The Naukluft Mountains and their Tufa Cascades

Abstract

The Naukluft Mountains occur on the western edge of the interior highlands and form part of the Great Escarpment. The dissolution of ancient carbonate rocks within these mountains, has caused streams draining the area to be heavily charged with dissolved calcium carbonate. As a result, large accumulations of freshwater calcium carbonate have been produced at points within the channel, often forming impressive cascades and barrages. These are known as tufa or travertine deposits, and their formation is often mediated and influenced by plants and microbes growing within the streams.