Ga-Selati River

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Ga-Selati River
Selatirivier
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Ga-Selati River's mouth
EtymologySaid to be named after a chief [1]
Location
Country South Africa
State Limpopo
Physical characteristics
Source Wolkberg
 - locationSE of Tzaneen
 - elevation840 m (2,760 ft)
Mouth Olifants River (Limpopo)
 - locationNear Phalaborwa
 - coordinates 24°2′20″S31°10′20″E / 24.03889°S 31.17222°E / -24.03889; 31.17222 Coordinates: 24°2′20″S31°10′20″E / 24.03889°S 31.17222°E / -24.03889; 31.17222
 - elevation297 m (974 ft)
Length140 km (87 mi)
Discharge 
 - minimum0.29 m3/s (10 cu ft/s)
 - maximum4.9 m3/s (170 cu ft/s)

The Ga-Selati River or Selati River (Afrikaans : Selatirivier) is a river in Limpopo, South Africa.

Limpopo The northernmost province of South Africa

Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The name "Limpopo" has its etymological origin in the Northern Sotho language word diphororo tša meetse, meaning "strong gushing waterfalls". The capital is Polokwane.

South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White), Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

Contents

Course

It rises on the rugged western slopes of the Wolkberg Mountains, part of the Drakensberg Mountain chain, about 20 km SE of Tzaneen. From its source in this high rainfall zone, the river flows roughly eastward for approximately 140 kilometres before joining the Olifants River some 7 kilometres to the south of the town of Phalaborwa. [2]

Wolkberg mountain range

The Wolkberg is a mountain range in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It constitutes a northern subrange of the Drakensberg system. The range extends for about 30 km (19 mi) in a NW/SE direction north of Sekhukhuneland. The nearest towns are Haenertsburg and Tzaneen.

Tzaneen Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Tzaneen is a large tropical garden town situated in the Mopani District Municipality of the Limpopo province in South Africa. It is situated in a lush, high rainfall fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a 20,000 km2 region. It is Limpopo's second largest town after Polokwane.

Olifants River (Limpopo) river in South Africa

The Olifants River, Lepelle or Obalule is a river in South Africa and Mozambique, a tributary of the Limpopo River. It falls into the Drainage Area B of the Drainage basins of South Africa. The historical area of the Pedi people, Sekhukhuneland, is located between the Olifants River and one of its largest tributaries, the Steelpoort River.

The Ga-Selati River's largest tributaries are the Ngwabitsi River and the Mulati River, both joining its right bank. [3]

In the dry season, the riverbed of the Ga-Selati is dry for most of its length. This river is heavily polluted owing to mining activity at Phalaborwa in its lower course. [4]

Dams in the basin

See also

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References