Levubu River

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Levubu River
Makuleke4.JPG
The Levubu River in Lanner Gorge, Pafuri
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Levubu River's mouth
EtymologyEither from the Venda Muvuvhu (hippopotamus), [1] or Mvuvhu ( Combretum kraussii ), a species of tree growing on its banks [2]
Native nameLuvuvhu (Venda)
Location
Country South Africa
State Limpopo
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Soutpansberg
Mouth Near Pafuri
  location
Limpopo River, South Africa-Mozambique border
  coordinates
22°25′32″S31°18′25″E / 22.42556°S 31.30694°E / -22.42556; 31.30694
  elevation
203 m (666 ft)
Length200 km (120 mi)
Basin size4,826 km2 (1,863 sq mi)
Basin features
River system Limpopo River basin
Tributaries 
  rightDzindi River
Mutshindudi River
Mutale River

The Levubu River or Levuvhu [3] (Tsonga : Rivubye; Venda : Luvuvhu) [1] is located in the northern Limpopo province of South Africa. Some of its tributaries, such as the Mutshindudi River and Mutale River rise in the Soutpansberg Mountains.

Contents

The Levubu flows for about 200 km through a diverse range of landscapes before it joins the Limpopo River in the Fever Tree Forest area, near Pafuri in the Kruger National Park. [4]

A Zambezi shark (Carcharhinus leucas) was caught at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in July 1950. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers like the Limpopo. [5] The river's crocodile population extends to its upper reaches at Thohoyandou. [6]

Dams

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limpopo River</span> River in southern Africa

The Limpopo River rises in South Africa and flows generally eastward through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountainous vicinity and named the area after their leader. The river has been called Vhembe by local Venda communities of the area where now that name has been adopted by the South African government as its District Municipality in the north, a name that was also suggested in 2002 as a possible name to be adopted for the Province but was voted against. The river is approximately 1,750 kilometres (1,087 mi) long, with a drainage basin 415,000 square kilometres (160,200 sq mi) in size. The mean discharge measured over a year is 170 m3 per second at its mouth. The Limpopo is the second largest river in Africa that drains to the Indian Ocean, after the Zambezi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambezi</span> Major river in southern Africa

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Its drainage basin covers 1,390,000 km2 (540,000 sq mi), slightly less than half of the Nile's. The 2,574-kilometre-long (1,599 mi) river rises in Zambia and flows through eastern Angola, along the north-eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of Botswana, then along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mozambique, where it crosses the country to empty into the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kruger National Park</span> First national park in South Africa

Kruger National Park is a South African National Park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,623 km2 (7,576 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park</span> Transfrontier park in South Africa, Mozambique qnd Zimbabwe

Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the area between Kruger and Gonarezhou, the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe and the Makuleke region in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olifants River (Limpopo)</span> River in South Africa and Mozambique

The Olifants River,Lepelle, iBhalule 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vhembe District Municipality</span> District municipality in Limpopo, South Africa

The Vhembe District Municipality is one of the 5 districts of the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is the northernmost district of the country and shares its northern border with the Beitbridge District in Zimbabwe and on the east with the Gaza Province in Mozambique. Vhembe consists of all the territories that were part of the former Venda Bantustan; however, two large densely populated districts of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu, in particular, Hlanganani and Malamulele, were also incorporated into the municipality, hence the ethnic diversity of the district. The seat is Thohoyandou, the capital of the former Venda Bantustan. According to 2011 census, the majority of the municipality's 800,000 inhabitants spoke TshiVenda as their mother language, while 400,000 spoke Xitsonga as their home language. However, the Tsonga people form the majority south of the Levubu River, while the Venda are the minority south of Levubu at 15%. The Sepedi speakers number 27,000. The district code is DC34.

The Makuleke Contractual Park or Pafuri Triangle constitutes the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and comprises approximately 240 square kilometres of land. The "triangle" is a wedge of land created by the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers at the tripoint Crook's Corner, which forms a border with Zimbabwe along the Limpopo River. It is a natural choke point for wildlife crossing from North to South and back, and forms a distinct ecological region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nandoni Dam</span> Dam in Limpopo, South Africa

Nandoni Dam, previously known as the Mutoti Dam, is an earth-fill/concrete type dam in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is located on the Luvuvhu River near the villages of ha-Mutoti and ha-Budeli and ha-Mphego just a few kilometres from Thohoyandou in the district of Vhembe. The dam serves primarily for water supply and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shashe River</span> River in Botswana, Zimbabwe

The Shashe River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe. It rises northwest of Francistown, Botswana and flows into the Limpopo River where Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa meet. The confluence is at the site of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwenezi River</span> River in Zimbabwe, Mozambique

The Mwenezi River, originally known as the Nuanetsi River, is a major tributary of the Limpopo River. The Mwenezi River starts up in south central Zimbabwe and flows south-east along what is known as the Mwenezi River Valley that bisects the district into two sectors. The river is found in both Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe it has been known as the Nuanetsi or Nuanetzi River in the past, a name it retains in Mozambique.

Malamulele can refer to the town of Malamulele or the area of Malamulele. Both the town and area are in the Limpopo province of South Africa and predominantly occupied by Tsonga people. Malamulele town has one provincial road and one regional road; the R81 to Giyani and the R524 to Thohoyandou respectively. Malamulele is flanked by two rivers, Levubu River (Rivhubye) to the west and Letaba River to the east, meanwhile the Shingwedzi River runs from Malamulele West to Malamulele East, joining the Olifants in Mozambique on its way to the Indian Ocean. Malamulele is the seat of the Collins Chabane Local Municipality.

Luvubu and Letaba Water Management Area in South Africa includes major South African rivers. The area is also known as "Levubu and Letaba Water Management Area " and "Luvuvhu and Groot Letaba WMA". The WMA includes the following rivers: Mutale River, Luvuvhu River and Letaba River, and covers these dams:

Inkomati WMA, or Inkomati Water Management Area , in South Africa is situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa in the Mpumalanga Province, with a small area in the Limpopo Province. It borders on Mozambique in the east and on Swaziland in the south-east. The water management area extends over several parallel river catchments which all drain in a general easterly direction, and flow together at the border with Mozambique or within Mozambique, to form the Incomati River which discharges into the Indian Ocean immediately north of Maputo. A special situation is presented by the Komati River, the most southern tributary of the Incomati River, which rises in South Africa and flows into Swaziland, then re-enters South Africa where it is joined by the Crocodile River at the border with Mozambique, before flowing into Mozambique as the Incomati River. The Sabie River is the other main river in the water management area and flows into Corumuna Dam in Mozambique just downstream of the border with South Africa, and upstream of its confluence with the Inkomati River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blyde River</span> River in Mpumalanga & Limpopo, South Africa

The Motlatse River, Blyde River, or Umdhlazi River is a river in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. It has a northwards course in steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, before it enters the lowveld region of the Limpopo province. It has its ultimate origins at around 2,000 m altitude in the Hartebeesvlakte conservation area, to the north of Long Tom Pass. It runs through the Blyde River Canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crocodile River (Mpumalanga)</span> River in South Africa

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Nwanedi Provincial Park, is a protected area in the northern part of the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is located about 20 km east of Tshipise and 35 km north of Thohoyandou, to the west of Kruger National Park. The Nwanedi park has an area of about 11,170 ha and includes a part of the wooded foothills of the Soutpansberg Range. The twin dams, the Nwanedi Dam and the Luphephe Dam, at the confluence of the Nwanedi River and its main tributary, the Luphephe River, are located in the protected area. One of the secrets of the Game Reserve is their spectacular waterfall, known as Tshihovhohovho Falls. The park is well stocked with game, including a fair number of white rhino in its lowveld zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shingwedzi River</span> River in South Africa and Mozambique

The Shingwedzi River is a river in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and Gaza Province, Mozambique. It is a left hand tributary of the Olifants River (Rio dos Elefantes) and the northernmost river of its catchment area, joining it at the lower end of its basin. The Shingwedzi is a seasonal river whose riverbed is dry for prolonged periods.

The Mutshindudi River is a river in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, it originates in the Soutpansberg mountains. It is a right-hand tributary of the Levuvhu River. Its elevation is 534 metres above the sea level. It is about 50 km long and drops steeply from a high rain fall region at 1200m to a lowland valley at 450m altitude where it joins the Luvuvhu river, it is a small yet permanent river, supplying the domestic demand of the Thohoyandou municipal area. Many 20m wide and 80m long riffles and rapids are found here.

References

  1. 1 2 Jenkins, Elwyn (2007), Falling into place: the story of modern South African place names, David Philip Publishers, p. 75
  2. du Plessis, E.J. (1973). Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town. p. 265. ISBN   0-624-00273-X.
  3. Olifants River now called Lepelle
  4. Latava and Luvuvhu River River Systems 2001 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine , State of Rivers Report, WRC report no: TT 165/01, Water Research Commission, Pretoria, ISBN No: 1 86845 825 3
  5. Pienaar, U. de V., The Freshwater Fishes of the Kruger National Park , Koedoe Vol 11, No 1 (1968)
  6. Pijoos, Iavan (2 April 2020). "Limpopo fisherman 'eaten by crocodile'". South Africa. timeslive.co.za. TimesLive. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  7. Nandoni Dam - Description