Spion Kop ( , ; “Lookout Mountain”, ) is a mountain in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. It is located near the town of
Ladysmith, 27 km to the WSW and about 2.5 km to the north of the
Spioenkop Dam
Spioenkop Dam impounds the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal. It is located within a nature reserve by the same name. The dam was commissioned in 1972, has a capacity of , and a surface area of , the dam wall is high. Spion Kop (hill) is located 2. ...
, a reservoir for the waters of the
Tugela River
The Tugela River (; ) is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. With a total length of , and a drop of 1370 metres in the lower 480 km, it is one of the most important rivers of the country.
The river originates in M ...
.
History
This mountain has historical significance. Its hilltop was the site of the
Battle of Spion Kop
The Battle of Spion Kop (; ) was a military engagement between British forces and two Boer Republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, during the campaign by the British to relieve the besieged city Ladysmith during the ...
(one of the most important battles of the
Boer Wars
The military history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers civil wars and wars of aggression and of self-defence both within South Africa and against it. It i ...
) from 23 to 24 January 1900. near the
Tugela River
The Tugela River (; ) is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. With a total length of , and a drop of 1370 metres in the lower 480 km, it is one of the most important rivers of the country.
The river originates in M ...
,
Natal
NATAL or Natal may refer to:
Places
* Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil
* Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa
** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843)
** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
Spion Kop Nature Reserve is located beneath the southern side of this mountain.
Spion Kop Nature Reserve
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See also
*Battle of Spion Kop
The Battle of Spion Kop (; ) was a military engagement between British forces and two Boer Republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, during the campaign by the British to relieve the besieged city Ladysmith during the ...
*Spion Kop Battlefield Memorials
The Battle of Spion Kop, Spion Kop Battlefield, graves and memorials are maintained by Heritage KZN. The battlefield was proclaimed as a Provincial heritage site (South Africa) , heritage landmark in 1978. The site is open to the public and an ove ...
*Spioenkop Dam
Spioenkop Dam impounds the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal. It is located within a nature reserve by the same name. The dam was commissioned in 1972, has a capacity of , and a surface area of , the dam wall is high. Spion Kop (hill) is located 2. ...
*Spion Kop (stadiums)
Spion Kop (or the Kop for short) is a colloquial name or term for a number of single-tier terraces and stands at sports stadiums, particularly in the United Kingdom. The steep nature resembles the Spion Kop, a hill near Ladysmith, South Afric ...
* SAS Spioenkop (F147) - a Valour-class frigate of the South African Navy
The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force.
The Navy is primarily engaged in maintaining a conventional military deterrent, participating in counter-piracy operations, fishery prote ...
References
External links
Fun Things To Do in Province of KwaZulu-NatalThe Battlefields Route
Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal
{{KwaZuluNatal-geo-stub