The Olifants River, Lepelle , iBhalule or Obalule ( Afrikaans : Olifantsrivier ; Portuguese : Rio dos Elefantes ) 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 .
6-707: Middelburg Dam is a dam located on the Klein Olifants River , part of the Olifants River basin. It is located near Middelburg, Mpumalanga , South Africa . Construction was completed in 1978, at a cost of €54.2 million. The cost was partially subsided by the French and German Governments, at a cost of €20.5 million, whilst also using a donation from the European Stability Mechanism , valued at €10 million. The primary purpose of
12-693: A slight increase in nitrates could initiate eutrophication . Very high sulphate levels were attributed to coal mining and industry in the upper catchment. The Olifants River's largest tributaries are the Letaba River and the Steelpoort River known as Tubatse River. Other tributaries are the Tongwane , Blyde , Moses , Spekboom , Timbavati , Nkumpi , Ga-Selati , Klaserie , Makhutswi , Mohlapitse River , Lepellane River , Mohwetse River and Ngwaritsi River. Some tributaries, notably
18-622: The Indian Ocean at Xai-Xai north of Maputo . Overgrazing in sections of its middle course result in the river carrying away eroded soil after heavy rains. The Olifants river has become one of the most heavily polluted rivers in South Africa, not by human or industrial waste, but by thriving green algae. A 2013 study in the Kruger Park found that the river was mesotrophic, meaning that nutrient levels were fairly low, though
24-821: The Klein Olifants River (origin near Hendrina , joins the Olifants River downstream of the Middelburg Dam ), the Elands , Wilge and the Bronkhorstspruit , rise in the Highveld grasslands. The Shingwedzi River flows close to the northeastern side of the Massingir Dam reservoir and joins the left bank of the Olifants about 12 km downstream from the dam wall. Thirty large dams in
30-916: The Loskop Dam and is forced east by the Transvaal Drakensberg , cutting through at the Abel Erasmus Pass and then flowing east further across the Lowveld to join with the Letaba River . It crosses into Gaza Province , Mozambique , after cutting through the Lebombo Mountains by way of the Olifants Gorge, becoming the Rio dos Elefantes , and finally joining the Limpopo River after 40 km before it enters
36-465: The dam is to serve for water supply and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3). This article about a dam or floodgate in South Africa is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Olifants River (Limpopo) The Olifants River has its origin between Breyten and Bethal , Mpumalanga Province . It flows north towards Limpopo Province through Witbank Dam and then
#145854