38-593: Olof Bergh (sometimes spelled Olaf or Oloff Bergh ) was an early Swedish-South African explorer and Cape Colony official as well as the progenitor of the well-known Bergh family in South Africa. He is also a former owner of South Africa's first wine estate " Groot Constantia " after Simon van der Stel . His accounts of his travels to the interior of the Cape Colony are among some of the first Dutch writings to originate on South African soil. Olof Martini Bergh
76-616: A Zimbabwean-born biologist, farmer, game rancher, politician and international consultant and co-founder of the Savory Institute . According to the United Nations University Our World dissemination he is credited with developing "holistic management" in the 1960s and has led anti-desertification efforts in Africa for decades using a counterintuitive approach to most developed economies of increasing
114-625: A result of his various activities at the Cape as well as being one of the earliest European explorers of the Northern Cape, Bergh has become a well known member of early Cape Dutch history and lends his name to a number of cultural as well as official sites, including: Several of Bergh's journals as well as missives have been preserved as part of the Dutch East India Company archives which have subsequently preserved as part of
152-599: A trip to North in search of the Tropic of Capricorn . On this journey, however, he did not progress much further than the Doornbosch River (now Green River ) due to the great drought and the difficulty of the terrain he encountered. In 1686, Bergh, who was now a high ranking member of Cape society and a close friend of Governor van der Stel, was named a member of the Political Council. In July 1686 Bergh
190-467: Is 36,788 km (22,859 mi). In most of this belt of southern Africa , a minimum of seasonal rainfall is reliable and farming is possible, though yields struggle to compete with for example the Mississippi basin , even against like-to-like soil fertilisers . Rivers have been successfully dammed particularly flowing from relief precipitation areas (high eminences) and those from the edge of
228-574: Is thus the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be seen directly overhead. It also reaches 90 degrees below the horizon at solar midnight on the June Solstice . Its northern equivalent is the Tropic of Cancer . The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude marked on maps of Earth . Its latitude is currently 23°26′09.8″ (or 23.43605°) south of the Equator , but it
266-459: Is very gradually moving northward, currently at the rate of 0.47 arcseconds , or 15 metres, per year. When this line of latitude was named in the last centuries BC , the Sun was in the constellation Capricornus at the December solstice . This is the date each year when the Sun reaches zenith at this latitude, the southernmost declination it reaches for the year. (Due to the precession of
304-716: The Atacama Desert , one of the driest in the world, so that no glaciers exist between Volcán Sajama at 18˚30'S and Cerro Tres Cruces at 27˚S . Vegetation here is almost non-existent, though on the eastern slopes of the Andes rainfall is adequate for rainfed agriculture . Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through 10 countries: Download coordinates as: The following cities and landmarks are either located near
342-576: The Cape where he continued his service with the Company. He married Anna de Coningh on 10 September 1678 in Cape Town , who herself had arrived in the Cape with her mother in 1657. When Simon van der Stel became governor in 1679 he was a ensign at the Cape. Some of Bergh's earliest work at the Cape included leading bartering trips to the neighboring as well as to the more remote kraals such as those of
380-601: The Diamantina River . In most years, their waters are absorbed into the earth or evaporate, but when there is sufficient rainfall in their catchment area, these rivers flow into Lake Eyre , South Australia. One of the most significant rainfall events occurred in 2010 when a monsoonal low from ex- Cyclone Olga created a period of exceptional rainfall. El Niño adverse phases cause a shift in atmospheric circulation; rainfall becomes reduced over Indonesia and Australia, rainfall and tropical cyclone formation increases over
418-640: The Great Rift Valley , such as the Zambezi , well within the Tropics. This, with alluvial or enriched soil, enables substantial yield grain farming in areas with good soil. Across this large region pasture farming is widespread, where intensive, brief and rotational it helps to fertilise and stabilise the soil, preventing run-off and desertification . This approach is traditional to many tribes and promoted by government advisors such as Allan Savory ,
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#1732780919355456-570: The United Nations UNESCO Silk Roads project Through the diaries of his travels (which were among some of the first Dutch writings to originate from the Cape within which it was already evident how these early writers had begun to evolve the Dutch language to deal with the unique circumstances and living habits of the colonists), Bergh is considered like many other early Colonists to have made an important contribution to
494-494: The Cape but be discharged from the Company and continue as a Freeburgher . Bergh chose the former and left for Ceylon shortly thereafter on 29 December 1690 (without his wife) on the ship Pampus, where he remained for five years until 1695 before being allowed to return to the Cape, once the scandal of his previous conviction had dissipated amidst the Burghers. Soon after his return the Cape, it appears Bergh's previous conviction
532-470: The Castle. After a month in custody, he pleaded guilty on 5 May 1687 and the valuables, including two golden pears and a flask of musk, were found buried in his garden. Bergh was subsequently banished to Robben Island , the place of great terror for both black and white criminals during Company times. The following month, when a fleet of enemy French vessels sailed into Table Mountain, he was briefly returned to
570-742: The Company Day Register. Six weeks later, on 30 October 1682, Bergh embarked on one of his most well-known expeditions, in which he was despatched by the then Governor of the Cape in search of the Namaqua and fabled "Copper Mountains" which had garnered significant attention of both the Cape officials and the VOC itself. He turned north and the details of this trip were again recorded, this time in " Die Journael van de landtocht gedaen by d'E Vaendrich Olof Bergh ". During this expedition, Bergh and two other members of his group inscribed their names on
608-499: The Earth's longitudinal alignment relative to its orbit around the Sun. Earth's axial tilt varies over a 41,000 year period from about 22.1 to 24.5 degrees and currently resides at about 23.4 degrees. This wobble means that the Tropic of Capricorn is currently drifting northward at a rate of almost half an arcsecond (0.468″) of latitude, or 15 metres, per year (it was at exactly 23° 27′S in 1917 and will be at 23° 26'S in 2045). Therefore,
646-958: The Heerengracht, Bergh was also the first owner of the farm De Hoop, located close to the town (on the site of present day Gardens ), the remaining buildings of which still exist today and are operated as historic luxury accommodation as well as two bungalows in Piquetberg . After his retirement, Bergh bought the historic farm Groot Constantia from the estate of Simon van der Stel where he lived with his wife until his death. With his wife Anna, he fathered no less than twelve children, including Christina (1679), Maria (1682), Petrus (1684), Appolonia Africana (1686), Carolus Erlandt (1689), Johanna Magdalena (1691), Dorothea Francina (1695), Marthinus (1696), Simon Petrus (1696), Engela (1700) and Albertus (1702). He died on 19 July 1725 in Cape Town. As
684-569: The Hessequas, a Khoi tribe , in search of livestock and in particular cattle. In addition to these, one of the earliest accounts of Bergh's expeditions included leading a small party of colonists assembled to recapture and return to the Colony three men, who had escaped a few days earlier, which he did. In 1682, shortly before his scheduled trip to Vigiti Magna , Bergh was despatched instructed to investigate and retrieve any surviving treasures from
722-638: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.150 via cp1114 cp1114, Varnish XID 921616387 Upstream caches: cp1114 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:01:59 GMT Tropic of Capricorn The Tropic of Capricorn (or the Southern Tropic ) is the circle of latitude that contains the subsolar point at the December (or southern) solstice . It
760-462: The adjacent farm Saxenberg. He was again nominated as a member of the Political Council in 1697, 1699 and again in 1709 and 1710 was honored with a seat on the Council of Justice, when the new Governor, Willem Adriaan van der Stel , was facing various difficulties (including the attempted suicide of his wife Maria, who was saved by apparent intervention of Bergh's wife Anna). In addition to his home on
798-477: The distance between Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Capricorn is essentially constant moving in tandem. See under circles of latitude for information. There are approximately 10 hours, 41 minutes of daylight during the June solstice (Southern Hemisphere winter). During the December solstice (Southern Hemisphere summer), there are 13 hours, 35 minutes of daylight. The length of the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°26′11.7″S
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#1732780919355836-522: The early development of the Afrikaans language. For example, Bergh appears to have been the first to record the phrase "bosjesmans" (later translated to "bushmen") when referring to the local indigenous people he came into contact with on his travels North from the Cape as well as "Afrijkaenders" (referring to local European Colonists of Dutch heritage) as early as September 1683. Groot Constantia Too Many Requests If you report this error to
874-589: The equinoxes the Sun currently appears in Sagittarius at this solstice.) The Tropic of Capricorn is the dividing line between the Southern Temperate Zone to the south and the Tropics to the north. The Northern Hemisphere equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer . The Tropic of Capricorn's position is not fixed, but constantly changes because of a slight wobble in
912-523: The face of a rock near the site of a spring (later to become known as "Berghfontein", and designated as a former South African National Monument) as well as discovered and spent the night in a large cave (later to become known as "Heerenlogement", and which was used subsequently by numerous later explorers, including Van Der Stel himself). He returned to the Kasteel at the Cape on 19 December 1682 without any tangible results, although one success of his trip
950-636: The mainland, but was returned to the island after the fleet's departure a short time later. Sometime later, in September 1690 he was released into the supervision of the Council of Seventeen (Here Sewentien). Upon his release, because of his previous notable service to the Company, Bergh was given the option to retain his rank and leave the Cape immediately and take up duties at the Company station in Dutch Ceylon (currently Sri Lanka ), or be remain at
988-1205: The number of livestock on grasslands rather than fencing them off for conservation. Such practices in this area have seen success and won generous awards; he gave the keynote speech at UNCCD's Land Day in 2018, and later that year a TED (conference) address, widely re-broadcast. In Australia , areas around the Tropic have some of the world's most variable rainfall . In the east advanced plants such as flowering shrubs and eucalyptus and in most bioregions grasses have adapted to cope with means such as deep roots and little transpiration . Wetter areas, seasonally watered, are widely pasture farmed. As to animals, birds and marsupials are well-adapted. Naturally difficult arable agriculture specialises in dry fruits, nuts and modest water consumption produce. Other types are possible given reliable irrigation sources and, ideally, water-retentive enriched or alluvial soils, especially wheat; shallow irrigation sources very widely dry up in and after drought years. The multi-ridge Great Dividing Range brings relief precipitation enough to make hundreds of kilometres either side cultivable, and its rivers are widely dammed to store necessary water; this benefits
1026-728: The present day town of Springbok. As a result of his experience in 1682, van der Stel again chose Bergh to lead another expedition in 1683 to the Namaquas, the people from the North who came to trade copper ore at the Castle. This journey is documented in " Rapport van den Vaendrich Olof Bergh op hare reyse na de Cralie van de Namaquas " (1683). According to the Daily Register, in a journal kept by Hendrik Claudius (" Dagregister van de landtocht van de Caap de Goede Hoop, waren gedistineert naar de Tropikus Caprikornij "), Bergh also undertook
1064-599: The settled areas of New South Wales and Queensland . Behind the end of the green hills, away from the Pacific , which is subject to warm, negative phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (colloquially this is an "El Niño year/season") is a white, red and yellow landscape of 2,800 to 3,300 kilometres of rain shadow heading west in turn feature normally arid cattle lands of the Channel Country ,
1102-583: The ship at the time of departure, they were not accounted for at the wreck nor among the items returned at the conclusion of the expedition. Later, when Bergh was supervising the construction of the Council House in Stellenbosch in 1687, rumors began to circulate that items had been stolen from the Portuguese wreck during the previous expedition. Bergh was subsequently arrested and imprisoned at
1140-440: The stranded English ship Johanna , which had was wrecked near Cape Agulhas on 8 June 1682. This ship had sunk beyond present day town of Hermanus , in the neighborhood of Gansbaai . After three months, Bergh returned with more than 28,000 guilders worth of treasure and a great deal of experience in conducting local expeditions. The details of this story named the "Landtocht na de Cape das Agulhas in den jare 1682" were recorded in
1178-587: The subtropical anticyclones and thus receives warm and humid air from the Atlantic Ocean . As a result, areas in Brazil adjacent to the Tropic are impressively productive agricultural regions, producing large quantities of crops such as sugarcane , and the natural rainforest vegetation has been almost entirely cleared, except for a few remaining patches of Atlantic Forest . Further south in Argentina ,
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1216-565: The temperate grasslands of the Pampas region is equally influential in wheat , soybeans , maize , and beef , making the country one of the largest worldwide agricultural exporters, similar to the role played by the Prairies region in Canada . West of the Andes, which creates a rain shadow , the air is further cooled and dried by the cold Humboldt Current which makes it very arid, creating
1254-459: The tropical Pacific. The low-level surface trade winds , which normally blow from east to west along the equator, either weaken or start blowing from the other direction. In South America , whilst in the continental cratons soils are almost as old as in Australia and Southern Africa, the presence of the geologically young and evolving Andes means that this region is on the western side of
1292-477: The white Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park , the mainly red Mamungari Conservation Park , then the Gibson Desert , after others the dry landscape settlement of Kalbarri on the west coast and its rest, northward. The Channel Country features an arid landscape with a series of ancient flood plains from rivers which only flow intermittently. The principal rivers are Georgina River , Cooper Creek and
1330-412: Was an initial detailed mapping of this region of the Cape. Despite the failure of his own expedition, it has been noted that both Bergh's expedition as well as that of a previous explorer (Jonas de la Guerre, who set out in 1663), were instrumental in paving the way for the later successful trip of Governor Simon van der Stel 's expedition in 1685, in which he successfully sampled copper-containing ore near
1368-703: Was born on 16 April 1643. in Gothenburg in Sweden to Norwegian parents. Little is known about his pre-South African background; however, he appears to have been the youngest son from a aristocratic family of Swedish-Norwegian origin. At the age of 22, he entered the service of the Dutch East India Company in 1665 . He first served in the East in Batavia (present day Jakarta) and then in 1676 moved to
1406-512: Was not held against him and he was appointed Captain of the Garrison by the Governor and took up residence in a grand home on the Heerengracht (currently Adderleystraat ) next to the church. In 1698, Bergh was granted the farm Groot Phesantekraal near present day Durbanville, whose flagship wine is named after his wife Anna. In 1701 he bought the farm De Kuilen (today's Kuils River ) as well as
1444-540: Was once again despatched in the direction of Cape Agulhas to search for the wreck of the Portuguese ship, Nostra Signora de los Milagnos , which had run aground and been abandoned and which Company officers had subsequently purchased. In addition to a group of Jesuit priests, onboard the ship had been three envoys from the King of Siam with gifts intended for Pedro, King of Portugal , Louis XIV of France and Charles II of England . However, despite these valuables being on
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