Nqweba Dam

Nqweba Dam (previously known as Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam), is an earth-fill type dam located on the Sundays River in the Camdeboo National Park, in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Nqweba (org. van Ryneveld's Pass Dam)
Location of Nqweba (org. van Ryneveld's Pass Dam) in Eastern Cape Show map of Eastern Cape Nqweba Dam (South Africa) Show map of South Africa
Official name	Nqweba Dam
Country	South Africa
Location	Camdeboo National Park, Graaff-Reinet
Coordinates	32°14′08″S 24°31′40″E
Construction began	1920 (1920)
Opening date	July 14, 1925; 99 years ago (1925-07-14)
Operator(s)	Department of Water and Sanitation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	earth-fill
Impounds	Sondags River
Height	46 m
Length	357 m
Reservoir
Creates	Nqweba Dam Reservoir
Total capacity	46 369 000 m³
Catchment area	3 668 km2
Surface area	1 028.5 ha

It was opened in 1925. The dam has a capacity of 46,369,000 cubic metres (1.6375×10⁹ cu ft), and a surface area of 10.285 square kilometres (3.971 sq mi), the wall is 46 metres (151 ft), and is 357 metres (1,171 ft) long. Once an irrigation dam, it now mainly serves to supply potable water for domestic and industrial use to the residents and businesses of Graaff-Reinet. Its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).

Etymology

The new name given in 2001, Nqweba, means "meeting place" in Xhosa.^[1]

Gallery

• 
  Dam wall
• 
• 
  Plaque

See also

• List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa

References

1. "Construction of Graaff-Reinet's Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam Wall (1920-1925) - Three photographic collections present a historic engineering narrative | The Heritage Portal". www.theheritageportal.co.za. Retrieved 10 March 2023.

• List of South African Dams from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (South Africa)