Buffels (CW3)

Abstract

This report entails available historical information on Buffels estuary and abiotic and biotic characteristics found in the estuary are presented. Although the Buffels River has a relatively large catchment compared with most other major rivers of the Cape Province (8th largest catchment in the Cape) it only flows into the sea at times of exceptionally high rainfall. The reasons for this are that the major part of the catchments lays between the 100-200 mm mean annual isohyets and that the geological formation of the river basin is such that it forms two large aquifers which absorb much of the river flow. The presence of one of these aquifers at the mouth of the Buffels River provides fresh water and thus allowed for the development of the Kleinsee mining settlement.