The Sterkfontein Dam, located just outside the town of Harrismith, in the Free State, is part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and located on the Nuwejaarspruit, in the upper catchment area of the Vaal River. It is situated in the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve.
The massive expanse of water which is the Sterkfontein Dam lies just a few kilometres from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment in the very upper reaches of the Vaal Dam catchment. Deep and cool, it creates ideal conditions for trout and other varieties of fish, and is therefore a popular angling area. It is the third largest dam in South Africa and has the largest dam wall.
The Dam forms part of the Tugela Vaal water transfer scheme, which is a pumped-storage scheme involving the net transfer of up to 630 million m³ of water from KwaZulu-Natal to augment the supply in the Vaal River System.
The dam is surrounded by a vast nature conservation area covering 18,000 ha and characterised by steep kranzes, grassed mountain slopes and lushly vegetated kloofs. It is a place of rare scenic beauty, an undisturbed, tranquil environment in which nature flourishes and many species of soft-skinned game and indigenous birds exist in harmony.
For the holidaymaker, the area offers an unrivalled outdoor vacation and the opportunity to get back to nature with long walks and hikes through the beautiful landscape, a variety of watersport and excellent fishing.
