Barkly Pass
{{Short description|Mountain pass in the Eastern Cape, South Africa}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Barkly Pass
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| elevation = 2,018m
| traversed = R58
| location = Eastern Cape, South Africa
| range = Drakensberg Mountains
| coordinates ={{Coord|31|14|8.4|S|27|50|30.8|E|display=inline}}
|map_image={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=point}}}}
Barkly Pass is situated in the high mountains of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, on the Regional R58 tarred road between Elliot and Barkly East.
History
The pass is named after Henry Barkly, governor of the Cape.{{cite book|last=Raper|first=P. E. |title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names | url=https://archive.org/stream/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames/SaPlaceNames#page/n69/mode/2up|year=1989|publisher=Jonathan Ball Publishers|isbn=978-0-947464-04-2|page=69|via=Internet Archive}} It was constructed in 1885.{{Cite book |last=Coulson |first=David |url=http://archive.org/details/roofofafrica00coul |title=The Roof of Africa |last2=Clarke |first2=James |publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston |others=Internet Archive |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-03-071766-6 |location=New York}}
Route
The pass starts a few kilometres outside Elliot at {{convert|1473|m|abbr=on}} above sea level and ascends moderately steep at a gradient of 1:22 attaining an elevation gain of {{convert|626|m|abbr=on}} in a distance of {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}}.[http://www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za/find-a-pass/eastern-cape/item/92-barklypass,-eastern-cape.html Mountain Passes South Africa - Barkly Pass] After a few sharp hairpin bends it reaches an elevation of {{convert|2018|m|abbr=on}} at the summit. The pass is subject to frequent winter snow closures.