Physical Geography

Natural Landscape

Figure 1 Map of South Africa (Courtesy of CIA World Factbook)

South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world. South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian), according to Wikipedia. The four original provinces of South Africa - Cape of Good Hope, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Natal - were reorganized in 1994 into nine new provinces: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North-West, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo (formerly called Northern Province), and KwaZulu-Natal, according to Encyclopedia of Earth (Water Profile of South Africa).

A plateau that covers the largest part of the country dominates the topography. It is separated from the surrounding areas of generally lower elevation by the Great Escarpment. The plateau consists almost entirely of very old rock of the Karoo System, which formed from the Late Carboniferous Epoch (320 to 286 million years ago) to the Late Triassic Epoch (230 to 208 million years ago). The plateau is generally highest in the east, dropping from elevations of 2,400 meters (m) in the basaltic Lesotho region to 600 meters in the sandy Kalahari in the west. The central part of the plateau comprises the Highveld, which is between 1,200 and 1,800 m in elevation. South of the Orange River lies the Great Karoo region, according to Encyclopedia of Earth (Water Profile of South Africa).

To the north of Johannesburg, the altitude drops beyond the escarpment of the Highveld, and turns into the lower lying Bushveld, an area of mixed dry forest and an abundance of wildlife. East of the Highveld, beyond the eastern escarpment, the Lowveld stretches towards the Indian Ocean. It has particularly high temperatures, and is also the location of extended subtropical agriculture, according to Wikipedia.

Weather and Climate

In South Africa, summer is from October to March with temperatures from 15 °C at night to 30 °C at noon. Winter is from April to September with temperatures from 0 °C at night to 18 °C at noon. Winter temperatures in the interior often drop below zero and frost is common. South Africa ranks very high as far as sunshine days are concerned, according to Encyclopedia of Earth (Water Profile of South Africa).

South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, by its location in the climatically milder southern hemisphere and due to the average elevation rising steadily towards the north (towards the equator) and further inland. Due to this varied topography and oceanic influence, a great variety of climatic zones exist, according to Wikipiedia.

The extreme southwest has a climate remarkably similar to that of the Mediterranean with wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous Fynbos Biome of grassland and thicket. This area also produces much of the wine in South Africa. This region is also particularly known for its wind, which blows intermittently almost all year, according to Wikipedia.

The Best Time for Traveling? (According to South Africa Tourism)

The flowers are obviously best in August and September. The best time for game viewing is late spring (September and October). The southern right whales hang around off our coasts from about mid-June to the end of October.

Figure 2 Surfing in SA Beach (Courtesy of South Africa Tourism)

The "shoulder" seasons - spring and autumn - are best for hiking, as summer can be hot over most of the country.

River rafting is better in the Cape at the end of winter, and in KwaZulu-Natal in the height of summer (late November to mid-February).

Of course, if you want to lounge around on the beaches, mid-summer is the best time - though everyone else will be there too. And - big bonus - the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny even in midwinter.

Water Sources (according to Encyclopedia of Earth (Water Profile of South Africa)

River flows reflect the rainfall pattern. Rivers that have their origin on the eastern great escarpment and in the Fold Mountains of Western Cape normally have perennial flows. Rivers that originate in the immediate adjoining areas have periodic flows, whereas rivers that originate on the western great plateau have highly episodic flows.

 Approximately 48 percent of the country (606 000 km2) is drained to the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River, which rises in the Lesotho Highlands, and its tributaries. Chief among these are the Caledon and the Vaal Rivers. Total mean annual runoff is 11.1 cubic kilometers (km3).

 North of the Witwatersrand ridge, the plateau is drained to the Indian Ocean by the Limpopo system, with major tributaries such as the Crocodile and the Elephants River. This basin has a mean annual runoff of 5.1 km3 draining approximately 14 percent of the country.

Figure 3 Shoreline of Cape of Good Hope (Courtesy of CIA World Factbook)

All other rivers draining into the Indian Ocean, the largest of which is the Tugela River, cover approximately 29 percent of the country with a mean annual runoff of 28 km3.

 Rivers draining the Fold Mountains of the south-western Cape into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans cover approximately 9 percent of the total area, with a mean annual runoff of 5 km3. The most important rivers in this area are the Olifants and the Breede Rivers.

The average annual rainfall is 495 mm, ranging from less than 100 mm/year in the western deserts to about 1,200 mm/year in the eastern part of the country. Only 35 percent of the country has a precipitation of 500 mm or more, while 44 percent has a precipitation of 200-500 mm and 21 percent has a precipitation of less than 200 mm. Therefore, 65 percent of the country does not receive enough rainfall for successful rainfed crop production and is used as grazing land. Crops grown in this area are grown under irrigation. Mild to severe frost occurs regularly on the great plateau limiting the choice of crops and resulting in strong seasonal patterns for most crops grown.

Current Environmental Issues related to Climate and Water Sources:

South Africa lacks of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures. It has the growth in water usage outpacing supply. In addition, South Africans are facing the pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge. The air pollution also results in acid rain, soil erosion and desertification, according to CIA World Factbook.