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

Level II Ecoregions

Main Attributes Ecoregion 7.02
Main Rivers Olifants, Klein Olifants, Wilge, source of Steelpoort
Terrain morphology: Broad division 1. Plains, low relief;
2. Plains, moderate relief
Vegetation types Moist sandy highveld grassland
Altitude (m a.m.s.l) 1500-1750
Geology Sandstone, shale, coal, carbonaceous shale
Soils Deep, red to yellow sandy soils
Mean annual precipitation (mm) 600-800
CV (%) of annual precipitation 25-30
Rainfall concentration index (%) 55-60; 60-65
Rainfall seasonality Early summer (peak December or earlier)
Mean annual temperature ( ºC) 14-16
Range of median annual runoff (mm) for
quaternary catchments (natural, simulated)*
20-40; 40-60; 60-80
CV (%) of annual simulated runoff for quaternary catchments 50-60; 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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