Piekenierskloof Pass is a mountain pass that is part of the N7 national road, running south of Citrusdal in the mountains west of the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa.
| Piekenierskloof Pass | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 519m |
| Traversed by | N7 |
| Location | Citrusdal, South Africa |
| Range | Olifants River Mountains |
History
editThe first known route through the pass as a bridle path was in 1660.[1] Jan Dankaert crossed the pass with the help of Khoi who showed him the route.[2]: 9 His expedition was followed in 1662 by Pieter Cruythoff using oxen and wagon.[2]: 9 The name came from the pikemen (lancers equipped with pikes) posted in the area by the Dutch East India Company to protect farmers from Khoikhoi raids.[1] A farm was established near the pass and was called Piquinier's Kloof.[1]
Thomas Charles John Bain built the first road there in 1858, a gravel route and was named Grey's Pass after the governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Grey.[1] He started in February 1857 on the western approach with 220 convicts, ignoring the existing route at the time through the pass.[2]: 11 The western approach opened at the end of 1857 and by July 1858, the pass was completed.[2]: 11 It was officially opened on 17 November 1858.[2]: 11
In 1939, a decision was made to build a new road over the pass.[1] World War Two ended the construction and planning and building resumed in 1957 with the existing route completed in 1958 and renamed the Piekenierskloof Pass.[1]
Route
editThe pass peaks at 519 m above sea level and has a maximum grade of 1:16.[3][4]
See also
editSources
edit- Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, vol 8. Cape Town: Nasou, 1973. ISBN 0-625-00324-1
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Ross, Graham (January 1994). "Part 7: Greys Pass/Piekenierskloof Pass". Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese. 1994 (10): 31–32. hdl:10520/AJA10212019_18203 – via Sabinet.
- ^ a b c d e Ross, Graham (July 2004). Romance of Cape Mountain Passes. New Africa Books. ISBN 978-0-86486-663-9.
- ^ Erasmus, B.P.J. (1995). Op Pad in Suid-Afrika. Jonathan Ball Publishers. ISBN 1-86842-026-4.
- ^ Du Plessis, Jéan; Hopkins, Pat; Olivier, Willie; Slabbert, Denise (2010). Padlangs deur Suid-Afrika. Cape Town: Struik Travel & Heritage. ISBN 978-1-77007-751-5.