{{short description|Mountain range in the Western Cape region of South Africa}} {{Use South African English|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Groot Winterhoek | native_name = | image = {{multiple image | borders_on = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2 | image1 = Tulbagh WC ZA.jpg | alt1 = Winterhoek Mountains from the town of Tulbagh in Die Land van Waveren | image2 = Winterhoek Mountain Aerial view (from its west 5km away) - panoramio.jpg | alt2 = an aerial view of the mountains. | image3 = Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area 03.jpg | alt3 = Grootwinterhoek Peak, looming at 2077 m, above the northern Breede River Valley. | image4 = Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area 04.jpg | alt4 = | image5 = Groot Winterhoek rockpool.jpg | alt5 = | image6 = | alt6 = }} | image_caption = Top: Winterhoek Mountains from the town of Tulbagh in Die Land van Waveren. Mid left: an aerial view of the mountains. Mid right: rock formations in the Groot Winterhoek. Bottom left: hiking trail in the mountains. Bottom right: a rockpool in the mountains. | country_type = | country = South Africa | subdivision1_type = Region | geology = {{enum|Table Mountain sandstone}} | age = late Paleozoic | orogeny = Cape Fold Belt | area_km2 = 5526.06 | length_km = | length_orientation = | width_km = | width_orientation = | highest = Groot Winterhoek peak | elevation_m = 2077 | elevation_ref = <ref name="sav">{{Cite web |title=Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Western Cape |url=https://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/grootwinterhoek.php |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=www.sa-venues.com}}</ref> | prominence_m = 1188 | prominence_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=World Ribus – Southern Africa |url=https://worldribus.org/southern-africa/|access-date=2024-12-26 |website=World Ribus}}</ref> | listing = Ribu | coordinates = {{coord|33|01|48|S|19|06|17|E|format=dms|display=inline}} | range_coordinates = | range_coordinates_ref = | image_map = Groot Winterhoek area.png | map_caption = Area map of the Groot Winterhoek with the town of Tulbagh to its south and the Skoongesig Peak to its north. }} The '''Groot Winterhoek''' mountains are located in the Western Cape province of South Africa and are part of the Cape Fold Belt comprising a watershed area of {{cvt|552606| ha|acre sqkm sqmi}}.<ref name="water" /> They rise to a maximum height of 2077 m just north of the town of Tulbagh as Groot Winterhoek peak. The mountains are predominantly made up of Table Mountain sandstone.<ref name="sav"/> Up to 83% of the range is still classified as being in a natural state and up to 72% of the range is protected.<ref name="water">{{Cite web |title=Groot Winterhoek |url=https://water.cer.org.za/areas/groot-winterhoek |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=Water |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The towns of Saron and Porterville are located at the foot the mountain range's western side.
A plateau in the northern half of the mountains is accessible via the Dasklip Pass.
Mammals found in the range include klipspringer, grey rhebok, grysbok, Cape mountain leopard (''Felis leopardus'' var. ''melanotica'' ), caracal, African wild cat, mongoose, and genets.<ref name="sav"/> A wide range of indigenous plant species, such as Agathosma, Aspalathus linearis and various proteas (all of which are harvested commercially), naturally grow in the area.<ref name="sav"/> Common insects in the area include Black Mound Termites.
Examples of San rock art dating back 6000 years can be found throughout the mountains.<ref name="places">{{Cite web |title=Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area |url=https://www.places.co.za/html/groot-winterhoek.html |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=SA Places |language=en |archive-date=2021-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521075741/https://www.places.co.za/html/groot-winterhoek.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area== The '''Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area''', operated by CapeNature, comprises a conservation area of {{cvt|30608|ha|acre sqkm sqmi}}, and contains waterfalls, swimming holes, pristine rivers and mountain wilderness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/groot-winterhoek-wilderness-area/|title=Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area - Cape Nature|website=CapeNature|language=en|access-date=2020-01-21}}</ref>
<gallery widths="300px" heights="200px" class="center"> Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area 01.jpg|Groot Winterhoek Wilderness main entrance gate Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area 08.jpg|Protea trees and indigenous fynbos </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Mountain ranges of the Western Cape