Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Mpumalanga, South Africa

One of Earth’s more unusual geological features is found in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province.¹ Bourke’s Luck Potholes, which are located at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers near the beginning of Blyde River Canyon—the world’s third deepest canyon—are a series of cylindrical holes bored by the rivers’ swirling waters.^{2 3} Bridges over the site enable visitors to peer down into the holes, some of which are as much as 100 feet deep.⁴

Bourke's Luck Potholes are named for Tom Bourke, a prospector who in the 1880s accurately predicted the presence of gold in the area despite never finding any significant deposits there himself.⁵

Next: Bovbjerg

References

1. Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Mpumalanga. SA-Venues.com. Accessed 18 Oct. 2012.
2. Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Sabie. Accessed 18 Oct. 2012.
3. Blyde Canyon. Kruger2Canyons. Accessed 18 Oct. 2012.
4. 5 Reasons to Visit Hazyview in Mpumalanga. Travel Butlers. 4 Oct. 2012. Accessed 18 Oct. 2012.
5. Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Book Travel. Accessed 18 Oct. 2012.

Published 2018-06-18