Middelburg Dam:
In-depth Guide
A moderately sized dam, Middelburg dam is located approximately 10km East of the town of Middelburg in the Mpumalanga Province. The dam covers a surface area of 4.68 km2 and has a maximum capacity of 484350000 m3. Completed in 1978, the dam wall spans 625 m and has a maximum height of 36 m and supplies water to the industrial and residential areas of Middelburg. The dam impounds the Klein Olifants River which enters the dam at the Southern end, adjacent to the N4 Highway and exits it in the North-West at the dam wall. Insert
Founded on 2.06-billion-year-old Rooiberg Rhyolitic Lava formations, the dam is characterised by steep banks, multiple cliffs and a very rocky substrate. A combination of this rocky substrate and the dam’s depth results in good water clarity throughout the year. Similar to Sterkfontein and typical of the highveld, the weather changes very quickly. In the summer, thunderstorms and very strong winds have a nasty habit of showing up out of nowhere, but generally don’t last too long or have an adverse effect on the fishing or water clarityEasily accessible from the N4 highway, via the N11, no 4x4 or high clearance vehicles are needed to access the dam. However, the last 7km of road to the dam is in terrible disrepair and you should avoid travelling this road at night or at high speed.
~ Warren van Tonder
46 SERIOUSFUN@JFFC MAY 2018
Dam Overview: