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30-542: The river has two sources, one in the highveld north of Mbabane , which is known as the Black Mbuluzi, and a second in the middleveld near Manzini , which is known as the White Mbuluzi, or imBuluzane . The river passes through the northeastern lowveld of Eswatini, specifically traversing Hlane Royal National Park and Shewula Nature Reserve. In Eswatini, in the vicinity of the sugar plantations of Mhlume ,

60-667: A river in Eswatini is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Mozambique is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Highveld The Highveld ( Afrikaans : Hoëveld, pronounced [ˈɦuəfælt] , lit.   ' High Field ' ) is the portion of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly 1,500 m (4,900 ft), but below 2,100 m (6,900 ft), thus excluding

90-567: Is Botha's lark ( Spizocorys fringillaris ) and the two endemic mammals – the Free State pygmy mouse ( Mus orangiae ) and the rough-haired golden mole ( Chrysospalax villosa ). As well as the python, other reptiles include the Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ), Nile monitor ( Varanus niloticus ), rock monitor ( Varanus albigularis ), and giant girdled lizard or sungazer ( Smaug giganteus ). Like many other areas of grassland all over

120-484: Is a mountainous, landlocked country located in Southern Africa . It is an enclave , surrounded by South Africa . The total length of the country's borders is 909 kilometres (565 mi). Lesotho covers an area of around 30,355 square kilometres (11,720 sq mi), of which a negligible percentage is covered with water. The most popular geographic fact about Lesotho, apart from its status as an enclave,

150-560: Is that it is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) in elevation . Its lowest point is at 1,400 metres (4,593 ft), the highest low point of any country . Because of its elevation, the country's climate is cooler than in most other regions at the same latitude . Its climate zone can be classified as continental . Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa, located at around 29°30' south latitude and 28°30' east longitude. It

180-473: Is the 141st largest country in the world , with a total land area of 30,355 square kilometres (11,720 sq mi), of which a negligible percentage is covered with water. Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three countries in the world that are enclaved within another country; the other two are San Marino and Vatican City , both located within Italy . The total length of

210-516: Is the peak of the Thabana Ntlenyana mountain, which reaches an elevation of 3,482 metres (11,424 ft). Over 80% of Lesotho lies above 1,800 metres (5,906 ft). Even though very little of Lesotho is covered in water, the rivers that run across the country are an important part of Lesotho's economy. Much of the country's export income comes from water, and much of its power comes from hydroelectricity . The Orange River rises in

240-702: The Drakensberg mountains in northeastern Lesotho and flows across the entire length of the country before exiting to South Africa at the Mohale's Hoek District in the southwest. The Caledon River marks the northwestern part of the border with South Africa. Other rivers include the Malibamatso , Matsoku and Senqunyane . The bedrock of Lesotho belongs to the Karoo Supergroup , consisting mostly of shale and sandstone . Peatlands can be found in

270-850: The Kruger National Park ). Another well defined boundary is to its north where the Magaliesberg separates the Highveld from the Bushveld. The continuation of the Great Escarpment to the south separates the Highveld from KwaZulu-Natal. The south-eastern portion of the Great Escarpment (that portion of the Great Escarpment most commonly referred to as the Drakensberg ) rises to over 3000 m and forms

300-517: The Lesotho mountain regions to the south-east of the Highveld. It is home to some of the country's most important commercial farming areas, as well as its largest concentration of metropolitan centres, especially the Gauteng conurbation , which accommodates one-third of South Africa's population. The Highveld constitutes almost the whole of the Free State , and Gauteng Provinces, and portions of

330-548: The Letseng diamond mine in the Maluti mountain range. The mine produces very few stones, but has the highest dollar ratio per carat of any diamond mine in the world. Other mineral resources include coal , galena , quartz , agate and uranium deposits, but their exploitation is not considered commercially viable. Clay deposits can be found in the country, and are used for producing tiles, bricks and other ceramics. Much of

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360-408: The Malibamatso , Matsoku , Senqu and Senqunyane rivers to South Africa, while also generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho's needs. As of April 2008, the first phase of the project has been completed. The project already accounts for an estimated five percent of Lesotho's GDP , and when fully completed, it could account for as much as 20 percent. The main mineral resource is diamonds from

390-609: The Witwatersrand , the Magaliesberg , and Vredefort Dome . The Vaal River and its tributaries form the main water drainage system of the Highveld. Tributaries of the Orange River drain the most southerly regions of the Highveld. The Highveld rainy season occurs in summer, with substantial afternoon thunderstorms being typical occurrences in November, December, and January. Frost occurs in winter. Cities located on

420-530: The grassland acts as a natural filter, providing sources of clean water. Naturally occurring vegetation in the Highveld consists of different types of well-established grassland depending on the varying amounts of rainfall across the area: subtropical and temperate grassland , with true savannah not dominating the ecosystem until more tropical latitudes. The major grass species are Hyparrhenia hirta and Sporobolus pyramidalis and among these are other grasses and herbs. Trees and shrubs never thrived due to

450-470: The last glacial period in the area. Lesotho is divided into 10 administrative districts , each with its own capital, called a camptown . The districts are further subdivided into 80 constituencies, which consist of 129 local community councils. The distribution of population in Lesotho overlaps with the country's varied ecological conditions; poverty too is linked to ecological conditions. Districts (in alphabetical order): Because of its altitude,

480-589: The Highveld include Johannesburg , Pretoria , Bloemfontein , Vereeniging , Welkom , Carletonville , and the cities of the West Rand and East Rand . The diamond-mining city of Kimberley lies on the border of the Highveld and the southeastern Kalahari. About half of the gold ever produced in the world has been mined on the Highveld since 1880. The largest deposits are located in the Witwatersrand, which centres on Johannesburg, with smaller deposits in

510-621: The South African border is 909 kilometres (565 mi). Lesotho's status as an enclave also means that it is landlocked and largely dependent on South Africa. The nearest major shipping port is Durban . Lesotho can be roughly divided into three geographic regions: the lowlands, following the southern banks of the Caledon River , and in the Senqu river valley; the highlands formed by the Drakensberg and Maloti mountain ranges in

540-646: The boundary between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. The latter mountainous region is, however, not generally referred to as Highveld, whose boundary at this point runs just inside the Lesotho-Free State border, about 2,000 m (6,600 ft). From its eastern boundary, the Highveld slopes gently downwards to be bounded by the Great Karoo to the south, the Kalahari desert to the west, the Bushveld to

570-470: The country remains cooler throughout the year than most other regions at the same latitude. Lesotho has a temperate climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Maseru and its surrounding lowlands often reach 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer. Winters can be cold with the lowlands getting down to −7 °C (19.4 °F) and the highlands to −20 °C (−4.0 °F) at times. The yearly precipitation varies from around 600 millimetres (23.6 in) in

600-530: The east and central parts of the country; and the foothills that form a divide between the lowlands and the highlands. The lowest elevation in the country is at the junction of the Makhaleng and Orange (Senqu) rivers (at the South African border), which at 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) is the highest lowest point of any country. Lesotho is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) in elevation. The highest point

630-468: The frequent fires that occurred in the dry season and the heavy grazing (once by wild animals and now by livestock ). The Highveld is home to a number of endangered animals, including straw-coloured fruit bats ; Africa's largest snake, the African rock python ( Python sebae ); mountain zebras ; and South Africa's national bird, the blue crane ( Anthropoides paradiseus ). The only endemic bird species

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660-430: The higher peaks can experience occasional significant snowfall year-round. Annual variance in rainfall is quite erratic, which leads to periodic droughts in the dry season (May to September) and flooding , which can be severe in the rainy season (October–April). Lesotho is poor in natural resources. Economically the most important resource is water. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project allows exporting water from

690-481: The highlands of Lesotho, most extensively in the mountainous escarpment near the country's eastern border. The summit of Thabana Ntlenyana is partially encircled by bogs. Solifluction deposits , blockfields , blockstreams and stone garlands can be found across the higher portions of the Lesotho Highlands. These features were formed in connection to the periglacial conditions that prevailed during

720-403: The lowland valleys to around 1,200 millimetres (47.2 in) in areas of the northern and eastern escarpment bordering South Africa. Most of the rain falls as summer thunderstorms : 85% of the annual precipitation falls between the months of October and April. The winters—between May and September are usually very dry. Snow is common in the deserts and low valleys between May and September;

750-625: The north, the Mpumalanga Lowveld to the northeast, KwaZulu-Natal to the east, and the Lesotho Highlands, or Mountains , to the southeast. The Highveld covers an area of almost 400,000 km (150,000 sq mi), or roughly 30% of South Africa's land area. The Highveld terrain is generally devoid of mountains, consisting of rolling plains, especially in the Free State, sometimes interrupted by rocky ridges such as

780-619: The northern Free State near Welkom and Virginia . The Highveld is also exceedingly rich in diamonds , coal , vanadium , and manganese . The pollution in this region is also very high principally due to coal thermal power stations producing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide . Agriculture on the Highveld is generally dominated by extensive grain production and the grazing of beef cattle , with more intensive production of maize , wheat , sorghum , citrus fruits , groundnuts , sunflowers , and vegetables , occurring in irrigated areas and farmland closer to urban areas. The peat base of

810-411: The population engages in subsistence farming , even though only 10.71% of the country's surface is classified as arable land and 0.13% has permanent crops. Much of the land has been ruined by soil erosion . The most fertile farmlands are in the northern and central lowlands, and in the foothills between the lowlands and the mountains. Large tracts of the fertile farmland to the north of the country—in

840-826: The river is impounded by the Mnjoli Dam . In Mozambique it is known as the Umbeluzi , and is impounded there by the Pequenos Libombos Dam . The river is augmented by various tributaries before its waters enter Maputo Bay . Two other major rivers empty into Maputo Bay , namely the Komati or Incomati River from the north, and the Great Usutu or Maputo River from the south. 25°58′24″S 32°33′28″E  /  25.9733°S 32.5577°E  / -25.9733; 32.5577 This article related to

870-625: The surrounding areas: the western rim of Lesotho, and portions of the Eastern Cape , Northern Cape , North West , Limpopo , and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa. The highest part of the Highveld, around 2,100 m (6,900 ft), is its northeastern well-defined boundary, where the plateau escarpment (the Mpumalanga Drakensberg ) separates it from the Mpumalanga Lowveld , (containing, amongst others,

900-764: The world, the Highveld is excellent agricultural land and most of the area has been converted for farming. The grassland areas now remaining in the natural state are in various nature reserves, which, although a small portion of the Highveld, are still the largest areas of remaining grassland in South Africa . The protected areas include Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve , Verloren Valei Nature Reserve , Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve , Bronkhorstspruit Dam Nature Reserve, Vaal Dam Nature Reserve, and Koppies Dam Nature Reserves and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve . 27°S 28°E  /  27°S 28°E  / -27; 28 Geography of Lesotho Lesotho

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