gray concrete dam

Hartbeespoort Dam. Photo by Nkululeko Mayiyane. Unsplash

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Hartbeespoort Dam


 

Hartbeespoort Dam  is also known as Harties.

It’s an arch dam in South Africa’s North West Province. It is located in a valley to the south of the Magaliesberg mountain range and to the north of the Witwatersberg mountain range, approximately 35 kilometers north of Johannesburg and 20 kilometers west of Pretoria.

The dam’s name translates to “dam at the gorge of the hartebeest” (a type of antelope) in Afrikaans. This “poort” in the Magaliesberg was a popular hunting spot, where hunters would corner and shoot the hartebeest. The dam was originally intended for irrigation, which is still its primary use today, as well as domestic and industrial purposes.

Since the early 1970s, the dam has been in a hypertrophic state. Mismanagement of waste water treatment from urban zones within the Hartbeespoort Dam catchment area is largely to blame, with over 280 tons of phosphate and nitrate deposits distorting the food web. 

Hartbeespoort is near the dam wall, and the villages of Kosmos, Melodie, Ifafi, Meerhof and The Coves, Pecanwood, Westlake, and several other estates can be found along its shores. Schoemansville was named after General Hendrik Schoeman, who owned the land in the nineteenth century. 

The government ordered a public inquiry into the feasibility of building an irrigation dam in the Magaliesberg’s Hartbeespoort in 1906. The inquiry was led by an engineer from the Department of Irrigation, who submitted a favorable report to the government, and the Hartebeestpoort Act 32 of 1914 was passed by Parliament.

1. The Dam was constructed despite 8 years of struggle

The dam’s construction officially began in August 1916. Work was initially halted pending a court decision with General Hendrik Schoeman and a certain Mr. Marshevin regarding the expropriation of their properties. The dispute was eventually settled, but dissatisfaction remained after a hastily passed law to facilitate the expropriation.

Due to flooding, mother nature caused additional delays. Huge amounts of construction wood were washed down the river in 1914 and 1918 and were never recovered. The wall of the Geldenhuysdam further up the river broke in 1915, and flooding at the site also caused a delay.

The disruption caused by the First World War, as well as the complications caused by an Afrikaner rebellion, added to the building’s delays. The first company was then liquidated due to financial losses caused by the floods and delays. In 1921, a second company took over the project and hired an engineer, F. W. Scott, who re-energized the project.

2. The Dam spans a gorge in Magaliesberg

Hartbeespoort Dam. Photo by South African Tourism. Wikimedia Commons

The dam wall is 149.5 meters long and 59.4 meters high. It spans a gorge in the Magaliesberg. The reservoir is fed by the Crocodile and Magalies rivers and covers 18.83 square kilometers, with a mean depth of 9.6 meters and a maximum depth of 45.1 meters. It has a surface area of 20 square kilometers and an annual water level fluctuation range of 0.8 meters. The reservoir’s mixing type is monomeric.

3. The dam was built with 250,000 bags of cement

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Bags of cement. Photo by Oussama zrafi. Wikimedia Commons

Pretoria Portland Cement supplied 250 000 bags of cement for the dam’s construction. The cement was transported by train to Brits, where it was transferred to ox and mule powered coco pans that were then transported to the Poort.

4. There’s a tarmac road on the north side of the dam

Tarmac road on the side of Hartbeespoort Dam.Photo by South African Tourism. Wikimedia Commons

A single-lane tarmac road skirts the water’s edge on the north side, passing through a 56.6 m tunnel and crossing the dam wall.

5. The Dam provides irrigation water via a 544-kilometer network of canals

File:Irrigation through sprinkler.jpg

Irrigation through sprinkler. Photo by Abhay iari. Wikimedia Commons

Hartbeespoort Dam provides irrigation water via a 544-kilometer network of canals to 159.76 square kilometers of farmland that produces tobacco, wheat, lucerne, fruit, and flowers. Water quality degradation, most notably microcystin toxin.

6. Hartbeespoort Dam is a popular holiday destination

File:Hartbeespoort Cableway, North West, South Africa (20510209592).jpg

A group of ladies taking a selfie at Hartbeespoort Dam. Photo by South African Tourism. Wikimedia Commons

Hartbeespoort Dam has become a popular holiday and weekend destination for residents of Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is the main water recreation area of northern Gauteng, and many types of water sports are enjoyed on the dam. Since the dam’s construction in 1923, the Transvaal Yacht Club has been in operation. 

7. Water hyacinth is seen at Hartbeespoort Dam

Water hyacinth at Hartbeespoort Dam. Photo by at Olga Ernest. Wikimedia Commons

 

Since the mid-twentieth century, Hartbeespoort Dam has  experienced severe eutrophication as a result of high concentrations of phosphates and nitrates in the Crocodile River, the main inflow.

The primary pollution sources are Gauteng industrial and domestic effluent. Bruma Lake in the Jukskei River and Centurion Lake in the Hennops River are included in the catchment area.

8. Aerial Cable Car Ride at Hartbeespoort Dam is available

Enjoy breathtaking views as you ride South Africa’s only aerial cable car. This Swiss-designed and installed gondola can accommodate up to six passengers. In 6 minutes, you will reach the summit of the mountain. As you ascend, you will pass above a nature preserve. From the air, you can see giraffe, zebra, and small antelope.

When you reach the top, you will have a number of restaurants to choose from. Sip a cocktail at the Lookout Bar while admiring the spectacular view of the eastern side of the region.

Walk “The Dassie Walk,” a 1,200-meter walkway that circles the top of the mountain. Learn about the surrounding area by stopping at the informative waypoints along the way. Return to the starting point by taking the cable car.

9. Daily boat cruises are available on the Hartbeespoort Dam

Enjoy a 2-hour luxurious boat cruise on the calm waters of the Hartbeepoort Dam. With three tours departing daily at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM, choose the time that works best for you and get out on the water. Gaze out at the protected nature that surrounds you in the Kommando Nek Nature Preserve, showcasing the abundance of South Africa’s flora and fauna.

When you board the boat, you’ll be given a welcome drink before departing to explore the stunning dam’s waters. Enjoy a luxurious spread of traditional South African hot and cold finger foods with all daily cruises. Your entrance pass to the nature preserve will remain valid after your cruise ends, and you return to the dock, so get out there and explore the beauty of the South African countryside.

10. Hartbeespoort Dam has a Roman Triumphal Arch Style wall

The Hartbeespoort Dam is South Africa’s only dam with a Roman Triumphal Arch Style wall. The Arch de Triomphe in Paris inspired the design of the arch. Park your car near the dam wall crossing and enjoy the scenic views. It’s one of the best free activities in Harties.

 

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