Blouberg (range)

This article is about the mountain range in Limpopo. For the associated nature reserve, see Blouberg Nature Reserve. For the location in the Western Cape, see Blouberg (Western Cape).

Blouberg
Highest point
Elevation2,040 m (6,690 ft)
ListingList of mountain ranges of South Africa
Coordinates23°05′0″S 28°51′0″E / 23.08333°S 28.85000°E / -23.08333; 28.85000
Dimensions
Length36 km (22 mi) E/W
Width10 km (6.2 mi) N/S
Geography
Blouberg is located in South Africa
Blouberg
Blouberg
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceLimpopo
Parent rangeSoutpansberg
Geology
OrogenyKaapvaal craton
Rock ageNeoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic
Rock type(s)Bushveld igneous complex, sandstone
The Blouberg is known for the high endemism of its invertebrates. Number 7 is a specimen of Calommata transvaalica, a spider from the Blouberg
NASA picture of the Blouberg (dark shape, middle right) and the pale Makgabeng Plateau directly to the south of it

The Blouberg (formerly "Blaauwberg"), meaning "Blue Mountain" in Dutch, is a range of mountains in the Limpopo Province, at the far north of South Africa. It is located in Blouberg Local Municipality, Capricorn District.[1] The mountain is entrenched in the history of the local Northern Sotho people, and they have different names for its various parts.[2]

The Blouberg forms part of the 'Vhembe Biosphere Reserve', named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 2009.[3] This reserve also includes the neighboring Makgabeng Plateau, the Soutpansberg, the northern part of the Kruger National Park, the Makuleke Wetlands and the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape.[4] The eastern and part of the central Blouberg prominences are enclosed and protected as part of the Blouberg Nature Reserve. A 4x4 track traverses Rapanyan's Neck, the defile that separates these easterly subranges.

  1. ^ "Seraki Blouberg Route - South Africa - Open Africa". Archived from the original on 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  2. ^ "Seraki Blouberg Route". openafrica.org. Open Africa. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Vhembe Region named UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve". Archived from the original on 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  4. ^ UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve Information