. Its very diverse flora is ascribed to the variation in altitude and rainfall (541&nbsp;mm to 2,776&nbsp;mm p.a.), and the extremes in geology and [[Pedology (soil study)|pedology]].<ref name = Lotter/> It is topographically complex with a variety of habitats which include grassland plateaus, wetlands and sponge areas, grassland slopes, [[afromontane]] forest, [[riparian forest]], moist woodlands, dry woodlands and [[shrubland]]s. Its four veld types are Afromontane Forest, North-eastern Mountain Sour Grassland, Sour Lowveld Bushveld and Mixed Lowveld Bushveld.<ref name = Lotter/>
Around a 1,000 plant species have been recorded. This includes [[Encephalartos|cycads]], of which the [[Encephalartos cupidus|Blyde river cycad]] is almost endemic to the reserve, with some 200 individuals remaining.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = The Cycad Society of South Africa | title = Encephalartos cupidus | url = http://www.cycadsociety.org/cupidus/cupidus.html | access-date = 8 December 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120103211424/http://www.cycadsociety.org/cupidus/cupidus.html | archive-date = 3 January 2012 }}</ref> A variety of [[orchid]], [[lily]] and [[Proteaceae|protea]] (genera ''[[Protea]]'', ''[[Faurea]]'' and ''[[Leucospermum]]'') species occur, including the [[Protea laetans|Blyde river protea]] which is endemic to the canyon,<ref name = pap1/> and the [[Leucospermum saxosum|escarpment pincushion]] of which about 30 plants are present.<ref name="heyd1">{{cite web |last1=Heydenrych |first1=Reuben |date = September 2000 |title=Drakensberg escarpment south of Lekgalameetse – 9 & 10 September 2000 |url=https://www.proteaatlas.org.za/lekgal.htm |website=proteaatlas.org.za |publisher=Protea Atlas Project |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> [[Cyathea dregei|Tree ferns]] grow along seepages in the uplands.
Indigenous forest covers 2,111 ha of the nature reserve, or 7.3% of its surface area. These are fragmented into some 60 patches between 0.21 ha and 567 ha in extent. They are assigned to two forest communities, high altitude moist and low altitude dry afromontane forest. The altitudinal gradient accounts for most of their variation in plant communities.<ref name=Lotter/>
==General area==
[[File:Motlatse Canyon Bourke's Luck Potholes (5).jpg|thumb| Klaserie Waterfall Nature Reserves referenced by the S.A.H.R.A ]]
The reserve is fringed to the east by the [[Mariepskop]] and [[Klaserie Waterfall Nature Reserve]]s, and the [[Mapulaneng]] forestry region, below the escarpment. National Park status had been considered, if some adjacent areas were to be incorporated and their forestry activities discontinued.
[[James Percy FitzPatrick|Percy FitzPatrick]] and George Fullerton's summer quarters as transport riders during the 1880s was situated at ''Paradise Camp'' <small>{{coord|24|55|24|S|30|52|08|E|type:landmark_region:ZA|name=Paradise Camp}}</small>, some 6&nbsp;km south of God's Window, and similarly perched on the edge of the escarpment. Close to God's Window are several waterfalls, including [[Berlin Falls]] and [[Lisbon Falls (waterfall)|Lisbon Falls]].<ref name=Falls1>{{cite web|title=Mpumalanga Attraction - Berlin Falls |url=http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/full-article?oid=10048&sn=Detail&pid=7014 |publisher=Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency |access-date=27 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927011936/http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/full-article?oid=10048&sn=Detail&pid=7014 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve}}
* [http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/mpumalanga-panorama-route-blyde-canyon-attractions.html#No32 God’s Window]
* http://tabsolutions.co.za/bron2/index.php/toeka-se-dae-mainmenu-76/2851-karakters-op-n-kruising-stories-oor-ou-pretoria-se-winkeliers
[[Category:Nature reserves in South Africa]]
[[Category:Mpumalanga Provincial Parks]]