Dragon mountains on the map. Map of dragon mountains with cities

Have you flown over the mountains? And now I will tell you the history of these places.

Drakensberg (Drakensberg)– the highest mountain range in the territory South Africa. African people The Zulus call it Ukhahlamba, i.e. barrier of copies.

The fabulous name of the mountains has several versions of origin. Of course, there was also the banal presence of a dragon, or rather a huge lizard with the tail and wings of a dragon, which local residents allegedly saw in the 19th century. Another version of the name is the presence of haze that comes from the bottom and hides the tops of the mountains. Huge clouds of smoke create the feeling that none other than a dragon is emitting them from the nostrils.

But still, there is something truly fabulous in the Drakensberg Mountains, namely their beauty. The spirit of antiquity hovers here. The caves of the Drakensberg Mountains are famous for their rock art. About 35 thousand ancient rock paintings are stored in this mysterious place. The most amazing and fascinating thing is the years of life of the drawings - some of them were created over 100 thousand years. There are especially many of them in the Giants Castle nature reserve, which is listed in the World Heritage book. The uniqueness of rock paintings lies not only in their antiquity and its preservation, but also in the variety of subjects. The territory of the Drakensberg Mountains is famous for another attraction - the second highest in the world, the 947-meter Tugela Falls.

A huge number of battles took place in the Drakensberg Mountains. For several centuries, great battles took place here, which largely changed the course of the history of this country. The fields where battles took place several centuries ago, namely the sites of the Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars, are a particularly relevant place for excursions.

A significant part of the Drakensberg Mountains is occupied by nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. The most visited of them is the Royal Natal National Park. The slope, located on the south side of the park, is a natural rock step that stretches for 8 km. An extraordinary landscape appears before you when you look at the rocky step from below.

The mountains are divided into two parts: the hilly, densely grassed expanses of Natal and the part of the Orange Province and Southern Transvaal, located above the other hills. The high, empty and bare mountains of Basotho are very reminiscent of the mountains of Ethiopia.

A significant part of the Drakensberg territory is occupied by endless highlands, covered with a thick blanket of grass. Unfortunately, at present, due to human intervention, the original landscapes have hardly been preserved anywhere.

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“Roof of Africa” - this is the name acquired by the highlands with steep slopes on one side and gentle slopes on the other. The steep slopes, which usually reach a thousand meters in height, are often hit by winds from the Indian Ocean. Creates them and brings them here a large number of precipitation. This is where they begin their journey wild rivers, flowing to the east. Washing away upper layer soil, they carry it into Indian Ocean, thereby accelerating the erosion process. A significant amount of water is found in the Orange River, which flows west into the Atlantic Ocean. At one time, erosion overtook the huge cliffs of the Basuto plateau, and now it appearance- these are bare rocks several hundred meters high that drop down to a grassy foothill.

Bearded eagles live on the plateau. They build large nests on rocks, lining them with wool, hair, and food debris. On mountain pastures, the main food of bearded vultures consists of dead sheep. Another bird of which the last specimens live in this mountainous region is the ibis. This is an amazing, bright green bird with a red patch on the top of its head. Unlike other species of ibis, which live mainly in marshes (except for the rock ibis), this one builds nests on high rocks, like an eagle. The ibis gets its food in the lowlands and flies north for the winter - to countries with temperate climate.
In the eastern part of the highlands there is almost no pristine nature, and only the beautiful reserves at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains give an idea of ​​what this land looked like before people settled it. In former times the grassy areas of Natal abounded big amount animals that were exterminated before the arrival of Europeans. The white-faced hartebeest lives in reserves and national parks, which was completely destroyed and later reintroduced here. Bubals need to be fed from time to time, because they were moved from the lowlands, and they have not yet adapted to living conditions in rocky areas.

Pristine nature, which is practically non-existent in the eastern part of the highlands, is preserved only at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains. Only here can you understand what the earth looked like before civilization visited it. The territory of Natal today is very different from what it was several centuries ago. A huge number of animals lived in Natalie's grassy area, which were subsequently exterminated before the arrival of Europeans.

The Drakensberg Mountains are a real historical complex, imbued with the spirit of antiquity. It is not surprising that the Drakensberg is recognized as one of the most popular tourist destinations, visited by about two million tourists every year.

Many birds migrate from the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, where very harsh winters, on the coast. These include demoiselle crane, bustard and numerous songbirds. The demoiselle crane is very handsome and has light grey-blue plumage. It is found everywhere in South Africa. Previously, many large animals moved to areas with a temperate climate for the winter, but today this has become impossible: numerous wire fences with which people surround their plots block their path. Therefore, only those animals that can survive the winter have survived in the foothills.

The eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains are characterized by grassy cover with small areas of forest on the lower slopes. Due to frequent fires, trees and undergrowth are destroyed. There is no consensus among ecologists regarding the benefits of fires. Fires, in addition to destroying trees, contribute to soil erosion on steep slopes, with them all valuable nitrogen and most of the organic matter contained in grass. If the grass is not burned, it turns into an inedible mixture of dead stems and straws with very low nutritional qualities, almost unsuitable for both livestock, and for wild animals. Therefore, they are trying to find a compromise in which burning grass would not cause too much harm. great harm. But erosion still cannot be avoided.

In the past, countless herds of wild animals lived in the valleys of the Drakensberg Mountains, more than anywhere else on Earth, even more than live today in the whole East Africa. There lived white-tailed wildebeest, kongoni, savannah zebra, quagga, white-faced hartebeest, millions of springboks, vast herds of which moved in search of food and water. There were often tens of millions of springboks moving around at the same time. The Boers called such animal migrations "trek". The last such migration was recorded in 1896: a dense herd of more than 50 million animals disappeared towards the Orange River and never reappeared. In the first decades of settlement of these areas by the British and Dutch, huge numbers of herbivores were shot for their skins and meat. But there remain a large number of small animals in which people show no interest, and those whose natural enemies were destroyed.

Larks and other birds that nest on the ground today no longer have any enemies, since jackals have been exterminated, wild cats, predator birds. For some mammals and birds, people have improved conditions by creating numerous small dams that provide water even during the dry season. The number of waterbirds has especially increased. Thousands of ducks and geese live today in places where they never existed before. This is an African duck with original yellow beak, Egyptian goose, spurred goose... Some of them can be found in East Africa - in Ethiopia, but not in such numbers. The number of herons, cormorants, ibises and rails has increased. Many northern birds spend the winter here.

The thoughtless invasion of animal life has given rise to new problems: in some areas, the number of spurred geese has reached such proportions that grain fields are under serious threat. The weaver bird, the red-billed quelia, has become such a scourge on wheat fields that millions of these birds have to be shot every year. This entire area is an example of the irresponsible actions of man invading nature.

The beauty of protected areas lies not only in the uniqueness of the wild animals inhabiting them - surrounding nature Surprisingly picturesque, the rocky area impresses with the variety of landscapes. Inaccessible cliffs, steep cliffs, caves and mountain gorges along with alpine meadows, crystal lakes and river valleys full of charm. Even the spoiled one natural beauties The traveler will be impressed by the thundering waterfalls in the Cathedral Peak and Catkin Peak areas.
Beautiful natural Park Ukashlamba-Drakensberg is located close to the provincial capital, Durban - just a few hours' drive and you're in another world. The park has cozy mountain houses and comfortable hostels to accommodate tourists. You can relax, sitting on the veranda and sipping brandy, and enjoy the splendor of the scenery. Or take a walking or horseback ride along one of the specially designed routes, and then natural landscapes will appear before you in all their amazing diversity. Or maybe you will be lucky enough to see a large herd of eland! Like any forest antelope, the eland is shy. But on protected areas Where it is calm and safe, animals are less careful. It's a funny sight when a herd sets out for a new pasture - a group of running antelopes resembles a cavalry troop on the march. Young antelopes are capable of developing such good speed that they often run away even from a jeep racing off-road.

Well, then, having had enough of both nature reserves and places of military glory, you can find many other activities, since the developed tourism industry of the Drakensberg Mountains offers an unlimited choice. Trout fishing in lakes and reservoirs, breathtaking helicopter rides, excellent golf courses and tennis courts, souvenir shops and numerous benches, musical evenings...

It is here that you can hear the performance of the renowned boys' choir, the Drakensberg Boys Choir, known to music lovers around the world.

An excursion to the small town of Bulwer, lost somewhere among the mountains, may seem interesting - there is a unique church built of yellow wood. Yellow tree grows only in the Republic of South Africa; its wood costs a lot of money at international auctions. One can only guess how much the church itself is valued at - why not check with the tour guide?

general information

The air in the mountains is compared to champagne - this was invented by local residents because of the breezes that blow through the peaks of this unusual formation. Many peaks exceed 3000 m in height, and streams and rivers cut through them, creating incredibly spectacular canyons.

More than 40,000 drawings made here have been preserved in the caves among the rocks. ancient people hunters and gatherers who lived in this area more than 8,000 years ago. The drawings depict dancing, hunting and battles, as well as the almost mythical relationships that the representatives of this people maintained with the animals living here.

The goal of many travelers in these mountains is the paradise valley - Ndedema. The view of the Ndedema Gorge surpasses anything seen before - the mighty mountain seems to be cut in half by a deep neck. One part of it is completely covered with forest, while the other is completely bare.

It is said that it was these places that inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous Lord of the Rings.

This mountainous region is actively developing tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites with full service and provided guides and guides are very useful. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. Those who are restless will go along picturesque passes and mountain valleys, accompanied by local guides; and their luggage will be carried on the backs of smart and unpretentious ponies.

There is unique opportunities for travel, horse riding, bird watching. Even golfing and fishing are provided.

• Height above sea level: 3,482 m;
• Highest point: Thabana-Ntlenyana (Lesotho);
• Countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland.

The Drakensberg Mountains are a mountain range in South Africa famous for its unique origins and unusual shapes with “cut off” peaks and sharp rocky peaks. Tourists fly to this unusual corner world to admire the beauty of pristine nature, plunge into the atmosphere of the Stone Age, studying the culture of ancient peoples, and engage in popular sports active rest in these places - trekking on a pony.

Where are the Drakensberg Mountains?

The Drakensberg Mountains are 1,100 km long and span three countries: South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland. The average height of the mountains is estimated at 2000 m, and maximum height The peak of Thabana-Ntlenyana reaches 3482 m. Most of the mountain territory is covered by three nature reserves:

• national park The Drakensberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
• Royal Natal National Park;
• Golden Gate Highlands Nature Park, famous as the “Golden Gate” because of the unusual glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset.

In the Zulu language, the name of the mountains sounds like “Kwathlamba”, and is translated as “rocky place” or “pile of rocks”, “barrier of spears”.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the Drakensberg Mountains:

1. According to ancient beliefs, an unknown monster lives in these places - a dragon, which was noticed by local residents in the 19th century.
2. At the top of the mountain, at any time of the year, smoke billows out, which is very similar to the steam released by a dragon from its nostrils.
3. The tops of mountains, consisting of peaks, look like a ridge mythical creature, that’s why the ancient peoples, namely the Boers, called these places that way.

What to do and see in the Drakensberg Mountains?

In these places there is something for tourists with a wide variety of preferences and everyone will be satisfied. Dragon Mountain attracts with its unique landscape, unusually beautiful landscapes, special flora and fauna with rare endangered species of plants and animals, ancient rock paintings that have been preserved for thousands of years. For entertainment, tourists are offered:

1. Hiking or horseback riding (pony trekking). The duration of the hikes is one or several days, including overnight stays in rocky caves.
2. Exciting helicopter ride or hot-air balloon with review beautiful scenery bird's-eye.
3. Off-road safari.
4. Group or individual alloys according to mountain rivers(rafting).
5. Fishing (trout are found here).
6. Playing golf.

Landscapes and views

The Drakensberg Mountains are famous for the beautiful views and landscapes that can be seen from the peaks. The soft carpets of dense evergreen trees and waterfalls combined with bare cliffs and rocks paint mesmerizing pictures. Once you reach the top, you can even see the clouds under your feet.

Popular tourist place is the “Amphitheater” - a natural rock ledge, which is formed by a high 500-meter wall in the shape of a sickle with a length of 5 km.

In the Royal Natal Park, the attention of tourists is attracted by the unique landscape of steep cliffs 8 km long, which opens up if you look at them from the bottom up.

Also nearby you can see very beautiful waterfall"Tugela" with a height of 948 m, consisting of 5 cascades. This waterfall is the second highest on the entire planet.

Famous is the paradise valley of Ndedema, which amazes with its unusual beauty. Its peculiarity is that it is divided by a gorge into two parts, one of which is a lush green spot of tropical trees, and the other is completely naked.

It was the landscapes of the Drakensberg Mountains that inspired John Tolkien to write his trilogy “The Lord of the Rings,” which gained worldwide recognition and fame.

Flora and fauna

The climate of the Drakensberg Mountains differs in different parts of it, which affects the diversity of flora and fauna. In the east it is humid tropical climate, which causes the presence of dense greenery formed by trees and vines. In the west, it is a dry and windy climate, so the western slopes are represented by savannas, mostly covered with shrubs. The nature of the mountains at an altitude of more than 2000 meters is represented mainly by meadows and rocky steppes.

In the territory national park"Drakensberg" is a strip of alpine vegetation recognized World Center endemism. Here you can find such endangered bird species as the bearded vulture, the bald ibis, the yellow-breasted pipit, and the Cape hyphae. Rare mammals include the oribi antelope, white rhinoceros, Burchell's zebra, and black wildebeest. In total, more than 250 species of different animals live in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Historical heritage of the Drakensberg Mountains

For many years, these mountain ranges were the site of battles and battles that influenced the course of the history of South American lands. Therefore, excursions to places where in ancient times the local Zulus people fought with European colonialists for their freedom are very popular here, and later the famous Anglo-Boer War took place in these places.

The attraction of the Drakensberg Mountains are cave settlements with rock paintings of the ancient Bushmen peoples who lived 8,000 years ago. These places are considered unique, since the images are surprisingly well preserved, and the plots amaze with the richness of the imagination of the San people. Bushmen depicted ritual dances, hunting, battles, fragments Everyday life. There are about 600 such places where ancient peoples left their mark; in total, more than 40,000 drawings were discovered in the Drakensberg Mountains.

How to get there?

The Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho are a very popular tourist site, almost no trip to the countries of South Africa is complete without an excursion to them. Tourists are offered the most different types entertainment, relaxation in tent camps or cozy small hotels with excellent service and food. About 2 million tourists come here every year.

It is advisable to get to the mountains as part of organized groups and accompanied excursions. experienced tourists. Transfers are usually organized from the cities of Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa. You can get there on your own by car. To do this, follow Route 3 to the town of Harrismith, then follow the signs towards Natal Park. Travel time is about 3 hours.

The Drakensberg Mountains are amazing place in Southern Africa.

It’s actually very beautiful here: the landscape, the passes, the views from afar, internal features, which cannot be ignored during the walk.

The Drakensberg Mountains have become the center of plot development in the stories and works of a number of authors, including Russian-speaking ones.

The features of the Drakensberg Mountains can be briefly described in several positions:

• there are incredibly many attractions here that will not let the curious tourist get bored;
• The Drakensberg Mountains are a safe and stable place (no sudden surprises in the form of obstacles along the way);
• these are the largest mountains, and the mountain system in general throughout African continent;
• the most favorite activity of tourists is trekking, which is very popular here;
• It is difficult to get to altitudes between 1000 and 3000 meters above sea level because you need a permit. However, for those who manage to get it, the views from the mountains are incredible.

How did the Drakensberg Mountains appear?

The history of the appearance of mountains began about 150-200 million years ago. The Drakensberg Mountains were created according to a slightly different principle than is commonly believed in the case of most other mountain systems.

There are no plate junctions here, but the presence of once high seismological activity in the modern area is observed.

So, initially the mountains were formed due to the leakage of basalt, which covered the soil of South Africa for a long time.

Over time, water, of which there was a lot here, had a certain effect on the basalt.

As a result, the rocky Drakensberg Mountains were formed with a unique shape. A big role was played by sandstone, which was under the basalt in a very fragile state.

Its structure allowed it to form under the influence of other factors of high rocks, which gradually hardened.

The Bushmen and Zulus had a special relationship with the Drakensberg Mountains. They gave them different names, created rock paintings depicting the life of their modern life at that time.

Today there are various excursions within which you can visit unique places. Excursions involve traveling not only through the mountains, but also walking through caves where local residents lived many thousands of years ago.

The area that surrounds the Drakensberg Mountains is blessed with gorgeous plants. Those who appreciate the beauty of nature like to relax here - orchids grow almost everywhere, and they are truly unusual.

Where are the Drakensberg Mountains located?

To know how to see the mountains in person, you should understand that they are located on the territory of several states, the rules for receiving tourists and guests are different.

However, tourism that involves visiting the Drakensberg Mountains is possible in the following states:

• Free State;
• Kingdom of Lesotho;
• KwaZulu-Natal.

The food is also safe and tasty - local residents practice cooking dishes from different cuisines.

In general, the Drakensberg Mountains can be called a tourist area, although there is not a large flow of tourists, an influx of people during the season and problems with buying tickets or renting a hotel room. Various and inexpensive excursions are offered.

However, it is important to understand that a tourist will not be able to visit all the mountains and must choose.

Mount Mont-aux-Sources is considered a true dominant - it has a height of 3048 meters above sea level.

It’s beautiful everywhere here: both when walking along the mountain itself and on its top. The mountain is also beautiful from afar - in particular, in the Tugela River valley.

Sandstone, overlain by dark-colored basalt strata, forms the basis of the Drakensberg Mountains, and this also determines their completely unique plane. The peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa's highest mountain range, are divided by erosion into stepped plateaus with steep slopes.
The Drakensberg Mountains - with their flat tops - are incredibly beautiful, they are like no other mountain systems peace. The Drakensberg Mountains have evergreen forests. The climate and vegetation in different mountain regions differ sharply - on the eastern, windward slopes there is rainfall. heavy rainfall(rains up to 2000 mm per year), and the western, leeward slopes of the mountains are dry and sharply continental climate. In winter, snow falls on the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains. Moist, tropical "rain" forests with evergreen deciduous and coniferous trees and vines cover the eastern slopes with a smooth, high carpet, giving way to savannas and thickets of bushes to the west.
At an altitude of more than 2000 meters there are mountain meadows and stone placers.
Even when it's shining in the mountains bright sun, the mountain slopes are blown by strong, piercing winds. However, the wind is unable to stop the numerous romantic travelers who rise here to explore the ancient secrets of the mountains.
They say that when you get to the Drakensberg Mountains, you feel like you are at the origins human civilization. Long before coming here white man, people from the San tribe (Bushmen) left traces of their stay here in the form of rock paintings. Ritual hunting scenes, fragments from peaceful life - this ancient painting found in abundance in these mysterious mountains. The last group of Bushmen, the indigenous inhabitants of the Drakensberg Mountains, was seen in these places in 1878, since then no traces of Bushman life have been found here. However, thousands of rock paintings in numerous mountain caves will not let you forget about the former owners of the Drakensberg Mountains. The rock art of these places is recognized as unique not only because of its preservation, but also because of the variety of subjects.
For many kilometers of ascent in the mountains there is complete silence - the civilized world remains far below, and only the cries of antelopes from the valley and the hoarse, threatening voice of a baboon will remind you that you are not alone here. And also the constant rustle of the wind. And above the mountains, spreading their almost two-meter wings, vultures and mountain eagles soar.
As they climb, the landscape will constantly change - either a basalt amphitheater will appear before travelers, or a breathtaking view of a mountain valley will open from the cliff. Mysterious gorges, waterfalls, canyons and fields covered with unknown colorful flowers - all this makes the landscapes of the Drakensberg Mountains unique.
The goal of many travelers in these mountains is the paradise valley - Ndedema. The view of the Ndedema Gorge surpasses anything seen before - the mighty mountain seems to be cut in half by a deep neck. One part of it is completely covered with forest, while the other is completely bare.
It is said that it was these places that inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous “The Lord of the Rings”.
This mountainous region is actively developing tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites with full service and provided guides and guides are very useful. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. Those who are restless will go along picturesque passes and mountain valleys, accompanied by local guides; and their luggage will be carried on the backs of smart and unpretentious ponies.
There are unique opportunities for travel, horse riding, and bird watching. Even golfing and fishing are provided.
Drakensberg Mountains recognized world heritage UNESCO.