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

Level II Ecoregions

Main Attributes Ecoregion 7.05
Main Rivers Wilge, Olifants, Klein Olifants
Terrain morphology: Broad division Plains, moderate relief
Vegetation types Rocky highveld grassland
Altitude (m a.m.s.l) 1250-1500
Geology Sandstone, shale, conglomerate, tuff, basalt, quartzite
Soils Shallow rocky soils
Mean annual precipitation (mm) 600-800
CV (%) of annual precipitation 25-30
Rainfall concentration index (%) 60-65
Rainfall seasonality Early summer (peak December or earlier)
Mean annual temperature ( ºC) 16-18
Range of median annual runoff (mm) for
quaternary catchments (natural, simulated)* 		20-40; 40-60
CV (%) of annual simulated runoff for quaternary catchments 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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