South Africa: Geographical Features Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. It has diverse physical features, including plains, plateaus, mountains, and coastal areas. Let's explore its key geographical aspects in simpler terms.

Physical Features

• Veld: A flat-topped central plateau
• Great Escarpment and other mountains
• Great Karoo and Little Karoo in the Northwest
• Coastal and riverine plains and lowlands

David Livingstone

• David Livingstone was a Scottish explorer known for discovering Victoria Falls in southern Africa, contributing to the world's knowledge about Africa during the 19th century.

Geographical Features

• Climate: South Africa experiences various climates, including tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, arid, semi-arid, and montane climates.
• Natural Vegetation: The country boasts diverse vegetation types such as tropical savanna grasslands, veld, palm forests, scrub, bush vegetation, and Mediterranean vegetation.
• Wildlife: South Africa is home to a variety of wildlife including lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, rhinoceroses, African buffalos, zebras, deer, and antelopes.
• Soil: The country has sandy deserts, grassland soils, red and lateritic soils, and clayey soils.

Map Information

• South Africa lies predominantly south of the Tropic of Capricorn and shares its borders with Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho.
• It extends from about 22°S to 35°S latitude and 16°E to 32°E longitude, divided into nine provinces, each with its own capital city.

Physical Features of South Africa

• Plateau South Africa is predominantly a high, flat-topped plateau with an average elevation of 1,000 meters, covering most of the country. This plateau region leaves only a narrow coastal plain along the eastern, southern, and western edges. The central and eastern parts of the plateau, known as the High Veld, are the highest, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 meters, reaching up to 3,000 meters in some areas. The High Veld slopes from east to west. The Low Veld, located in the extreme northeast, is a lower elevation area (below 600 meters) with a tropical environment. The plateau drops steeply to the coastal lowlands, creating rugged cliffs known as the Great Escarpment, which separates the high plateau from the lowlands and coastal plains.
• Mountains Several isolated mountain ranges rise above the Great Escarpment and parts of the High Veld. The uKhahlamba/Drakensberg Mountains, located in the east, form a rough semicircle and rise over 3,300 meters, with the highest points being Mafadi Peak (3,450 meters) and Njesuthi (3,408 meters). Other significant mountain ranges include Stormberg, Winterberg, Sneeuberg, and Waterberg in the eastern central regions; Nuweveldberge, Swartberg, Outeniqua, and Roggeveldberge in the south-central part; and Kamiesberge, Langeberge, and Kareeberge in the western and northwestern regions.
• Arid Regions The Great Karoo (Land of Great Thirst) and Little Karoo are vast arid basins located in the high plateau to the south. To the northwest, the plateau transitions into an arid, sandy desert region that merges with the Kalahari Desert, extending into Namibia and Botswana.
• Coastal Plains, Sandbars, and Bays The narrow coastal plains and lowlands, ranging between 200 and 400 meters in height, slope down from the Great Escarpment. These areas are drained by the lower courses of many rivers that flow from the plateau to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The coastline, which exceeds 3,000 kilometers in length, features stretches of sandy beaches and several natural bays formed by marine deposition creating sandbars and spits. Notable bays include St. Helena, Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, and False Bay on the western coast, and Mossel Bay and Algoa Bay on the eastern and southern coasts.
• Rivers South Africa's major rivers originate in the highest parts of the High Veld, the Great Escarpment, or the Drakensberg Mountains, flowing in various directions. While some rivers have navigable stretches over the plateau, they often descend to the coastal plains in rapids and waterfalls. Key rivers include:
• Orange River: The longest river in South Africa, forming part of the border between South Africa and Namibia before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Limpopo River: Flows across the northern part of South Africa into the Indian Ocean.
  • Vaal River: A major tributary of the Orange River, flowing through several provinces, including Gauteng and Free State.
  • Tugela River: Located in KwaZulu-Natal, known for the Tugela Falls, the world's second-highest waterfall.
  • Capes Capes, or extensions of the coastline jutting into the sea, are common along South Africa's coast. Prominent capes include the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Agulhas, Cape Hermes, Cape St. Francis, and Cape Recife.
• Lake St. Lucia Lake St. Lucia is the largest lake in South Africa, spanning roughly 350 square kilometers. It is an estuarine lake, meaning it is a coastal body of water connected to the sea, with brackish water influenced by tidal flows.

Climate of South Africa

South Africa has a temperate climate characterized by warm to hot summers and mild to cool winters, with most of the rainfall occurring during the summer months.
Several factors influence the country's climate:

• Geographical Location: Apart from a small portion in the northern region, the majority of South Africa lies south of the Tropic of Capricorn, placing it in the southern temperate zone. As a result, South Africa experiences summer in December and January, and winter in June and July.
• Proximity to Oceans: South Africa is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Southern Ocean to the south. This proximity to large bodies of water gives the coastal regions a maritime climate, where temperatures and rainfall are moderated by the sea. In contrast, inland areas experience more extreme climates. For example, coastal Durban has warmer winter temperatures and cooler summer temperatures compared to the inland city of Bloemfontein.
• Ocean Currents: The cold Benguela Current, flowing north along the west coast, and the warm Agulhas Current, moving south along the east coast, significantly impact coastal temperatures. For instance, Port Nolloth on the west coast has a summer temperature of 19°C and a winter temperature of 12°C, while Durban, located on the east coast at the same latitude, has higher summer temperatures of 25°C and warmer winter temperatures of 20°C.
• Altitude: The high elevation of South Africa’s plateau, averaging between 1,000 m and 1,500 m, also affects the climate, particularly in the High Veld and mountainous regions. These areas are cooler in summer and colder in winter compared to lower-lying areas. For example, Johannesburg, situated at 1,740 m, has a summer temperature of 20°C and a winter temperature of 10°C, whereas Maputo, located at sea level, experiences higher summer temperatures of 26°C and milder winter temperatures of 20°C.

These factors combined result in a diverse climate across South Africa, with variations in temperature and rainfall between coastal and inland regions, as well as between low-lying areas and higher elevations.

Summer in South Africa

• Temperature: During December, which marks the summer season in South Africa, the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn, causing temperatures to rise significantly. Across most of the plateau in South Africa, temperatures range from 20°C to 25°C. However, in the northwest interior, near the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, temperatures can soar above 25°C, reaching up to 32°C. The higher elevations of the High Veld in the east-central region, along with other mountainous areas, experience cooler temperatures, ranging from 15°C to 20°C.
• Rainfall: The predominant winds during this period are the Southeast Trade Winds, which originate from the Indian Ocean. As these winds travel over the warm Agulhas Current, they pick up moisture, becoming rain-bearing winds. The Southeast Trade Winds are the primary source of rainfall for South Africa, with the amount of rainfall generally decreasing from east to west.
  • East Coast and Drakensberg Mountains: When these moisture-laden winds hit the east coast of South Africa, they bring substantial rainfall, exceeding 140 cm annually along the southeast coastal strip and the windward slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.
  • Central Plateau: As the winds move further inland, the central parts of the plateau, particularly those in the rain-shadow of the Drakensberg and the High Veld, receive between 50 cm and 140 cm of rainfall.
  • Western and Northern Regions: Rainfall diminishes further as the winds travel westward, with the plateau receiving only 20 cm to 60 cm of rain. By the time these winds reach the north and western parts of South Africa, the rainfall reduces to a mere 5 cm to 20 cm, rendering these regions arid to semi-arid, especially near the borders with the Kalahari Desert.

This pattern of temperature and rainfall distribution during the summer months highlights the climatic diversity across different regions of South Africa.

Winter in South Africa

Temperature

In June, during the winter season, the Sun shifts to be directly over the Tropic of Cancer, causing the wind belts to move northwards. As a result, South Africa comes under the influence of the North Westerlies, leading to a decrease in temperatures across the country.

• High Veld and Mountains: The coldest temperatures are experienced in the High Veld and the high mountain regions, where temperatures range between 5°C and 10°C. At the highest elevations, temperatures often drop below freezing.
• Coastal Areas and Lowlands: The coastal areas and the lowlands between the Great Escarpment and the oceans are cooler, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C, largely due to the moderating influence of the surrounding oceans.
• Northern Subtropical Regions: The northern parts of South Africa, which are subtropical, remain relatively warmer with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 20°C.

Rainfall

During winter, the North Westerlies, which originate from the Atlantic Ocean, cool as they pass over the cold Benguela Current. This cooling effect lowers temperatures across the western parts of South Africa.

• Western and Southwestern Corners: These North Westerlies bring winter rainfall primarily to the western and southwestern corners of South Africa, giving these regions a Mediterranean type of climate, characterized by wet winters and dry summers.
• Rest of South Africa: The remainder of South Africa does not receive significant winter rainfall, as these regions fall outside the influence of the North Westerlies during this season.

Climate Types in South Africa

South Africa experiences about five different climate types due to its diverse geography:

• Tropical Climate: Found in the northernmost part of South Africa, influenced by its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer.
• Subtropical Climate: Predominantly in the coastal areas, where the influence of the sea, ocean currents, and prevailing winds is strong.
• Warm Temperate Steppe/Veld Climate: Experienced in the High Veld and east-central regions of South Africa.
• Arid to Semi-Arid Climate: Present in the western and northwestern parts of South Africa.
• Mediterranean Climate: Found in the southwestern part of South Africa, characterized by wet winters and dry summers.

These varied climate zones contribute to the diverse weather patterns and environmental conditions found across South Africa during the winter months.

Natural Vegetation of South Africa

The natural vegetation in South Africa varies widely due to differences in rainfall distribution and temperature patterns across the country.

• Tropical Savanna Grasslands: The northernmost areas of South Africa, which are the warmest, feature tropical savanna grassland vegetation. This region is characterized by small trees, shrubs, and short grasses.
• Temperate Grasslands (Steppe/Veld): South of the northernmost areas, extending towards the east and central parts of South Africa, are temperate grasslands or steppe/veld vegetation. This is the most typical vegetation type across much of the country. The grasses in this region are long but tend to dry out during the cold and dry winter season. However, they become lush and green with the arrival of spring and summer rains.
• Coastal Palm Forests: Along the east and southeast coasts, there are coastal palm forests, which thrive due to the region's moderate climate and consistent rainfall.
• Arid Desert to Semi-Arid Vegetation (Karoo): To the west of the country, the vegetation transitions into arid desert and semi-arid xerophytic scrub and bush, often referred to as Karoo. The Nama Karoo is typical of the west-central region, characterized by tough, drought-resistant plants. Further west, in drier regions, the succulent Karoo is found, with vegetation like the narra and mongongo, which are adapted to extreme arid conditions.
• Fynbos Biome: The southwest corner of South Africa features vegetation adapted to the Mediterranean climate of dry summers and wet winters. This vegetation type, known as the Fynbos biome, includes plants with thick, fat tap roots, small spiky leaves, and flowers that typically bloom in winter. However, much of this area has now been cleared for fruit orchards.

These diverse vegetation zones reflect South Africa's varied climate and topography, with each region supporting distinct plant communities adapted to their specific environmental conditions.

Wildlife of South Africa

• South Africa, with its diverse climate and vegetation, offers a rich habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The national and provincial governments have put in place strong conservation measures to protect the country's wildlife. The 290 conservation parks and reserves are vital for preserving and safeguarding the natural habitats of various species.
• However, the expansion of human settlements and the demand for land for mixed farming have led to a decline in wildlife populations and the clearing of natural vegetation in many areas. Despite these challenges, South Africa continues to support a vast array of wildlife, some of which are specially protected and cannot be hunted. These include species like grysboks, klipspringers, red hartebeests, giraffes, black rhinoceroses, pangolins, and aardvarks.
• Big game hunting, although strictly regulated and only permitted seasonally, remains a popular activity that attracts many tourists. South Africa is home to a variety of iconic wildlife species, including lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, rhinoceroses, hyenas, hippopotamuses, African buffaloes, baboons, zebras, and numerous species of deer and antelope. Other animals such as jackals, caracals, mongooses, reptiles (like pythons, mambas, and cobras), amphibians, and a vast array of insects also inhabit the country. Additionally, seals and penguins can be found in some coastal areas.
• South Africa's rich birdlife is equally impressive, featuring species such as flamingos, kingfishers, pelicans, bald ibises, owls, herons, egrets, black eagles, cormorants, jacanas, bearded vultures, petrels, and skuas.
• This diverse wildlife makes South Africa a unique and vital region for conservation and offers significant opportunities for wildlife tourism.

Soil of South Africa

In South Africa, only about one-tenth of the land area has soils that are suitable for agriculture. Soil erosion, caused by wind, rain, and poor farming practices, contributes to desertification, which reduces the amount of cultivable land each year.

• Sandy Desert Soils: Most of the soils in the western half of South Africa are sandy desert soils or semi-desert loamy soils. These soils result from low rainfall, creating desert-like conditions that make them unsuitable for large-scale agricultural production.
• Grassland Soils: The eastern half of South Africa, particularly in the grassland regions, has deep, dark, and fertile soils. These soils are enriched by the organic content from decayed grassroots and stems, making them more suitable for agriculture. These fertile soils are found across parts of the plateau, especially in the central and northern regions.
• Red and Lateritic Soils: In the lowlands to the east of the Great Escarpment, red and lateritic soils are common. These soils are heavily leached, which can reduce their fertility.
• Clayey Soils: Clayey soils are found in the river valleys, where they can retain moisture and support certain types of crops.

These variations in soil types reflect the diverse climatic and geographical conditions across South Africa, influencing the country's agricultural potential.