November 18, 2014

Sutherland Sky: Part VII – Scenes from the Cape Fold Belt

Posted by Evelyn Mervine

Cape Fold Belt #1.

Cape Fold Belt #1. Approaching the belt from Cape Town.

At long last, I’m finishing up my series of posts about my October 2013 visit to the small town of Sutherland in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. Sutherland is home to a South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) research station that contains many telescopes, including the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). You can read Part I of this series here, Part II of this series here, Part III of this series here, Part IV of this series here, Part V of this series here, and Part VI of this series here. In my previous posts, I blogged about the astronomical observatory, and I also discussed the Dwyka Diamictite rock that I observed along the road to Sutherland. In this final post, I’d like to share some views of the stunning Cape Fold Belt, which we drove through on our way from Cape Town to Sutherland.

I can’t believe that it’s taken me over a year to finish up this series of posts. I’ve certainly been neglecting my geology blogging this year! However, I’ve had an extremely busy year. I started a new job then 8 months later I was promoted into another new job. So, I’ve been trying to find my feet in my new work environment. I also spent 10 weeks working at sea and was busy with other travel, both for work and for personal reasons. In any case, I’m hoping that the rest of the year will be a little quieter so that I can catch up on my blogging backlog. Then, in the New Year, I’d like to resurrect the Geology Word of the Week. 

For now, though, enjoy these beautiful views of the Cape Fold Belt:

Cape Fold Belt #2. Driving into the belt.

Cape Fold Belt #2. Driving into the belt and looking back at some winelands.

Cape Fold Belt #3. The Huegonot Tunnel through one of the belt's mountains.

Cape Fold Belt #3. The Huguenot Tunnel through the Du Toitskloof Mountains.

Cape Fold Belt #4.

Cape Fold Belt #4.

Cape Fold Belt #5.

Cape Fold Belt #5. There’s some folding!

Cape Fold Belt #6. Emerging into the winelands near Robertson.

Cape Fold Belt #6. Emerging into the winelands near Robertson.

Cape Fold Belt #7. Vines and misty mountains.

Cape Fold Belt #7. Vines and misty mountains.

Cape Fold Belt #8.

Cape Fold Belt #8.

Cape Fold Belt #9. Uplift!

Cape Fold Belt #9. Stunning tilted mountains.

Cape Fold Belt #10.

Cape Fold Belt #10. A roadcut through tilted rocks.

Cape Fold Belt #11.

Cape Fold Belt #11. More beautiful winelands.

Cape Fold Belt #12.

Cape Fold Belt #12.

Cape Fold Belt #13.

Cape Fold Belt #13.

Cape Fold Belt #14.

Cape Fold Belt #14.

Cape Fold Belt #15.

Cape Fold Belt #15.

Cape Fold Belt #16.

Cape Fold Belt #16.

Cape Fold Belt #17.

Cape Fold Belt #17.

Cape Fold Belt #19.

Cape Fold Belt #18.

Cape Fold Belt #19.

Cape Fold Belt #19.

Cape Fold Belt #20.

Cape Fold Belt #20.

Cape Fold Belt #21.

Cape Fold Belt #21.