RHP South African
River Health Programme 		Ecological State of the Major Rivers
of Mpumalanga

Level II Ecoregions

Main Attributes Ecoregion 5.02
Main Rivers Olifants, Groot & Klein Letaba, Letaba, Selati
Terrain morphology: Broad division 1. Plains, moderate relief
2. Open hills & lowlands moderate relief
Vegetation types Mopane bushveld
Altitude (m a.m.s.l) 400-600; 300-400; 200-300
Geology Iron, jaspilite, syenite, hornblende granite, foskorite, gneiss, sandstone, shale, conglomerate
Soils Loamy sand and clayey
Mean annual precipitation (mm) 400-600; 600-800 (limited)
CV (%) of annual precipitation 25-30; 30-35
Rainfall concentration index (%) 60-65; >65
Rainfall seasonality Midsummer (peak January)
Mean annual temperature ( ºC) 20-22; >22
Range of median annual runoff (mm) for
quaternary catchments (natural, simulated)* 		10-20 (limited); 40-60; 60-80; 80-100
CV (%) of annual simulated runoff for quaternary catchments 60-70; 70-80; 80-90; 90-100
After: Schulze et al. 1997; Low & Rebelo 1996; van Riet et al. 1997
* Based on ACRU model (Schulze et al. 1997)
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