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Die Knersvlakte

W
Wia Cronje

Die Knersvlakte is 'n gebied in Namakwaland naby Vanrhynsdorp in die Weskaap. Hierdie fotos is hoofsaaklik geneem op die plaas Quaggaskop, van Buys Wiese en in die omgewing van Vanrhynsdorp. Die plaas Quaggaskop is as a natuurlike kwekery verklaar en Mnr Wiese is ook die eienaar van die Kokerboom Kwekery - die grootste vetplant en kokerboom kwekery in die Suidfelike halfrond.. The Knersvlakte" is an area near Vanrhynsdorp in South Africa. The photos were mostly taken on the fartm Quaggasdkop of my friend Buys Wiese as well as the area close to Vanrhynsdorp. The farm Quaggaskop was declared as a natural nursery. Mr Wiese is also the owner of the Kokerboom Kwekery in Vanrhynsdorp - the largest succulent and quiver tree nursery in the Souhtern Hemisphere.

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NamakwalandKnersvlakte by Wia 悪看岳噛辿
KnersvlakteThe aim of this presentaion is to familiarise you with the region known as the Knersvlakte in Namakwaland, South Africa. Namaqualand is a geographical region in the west of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. which extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the small town of Pofadder in the east, and from the great Orange River in the north to beyond Garies in the south..Some theories exist about the origin of the name Knersvlakte. Directly translated itmeans the gnashing plain. One explantation is that it represents the sound that the iron clad wagon wheels made on the many quartz pebbles that are found here. Others relate that the area was formerly called Knechtsvlakte and was later on changed to Knersvlakte the Dutch word Knecht referring to a man that hired the area from the state. He was referred to as a kneg van die Staat a servant of the state of government. Still others mean that it comes from Gnashing of the teeth depicting the harsh life that was required to exist in this drought ridden area.It is an extensive dry region, consisting of gently rolling hills covered with white quartz pebbles. This region is located just north west of the Bokkeveld Mountains near Nieuwouldville, and the vegetation is succulent Karoo and dominated by small leaf succulents.Many plants (especialyAizoaceae) are growing only here due to the white quartz gravel, which reflects the sunlight, and is less hot during the extremely arid summers. The dwarf and compact plants, also have an ideal form to absorb thermal heat for the short cool winter growing season when rain occurs. This presentation is aimed at familiarizing you with the Knersvlakte landscape in partifular before showing more about the succulents and flowers of the region.
Vanryhnsdorp, some 200 miles from Cape Town, is the gateway to Namaqualand. One can reach Namakwaland either with the N7 highway from Cape Town past Clanwilliam and Klawer or coming over the Van Rhyns Pass (from Niewoudtville) which winds in a five mile long S curve down the Bokkeveld Mountains.During the spring season there are many routes from Vanrhynsdorp that can be taken to view the flowers. The town was established as Troe-Troe in 1751, but renamed in 1880 in recognition of the work of P.B. van Rhyn, a community leader and the first Justice of the Peace.For me a visit to Vanrhynsdorp is incomplete without visiting the Kokerboom Nursery and the farm Quaggaskop of my friend Buys Wiese who spent a lifetime preserving the wonderful succulents of the Knersvlaktehttp://www.ratelgat.co.za/knersvlaktemap.htm
IntroductionNamakwaland is the spring flower show of South Africa especially after good winter rains when the lanscape is covered with a flower carpet. The flowers of Namakwland are unique. One does not only find a vast variety of flowers but also succulents and many other plant species. Many are endemic to the area. Most of the flowers appear only during three months (or even less) of the year. There are about 3500 plant species in Namakwaland!Namakwaland is the only desert in the world with such exceptional flowers. The plants have adapted to winter rains and harsh, extremely hot summers. Not only the total amount of rain but the time of the rainfall determines the extend of the flower show. Since the rain falls in winter there is less evaporation which makes more moisture even dew and snow - available for germination of the flower seeds and the growth of tubers and bulbs.More than 3500 species of plants of whichmany are endemic succuletns are found in Namakwaland! Many of these wonderful plants also bloom in springtime after good winter rains. The white pebbles that covers huge areas of the Knersvlakte assist the succulent plants by reflecting the harsh summer sunlight away from the plants to help them exist in the extreme heat.My intention is to show you the beauty and wonders of Namakwaland and specifically the Knersvlakte in a series of slide presentations. Thanks for bearing with me for this introduction. Enjoy the show!!
Near Vanrhynsdorp is the Maskam mountain that, unlike the flat Knersvlakte, has lush vegetation with a variety of plants, including a number of proteas. The mountain has many waterfalls, clear river pools and beautiful rock formations with over forty rock painting sites.
The Knersvlakte as seen from the Van Rhyns pass
Quaggaskop the Knersvlakte farm of my friend Buys Wiese. For the past 35 and more years he only allowed the little plants to grow and had no animals grazing on the land. Nowhere else in the world will you find a similar selection and variety of rare and endemic succulents. Over 5000 hectares of this farm is declared a natural succulent nursery
Quaggaskop lies where the Sishen-Saldanha Railway line crosses the N7 Highway and the Salt River
An old bridge over the Salt River
The iron ore train from Sishen
The Ore Export LineThe Sishen-Saldanha railway, also known as the Ore Export Line or Orex, is an 861-kilometre long heavy haul railway line in South Africa. It connects iron ore mines near Sishen in the Northern Cape with the port at Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It is used primarily to transport iron ore and does not carry passenger traffic.The Sishen-Saldanha line was built by Iscor, the then iron and steel parastatal, opening in 1976. In 1977 the line was transferred to Spoornet and a decision was taken to electrify the line. A voltage of 50 kV AC was chosen instead of the usual 25 kV in order to haul heavier loads and to enable a larger distance between transformers.A single set of tracks with ten crossing loops to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass was constructed; this has since been increased to 19 crossing loops to increase line capacity.From an altitude of 1295 metres at Sishen the line climbs for 42 kilometres before descending to cross the Orange River about 10 kilometres downstream of Groblershoop. For the next 300 kilometres, the line rises and falls before descending towards the Atlantic coast. The railway crosses the Olifants River on a 1035-metre viaduct between Vredendal and Lutzville and reaches the coast about 160 kilometres north of Saldanha. From there it follows a coastal route.
The Salt River is believed to be the ancient river bed of the Gariep River (Orange River)
The saline content of the water of the Salt river is higher than that of the Dead Sea
The rock formations of the Knersvlakte as seen in the Salt River bed. This lets one see where all the white quarts pebbles come from
I was amazed to learn that there are farms on top of the Maskam mountain
On top of the Maskam mountain
Rock formations in the Maskam mountain
Farms beyond Gifberg and Ouberg(Translated: Poison mountain and Old Mountain)
A view towards the Bokkeveld Mountains in the flower season
Farms beyond Gifberg and Ouberg(Translated: Poison mountain and Old Mountain)
The waterfall near NiewoudtvilleAnd the view below the waterfall
A springtime flower carpet in Namakwaland
Flower carpet near Springbok in Namakwaland
Namakwaland in spring
Near Springbok, Namakwaland, RSA
The Crown (Kroon) of Kamieskroon
The quiver tree forest near Nieuwoudtville
Quiver trees and vygies
The EndCopyright Wia Kotze 2009
My Namakwaland showsMy Namawaland series include:1. The Knersvlakte2.Succulents of Namakwaland Part 13. Succulents of Namakwaland Part 24. Spring in Namakwaland5. The Quiver Tree Nursery and VanrhynsdorpFor more information contact me at:viawia01@gmail.com

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Die Knersvlakte

  • 2. KnersvlakteThe aim of this presentaion is to familiarise you with the region known as the Knersvlakte in Namakwaland, South Africa. Namaqualand is a geographical region in the west of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. which extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the small town of Pofadder in the east, and from the great Orange River in the north to beyond Garies in the south..Some theories exist about the origin of the name Knersvlakte. Directly translated itmeans the gnashing plain. One explantation is that it represents the sound that the iron clad wagon wheels made on the many quartz pebbles that are found here. Others relate that the area was formerly called Knechtsvlakte and was later on changed to Knersvlakte the Dutch word Knecht referring to a man that hired the area from the state. He was referred to as a kneg van die Staat a servant of the state of government. Still others mean that it comes from Gnashing of the teeth depicting the harsh life that was required to exist in this drought ridden area.It is an extensive dry region, consisting of gently rolling hills covered with white quartz pebbles. This region is located just north west of the Bokkeveld Mountains near Nieuwouldville, and the vegetation is succulent Karoo and dominated by small leaf succulents.Many plants (especialyAizoaceae) are growing only here due to the white quartz gravel, which reflects the sunlight, and is less hot during the extremely arid summers. The dwarf and compact plants, also have an ideal form to absorb thermal heat for the short cool winter growing season when rain occurs. This presentation is aimed at familiarizing you with the Knersvlakte landscape in partifular before showing more about the succulents and flowers of the region.
  • 3. Vanryhnsdorp, some 200 miles from Cape Town, is the gateway to Namaqualand. One can reach Namakwaland either with the N7 highway from Cape Town past Clanwilliam and Klawer or coming over the Van Rhyns Pass (from Niewoudtville) which winds in a five mile long S curve down the Bokkeveld Mountains.During the spring season there are many routes from Vanrhynsdorp that can be taken to view the flowers. The town was established as Troe-Troe in 1751, but renamed in 1880 in recognition of the work of P.B. van Rhyn, a community leader and the first Justice of the Peace.For me a visit to Vanrhynsdorp is incomplete without visiting the Kokerboom Nursery and the farm Quaggaskop of my friend Buys Wiese who spent a lifetime preserving the wonderful succulents of the Knersvlaktehttp://www.ratelgat.co.za/knersvlaktemap.htm
  • 4. IntroductionNamakwaland is the spring flower show of South Africa especially after good winter rains when the lanscape is covered with a flower carpet. The flowers of Namakwland are unique. One does not only find a vast variety of flowers but also succulents and many other plant species. Many are endemic to the area. Most of the flowers appear only during three months (or even less) of the year. There are about 3500 plant species in Namakwaland!Namakwaland is the only desert in the world with such exceptional flowers. The plants have adapted to winter rains and harsh, extremely hot summers. Not only the total amount of rain but the time of the rainfall determines the extend of the flower show. Since the rain falls in winter there is less evaporation which makes more moisture even dew and snow - available for germination of the flower seeds and the growth of tubers and bulbs.More than 3500 species of plants of whichmany are endemic succuletns are found in Namakwaland! Many of these wonderful plants also bloom in springtime after good winter rains. The white pebbles that covers huge areas of the Knersvlakte assist the succulent plants by reflecting the harsh summer sunlight away from the plants to help them exist in the extreme heat.My intention is to show you the beauty and wonders of Namakwaland and specifically the Knersvlakte in a series of slide presentations. Thanks for bearing with me for this introduction. Enjoy the show!!
  • 5. Near Vanrhynsdorp is the Maskam mountain that, unlike the flat Knersvlakte, has lush vegetation with a variety of plants, including a number of proteas. The mountain has many waterfalls, clear river pools and beautiful rock formations with over forty rock painting sites.
  • 6. The Knersvlakte as seen from the Van Rhyns pass
  • 7. Quaggaskop the Knersvlakte farm of my friend Buys Wiese. For the past 35 and more years he only allowed the little plants to grow and had no animals grazing on the land. Nowhere else in the world will you find a similar selection and variety of rare and endemic succulents. Over 5000 hectares of this farm is declared a natural succulent nursery
  • 8. Quaggaskop lies where the Sishen-Saldanha Railway line crosses the N7 Highway and the Salt River
  • 9. An old bridge over the Salt River
  • 10. The iron ore train from Sishen
  • 11. The Ore Export LineThe Sishen-Saldanha railway, also known as the Ore Export Line or Orex, is an 861-kilometre long heavy haul railway line in South Africa. It connects iron ore mines near Sishen in the Northern Cape with the port at Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It is used primarily to transport iron ore and does not carry passenger traffic.The Sishen-Saldanha line was built by Iscor, the then iron and steel parastatal, opening in 1976. In 1977 the line was transferred to Spoornet and a decision was taken to electrify the line. A voltage of 50 kV AC was chosen instead of the usual 25 kV in order to haul heavier loads and to enable a larger distance between transformers.A single set of tracks with ten crossing loops to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass was constructed; this has since been increased to 19 crossing loops to increase line capacity.From an altitude of 1295 metres at Sishen the line climbs for 42 kilometres before descending to cross the Orange River about 10 kilometres downstream of Groblershoop. For the next 300 kilometres, the line rises and falls before descending towards the Atlantic coast. The railway crosses the Olifants River on a 1035-metre viaduct between Vredendal and Lutzville and reaches the coast about 160 kilometres north of Saldanha. From there it follows a coastal route.
  • 12. The Salt River is believed to be the ancient river bed of the Gariep River (Orange River)
  • 13. The saline content of the water of the Salt river is higher than that of the Dead Sea
  • 14. The rock formations of the Knersvlakte as seen in the Salt River bed. This lets one see where all the white quarts pebbles come from
  • 15. I was amazed to learn that there are farms on top of the Maskam mountain
  • 16. On top of the Maskam mountain
  • 17. Rock formations in the Maskam mountain
  • 18. Farms beyond Gifberg and Ouberg(Translated: Poison mountain and Old Mountain)
  • 19. A view towards the Bokkeveld Mountains in the flower season
  • 20. Farms beyond Gifberg and Ouberg(Translated: Poison mountain and Old Mountain)
  • 21. The waterfall near NiewoudtvilleAnd the view below the waterfall
  • 22. A springtime flower carpet in Namakwaland
  • 23. Flower carpet near Springbok in Namakwaland
  • 26. The Crown (Kroon) of Kamieskroon
  • 27. The quiver tree forest near Nieuwoudtville
  • 29. The EndCopyright Wia Kotze 2009
  • 30. My Namakwaland showsMy Namawaland series include:1. The Knersvlakte2.Succulents of Namakwaland Part 13. Succulents of Namakwaland Part 24. Spring in Namakwaland5. The Quiver Tree Nursery and VanrhynsdorpFor more information contact me at:viawia01@gmail.com