PHYSICAL MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

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Louisa Booth
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1 PHYSICAL MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA The surface of South Africa is not flat. The uneven surface has to do with the structure or topography of the land. Landforms such as coastal plains, lowlands, plateaus, mountains and rivers make up the structure of the land. South Africa s surface is divided into the following areas, as shown in the map below: The interior plateau The coastal plain The escarpment If you look at the physical map of South Africa below, you will see that different parts of South Africa are situated on different altitudes above sea level. The different elevations are called reliefs. Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

2 Different colours are used on a physical map to indicate the different altitudes above sea level (elevations), as indicated below: Dark green - lowest areas, for example the coastal regions Yellow or light green - just higher than the green areas, for example the Little Karoo Orange and brown - higher areas Dark brown - mountains Purple - highest mountain peaks Blue - water Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

3 A cross-section of the topography of South Africa looks more or less like an upside-down saucer. Most of South Africa lies above sea level. The cross section of South Africa from west to east shows the coastlines and coastal plain at each end of the country, the plateau in the interior and the escarpment on the east. Coastline and Coastal Plains The coastline is the area where the land meets the sea. False Bay, Cape Town Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

4 The coastal plain is the low-lying area along the coast. The coastal plain of South Africa forms a narrow band between the sea and the mountains of the escarpment. It is at its widest in the Southern Cape and Natal. Escarpment The escarpment indicates where the plateau of the interior begins, and forms an unbroken mountain chain. There are a number of mountain ranges in the escarpment, the highest being the Drakensberg. The escarpment prevents moist air from the sea reaching the interior plateau, which causes frequent droughts in the interior of the country. Interior Plateau Drakensberg The interior plateau is the vast stretch of land that is situated to the interior of the escarpment. It covers the greatest part of South Africa and lies from 900 m (west) to m (east) above sea level. The map below shows the main physical regions of South Africa. Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

5 The Highveld The region known as the Highveld of South Africa is found in the interior plateau, starting east of Johannesburg and includes part of Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo as well as most of Gauteng. The term veld (Afrikaans) refers to the wide, open spaces found in South Africa, in particular those found covered in grass or low scrub. Map of Location of the Highveld Wikimedia Public Domain Highveld The Highveld is bordered by the Lowveld in the north, the Drakensberg mountains to the east, the Kalahari desert to the west and the Great Karoo to the south west. This area is mostly metres above sea level and has a flat or gently sloping terrain, grasslands and a subtropical climate. In some areas, the distinct escarpment on the edge of the plateau can be seen. The Lowveld North east of the interior plateau, beyond the escarpment, is an area known as the Lowveld. This area has a lower altitude than the interior plateau and is generally hotter than the Highveld. Lowveld Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

6 Kalahari The Kalahari is a huge sandy basin that covers a large part of South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The Kalahari Desert is found in the basin and covers parts of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Kalahari Basin, Wikimedia Public Domain The Kalahari is a large, semi arid sandy savannah. It is an area that has very low rainfall of between mm per year and very high temperatures in summer, up to 45 C. The only permanent river found here is the Okavango River, which flows into a delta in the north west. Despite it being so dry, the Kalahari supports a variety of plants and animals. It is home to the Bushmen who have lived there as hunter-gathers for over 20,000 years. Okavango River Kalahari Desert Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

7 The Karoo There is an area between the sea and the escarpment where one first has to climb a few steps to reach the escarpment. These steps are located in an area called the Karoo. Karoo is a word meaning hard. The Karoo is therefore a hard, dry region. Karoo Landscape The Karoo is made up of two flat smaller plateaux between mountain ranges. From the south coast (Mossel Bay) the land rises gradually from the coastal plain to the Outeniqua and the Langeberg mountains. The low-lying area that follows this and lies just before the Swartberg Mountains, is called the Little Karoo. To the north of the Swartberg range lies the Great Karoo, which is situated one step higher than the Little Karoo. It is found just before the Nuweveld Mountains, which form part of the escarpment. Karoo Eco-Region, Wikimedia Public Domain, Courtesy of NASA Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

8 Namaqualand Namaqualand is an arid region that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Pofadder in the east. The northern area, also known as Great Namaqualand lies in Namibia and the southern area or Little Namaqualand, forms part of South Africa s Northern Cape Province. The most notable feature is the annual appearance in this barren landscape of wild flowers such as daisies in the springtime, making Namaqualand a popular tourist destination. Copper, silver, lead and zinc mining bought many people to the area originally. Fishing is a major industry. The town of Port Nolloth is a fishing town and resort in Namaqualand. Oranjemund is a mining town, which lies at the mouth of the Orange River. The capital of the region is Springbok. Namaqualand Landscape Namaqualand Flowers Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike: Amrum Version 1: December 2013 Copyright My Cyberwall

Chapter 18 Introduction to. A f r i c a

Chapter 18 Introduction to. A f r i c a Chapter 18 Introduction to A f r i c a Ch. 18:1 Landforms & Resources 1. Africa s shape & landforms are the result of its location in the southern part of the ancient supercontinent of. Pangaea Over thousands