GC21AZH Umbilo dam (Traditional Cache) in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa created by DRDM & Raider

This cache has been archived.

ROTSIP: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

GC21AZH ▼

A cache by DRDM & Raider Message this owner

Hidden : 11/22/2009

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The Paradise Valley Nature Reserve contains a waterfall, lots of flora and fauna, about 80 mysterious burial mounds, and the ruins of Durban's first waterworks, dating to July 1887.

Back in 1850, a large portion of the current reserve fell within the boundaries of a farm owned by Francis Drake, son of Commodore Drake R.N. and an alleged distant relative of the famous Sir Francis Drake. Durban in those days relied on spring water and wells for its water supply, but as the town grew it became necessary to build a waterworks. The municipality decided to construct a dam on the Umbilo River, and in 1884 bought 19 hectare of land just upstream of the Umbilo waterfall. A 159 megalitre storage dam with an adjoining 27 megalitre settling dam were completed in July 1887, with 177cm pipes conveying water 12 km to the Umbilo waterworks. Materials for the job were delivered to Pinetown Bridge station (later known as Sarnia station) in Stapleton road. The remaining three kilometres was covered by ox-wagon along a gravel road specially built for the project.

In 1905 a flood came that put an end to Durban's Umbilo dam. In just 15 hours 397mm of rain fell, and logs, bamboo and other debris blocked the river at Pinetown Bridge. The railway bridge - you can still see its remains in Stapleton Road near the block factory - eventually gave way and the torrent rushed on to the storage dam, which gave way and unleashed 150 megalitres of water. The ensuing tidal wave killed hundreds of people and destroyed countless homes on the lower Umbilo riverbanks. By then, Durban had alternative water supplies so the dam was never rebuilt and the place was more-or-less forgotten.

Reference:
Gavin Foster- 20 November 2008 - Paradise Valley. Accessed from (visit link) [12 November 2009]

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Umbilo dam Traditional Cache

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