Stellenbosch Mountain

Stellenbosch Mountain (Afrikaans: Stellenbosberg or Die Groteberg) is a mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The mountain forms part of the Coetsenburg Estate, the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve and the larger Hottentots-Holland Mountains Catchment Area.

An eastern view of Stellenbosch Mountain

Geology

The peak of Stellenbosch Mountain is 1,156m.[1] The source of the Blaauwklippen (Blouklip) River is near the peak.[2] The range is primarily composed of Table Mountain Sandstone.[3] The climate is typically Mediterranean; warm and temperate, classified as Csb by the Köppen-Geiger system. However, it is generally much cooler and more verdant than other areas in the Western Cape, with annual precipitation at 802mm and an average temperature of 16.4 °C. In winter, there is much more rainfall than in summer.[4] Snow is not unusual on the peak during winter.[5] The Hottentots Holland Mountains, of which the Stellenbosch Mountain is a peak, are considered the hub of the Cape floristic region with the most biodiversity in the entire fynbos biome.[6] The surrounding lowlands have rich alluvial soils supporting viticulture and other deciduous fruit farms.[7]

Wildlife

The Jonkershoek Mountains, of which Stellenbosch Mountain is a peak, are home to leopards, caracals, klipspringer, Chacma baboons, honey badgers and mongooses, however, all but the baboons are very secretive. Birdlife includes kingfishers, black eagles, African fish eagles, spotted eagle owls, sugarbirds, orange-breasted sunbirds and protea seedeaters.[8]

Coetsenburg Estate

Most of the northern and eastern aspects of the Stellenbosch Mountain lie on the Coetsenburg Estate which is not open to the public. The estate, which was founded by Dirk Coetsee in 1682, is owned by the influential Anglo-Huguenot Coetsee family.

Painting

A famous painting of Stellenbosch Mountain, titled "Stellenbosberg" (sic) by Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (1886-1957) sold at auction by Strauss & Co. auctioneers for 612,700ZAR [9]

References
  1. "Solitary walk on Stellenbosch Mountain". 23 September 2012.
  2. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  3. "wine.co.za - The Region of Stellenbosch". www.wine.co.za.
  4. "Climate Stellenbosch: Temperature, Climate graph, Climate table for Stellenbosch - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org.
  5. "Error". www.sun.ac.za.
  6. "South Africa's fynbos is the world's richest floral kingdom". www.southafrica.net.
  7. "The Stellenbosch winelands: ruling the wine industry". www.southafrica.net.
  8. http://www.capenature.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jonkershoek-Map-Brochure1.pdf
  9. "Strauss & Co, 11 October 2010, Lot 147".

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