general information

The air in the mountains is compared to champagne - this was invented by the locals because of the breezes that blow through the tops of this unusual formation. Many peaks exceed 3,000 m in height, and streams and rivers cut through them, forming incredibly spectacular canyons.

More than 40,000 drawings have been preserved in the caves among the rocks, made here by the most ancient people of hunters and gatherers who lived in this area more than 8,000 years ago. The drawings depict dances, hunting and battles, as well as the almost mythical relationship 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 everything 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.

Panorama of the Dragon Mountains

These places are said to have inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous Lord of the Rings.

This mountainous area is actively developing tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites with full service and provided guides and guides are very handy. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. The restless will go through the 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 traveling, horseback riding, bird watching. Even golf and fishing are provided.

DRAGON MOUNTAINS

dragon mountains

in Yuzh. Africa; SOUTH AFRICA. In the language of one of the local tribes, these are the Kwathlamba mountains - "rocky place", "heap of rocks". The Boers for their inaccessibility and wildness called them Drakensberg - "dragon mountains".

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

DRAGON MOUNTAINS

mountains in the south. Africa. The height is up to 3482 m. They are composed of sandstones covered with basalts, table peaks are characteristic. Heavily destroyed, divided into plateaus. Wet east. the slopes are covered with heavily cut tropical forests, dry app. - savannas. Above - mountain meadows and stony placers.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Dragon mountains

(Drakensberg), in Yuzh. Africa (South Africa), cut off to the coast of the Indian Ocean (part. Bol. ledge). Length approx. 550 km, width approx. 250 km. To the west they pass into the High Plateau Weld . Composed of strata of sandstones and shales overlain by basalt covers. Avg. height approx. 2000 m, the highest points of Katkin Peak (3660 m) and Thabana-Ntlenyana (3482 m). The flat tops are separated by gorges, at the bottom of which the crystalline rocks of the ancient foundation are exposed. On the coast in the ancient beach placers in the hall area. Richards Bay, etc., there is a deposit of titanium-zirconium sands, the largest in Africa. The climate is subtropical and tropical. Southeast the trade wind brings to the east. slopes a large amount of precipitation (up to 2000 mm per year). Rainforests (podocarpus and other trees entwined with lianas, epiphytes) have been preserved here in some places. On the leeward slopes up to a height of 1200 m - savannah, above them thorny bushes, succulents (aloe, etc.). Above 1500–2000 m - alpine meadows, stony placers.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Dragon mountains

in South Africa, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, mainly in South Africa. Length OK. 550 km. To the west they pass into the High Veld Plateau. Part of the Great Scarp (the uplifted edge of the African Platform). They are composed of a thick layer of Permian-Triassic sandstones and shales interbedded with basalt covers. The highest points of Katkin Peak (3660 m) and Thabana-Ntlenyana (3482 m). Flat tops are dissected by gorges. Precipitation up to 1000–2000 mm per year, Ch. arr. to the east mountain slopes. Average monthly temperature in winter 15–18 ° C, in summer 23–26 ° C. To the east mountain slopes up to 1200 m in places rain (barrier) tropical forests have been preserved from clearings. On the leeward slopes up to 1200 m - savannah, higher - thorny shrubs, succulents (aloe, etc.). At the height more than 1500–2000 m - alpine meadows, stony placers.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

See what "DRAGON MOUNTAINS" is in other dictionaries:

English Dragon s mountain, Afrikaans Drakensberg, Zulu uKhahlamba, Sesotho Maluti or Maloti ... Wikipedia

Modern Encyclopedia

In southeast Africa, part of the Great Escarpment. Altitude up to 3482 m. Tropical forests on the eastern slopes, savannahs and bushes in the west. Above are mountain meadows, stone placers ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Exist., number of synonyms: 1 mountain system (62) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

dragon mountains- DRAKONOVY MOUNTAINS, in the southeast of Africa, mainly in South Africa, part of the Great Escarpment. Height up to 3482 m (Mount Thabana Ntlenyana). Table tops and steeply sloping stepped plateaus are characteristic. Serve as a watershed between short rivers pool ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

dragon mountains- in Yuzh. Africa; SOUTH AFRICA. In the language of one of the local tribes, these are the Kwathlamba mountains, a rocky place, a heap of rocks. The Boers, for their inaccessibility and wildness, called them Drakensberg dragon mountains ... Toponymic Dictionary

In southeast Africa, part of the Great Escarpment. Altitude up to 3482 m. On the eastern slopes of tropical forests, on the western savannas and thickets of shrubs. Above mountain meadows, stone placers. * * * DRAGON MOUNTAINS DRAGON MOUNTAINS (Afrikaans Prakensberg;… … encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Bursk. Drakensberg) mountains in the southeast of Africa, from the river. Sabi in the north to the river. Great Cay in the south, part of the Rogers ledge, or Great Ledge (see Large Ledge). In the middle part, they include the eastern outskirts of the Lesotho highlands with the largest in the entire South ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

dragon mountains- The Orange River in the Dragon Mountains. SOUTH AFRICA. Drakensberg Mountains (Afrikaans Drakensberg), mountains in southeast Africa, from the river. Sabi in the north to the river. Great Cay in the south; part of the Rogers ledge, or. In the middle part, they include the eastern outskirts of the Basuto highlands with ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"

dragon mountains- (Drakensberg Mountains) Drakensberg Mountains, a mountain range near the south. edge of the South African plateau, stretching for 1,126 km from northeast to southwest through Lesotho and the South African provinces of Natal, Orange, and Transvaal. highest peak mountain… … Countries of the world. Dictionary

Dragon Mountains (South Africa) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

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Dragon Mountains would be a worthy background for another magical epic about trolls, dwarves and hobbits, because here every stone, waterfall, ledge, rock or mountain peak says that no, it’s not so beautiful in life - you are in a fairy tale! No wonder the name of this mountain system, located on the territory of two countries at once - South Africa and dwarf Lesotho, the corresponding one is mystical, romantic. Of course, there were also legends about the fire-breathing snake, which the Bushmen allegedly saw in the 19th century. But in fact, the Dragon Mountains got such an epic name thanks to the eternal haze in which their dizzying peaks are hidden (they say these are puffs of steam that a real dragon releases from its nostrils, hiding from prying prying eyes).

Stretching for 1000 km, the Dragon Mountains are full of minerals (platinum, manganese, gold, coal and tin) and rare representatives of flora and fauna. Moreover, the rarest endemics grow here, which are not found anywhere else in the world. But the main wealth of this place is fabulous views, fantastic panoramas, the enchanting power and beauty of nature. It is no coincidence that part of the Dragon Mountains, which is included in national park Drakensberg is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

It's amazing what kind of landscapes are not found on the territory of this mountain system - and tropical "rain" forests that cover the slopes up to a height of 1200 m, and thickets of thorny bushes, acacias and aloe, and mountain meadows with stone placers at altitudes of 1500 m and on to the clouds. It is interesting that this monumental mountain range is covered with snow in winter, and this despite the proximity of the warm Indian Ocean all year round. Such a variety of landscapes will make your head spin.

Such rich lands, of course, could not go unnoticed by a person - the Bushmen tribes inhabited the Dragon Mountains from time immemorial. To be more precise, the rock paintings of up to 35 thousand copies found in the mountains date back no less than 100 thousand years ago. There is especially a lot of such rock art in the Giants Castle reserve, which is in the south of the Dragon Mountains, near the border with Lesotho.

The Dragon Mountains got such an epic name thanks to the eternal haze in which their dizzying peaks are hidden. They say that these are puffs of steam that a mighty dragon releases from its nostrils, hiding from curious prying eyes.

Drakensberg

Popular attractions of the Dragon Mountains are all kinds of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and reserves, rich in antelopes, baboons, small predators and a host of bird species. At the same time, the most popular place among tourists is the national park with the unpronounceable name Ukashlamba-Drakensberg. It is located just a few hours drive from Durban and is famous for its many picturesque corners, as well as excellent lodges, hostels and campsites where you can relax in the bosom of nature in comfort.

Pay attention and the famous waterfall Tugela, which reaches a height of 948 meters and consists of as many as five cascades.

In the vast world of the magical Dragon Mountains, there is a lot of entertainment for tourists - and cozy wooden terraces of lodges, where you can enjoy birds singing with a glass of excellent brandy, and all kinds of guided walking or horseback riding along marked routes, and trout fishing in local lakes, and helicopter flights, and the opportunity to play golf on the emerald fields.

Address: Ukahlamba Drakensberg (Ukashlamba-Drakensberg), Mkhomazi Wilderness area.

How to get there: the easiest way is from Durban by car or as part of an excursion group.

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

The Dragon Mountains are a mountain range in South Africa famous for their unique origin and unusual shapes with "cut" peaks and sharp rocky peaks. Tourists fly to this unusual corner of the world to admire the beauty of pristine nature, plunge into the atmosphere of the Stone Age, studying the culture of ancient peoples, and enjoy the popular view active rest in these places - pony trekking.

Where are the Dragon Mountains located?

The Dragon Mountains are 1100 km long and cover the territory of three countries: South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland. Average Height mountains are estimated at 2000 m, and maximum height reaches the top of Thabana-Ntlenyana at around 3482 m. Most of the mountains are covered by three nature reserves:

• the Drakensberg National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
• Royal Natal National Park;
• natural Park"Golden Gate Highlands", known 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 translates as “rocky place” or “heap of rocks”, “barrier of spears”.

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

1. According to ancient beliefs, an unknown monster lives in these places - a dragon that was seen local residents in the 19th century.
2. At the top of the mountain, at any time of the year, smoke swirls, which is very similar to the steam released from the dragon's nostrils.
3. The peaks of the mountains, consisting of peaks, outwardly resemble the ridge of a mythical creature, so the ancient peoples, namely the Boers, called these places that way.

What to do and see in the Dragon Mountains?

In these places there is something for tourists with a 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. As entertainment, tourists are offered:

1. Hiking or equestrian tourism (pony trekking). Duration of hikes - one or more days, including overnight stays in rocky caves.
2. An exciting helicopter or hot air balloon ride with a view beautiful scenery bird's-eye.
3. Off-road safari.
4. Group or individual rafting on mountain rivers (rafting).
5. Fishing (trout is found here).
6. Golf game.

Landscapes and views

The Dragon Mountains are famous for their beautiful views and landscapes that open up from the peaks. Fascinating paintings paint soft carpets of dense evergreen trees and waterfalls combined with bare cliffs and rocks. Climbing to the top, you can even see the clouds under your feet.

A popular tourist destination is the "Amphitheater" - a natural rock ledge, which is formed by a high 500-meter wall in the shape of a sickle, 5 km long.

In the Royal Natal park, the attention of tourists is attracted by a unique landscape of 8 km of sheer cliffs, which opens when 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 in the world.

The paradise valley of Ndedema is famous, striking 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 Dragon Mountains that inspired John Tolkien to write his trilogy "The Lord of the Rings", which received worldwide recognition and fame.

Flora and fauna

The climate of the Drakensberg Mountains is different in different parts of it, which affects the diversity of flora and fauna. In the east, a humid tropical climate prevails, 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 savannahs, covered mostly 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 with alpine vegetation, recognized by the World Center for Endemism. Here you can meet such endangered species of birds as the bearded vulture, bald ibis, yellow-breasted pipit, Cape hyphae. Of the rare mammals, one can distinguish the oribi antelope, white rhinoceros, Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest. In total, more than 250 species of various animals live on the territory of the Dragon Mountains.

Historical Legacy of the Dragon Mountains

These mountain ranges for many years it was 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 Dragon Mountains is the cave settlements with rock paintings of the ancient Bushmen, who lived 8000 years ago. These places are considered unique, as the images are surprisingly well preserved, and the stories amaze with the richness of the fantasy of the San peoples. Bushmen depicted ritual dances, hunting, battles, fragments of everyday life. There are about 600 such places where the ancient peoples left their mark, in total, more than 40,000 drawings have been found on the territory of the Dragon Mountains.

How to get there?

The Dragon Mountains in Lesotho are a very popular tourist attraction; almost no trip to the country can do without an excursion to them. South Africa. Tourists are offered a variety of types of entertainment, recreation in campgrounds 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 excursions, accompanied by experienced tourists. The transfer is usually organized from the cities of Johannesburg, Durban in South Africa. You can get there by car. To do this, follow highway No. 3 to Harrismith, then follow the signs towards Natal Park. Travel time is about 3 hours.

The Dragon Mountains are the highest mountain range in Africa. The most high point mountains is located in Lesotho and reaches 3482 meters above sea level. Most of the mountains are made up of basalt. They got their name because of the numerous ravines, ridges, caves and ledges.

The Dragon Mountains are a popular tourist destination due to clean air, remoteness from civilization, numerous waterfalls and rich flora and fauna. Since 2000, the Dragon Mountains Park has been listed World Heritage UNESCO.

The mountains are located between the provinces of Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. Therefore, the Dragon Mountains are usually divided into two types, these are Natal and Transvaal.

The northern part includes an impressive amphitheater, an eight-kilometer almost vertical stone wall, the height of which reaches 1000 meters. Of the highest peaks, it is worth noting: Tabala-Ntlenyana at 3482 meters, Champagne Castle at 3377 meters, Monk Cole at 3234 meters and Katkin Peak at 3181 meters.

The southern part is much less developed, but no less interesting, since there are nature reserves with rare animals. The highest peak in the southern part of the mountains is Sani Pass with an altitude of 2874 meters above sea level, which offers a magnificent view of the surrounding regions, and thanks to this it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.

Story

Mountains arose during the Jurassic period about 180 million years ago. The main reason for the appearance of mountains is considered to be volcanic activity that took place at that time. Because of this, in the mountains and at mountainous areas located a large number of basalt.

The Dragon Mountains are known for their numerous rock paintings. According to rough estimates, there are about 600 places with rock art on the territory of the mountains. As a rule, access to such drawings is quite difficult to obtain.

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