Luvuvhu

Luvuvhu Revubye, Levubu River
The Notwane in the Limpopo catchment area (right center)
Data
location	South Africa ( Limpopo Province )
River system	Limpopo
Drain over	Limpopo  → Indian Ocean
source	Soutpansberg , South Africa
muzzle	Limpopo coordinates: 22 ° 25 ′ 32 "  S , 31 ° 18 ′ 35"  E 22 ° 25 ′ 32 "  S , 31 ° 18 ′ 35"  E
length	200 km
Catchment area	4826 km²
Left tributaries	Barotta, Latonyanda, Madsaringwe, Mambedi, Mbodi
Right tributaries	Dzindi, Mutshindudi, Mutale
The Luvuvhu at the level of the Lanner Gorge , near the confluence with the Limpopo near Pafuri

The Luvuvhu River (name comes from the Bantu language Tshivenda ; English Levubu River , Tsonga : Revubye ) is a river that flows through the northern Limpopo province of South Africa . It is part of the Luvubu and Letaba Water Management Area . The Luvuvhu extends - starting from the Soutpansgebirge - over approximately 200 km by different landscapes, before he is in the range Fever Tree Forest (derived from the trees of vachellia xanthophloea ) in the vicinity of the northernmost lobe of the Kruger National Park in Crooks' Corner , wherein Pafuri ( Makuleke Concession ), into which Limpopo flows. The confluence lies in the triangle of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique .

The name is said to be derived from the word muvuvhu in the Bantu-speaking area of ​​the Venda , synonymous with hippopotamus . Possibly the term has its etymological roots in the word Mvuvhu (Combretum kraussii) , a stately tree species that is widespread in East Africa.

climate

The catchment area of ​​the Luvuvhu covers an area of ​​4826 km². Average annual temperatures range from around 18 ° C in the mountainous regions to over 28 ° C in the northern and eastern parts of the area. Precipitation in the Luvuvhu catchment area is highly seasonal and occurs mainly in the summer months (October to March), with peak values ​​being reached in January and February. The average annual rainfall varies between less than 450 mm in the low-lying plains and more than 2300 mm at Entambeini on the Soutpansberg.

Topography / geology

Rivers in South Africa

The topography of the catchment area of ​​the Luvuvhu is inconsistent. In the northeast, high mountains and low-lying plains alternate. The features of the distinctive Soutpansberg slope to the west into the broad plains of the Lowveld . Since the highest peaks and the steepest slopes of this mountain range are in the upper part of the Luvuvhu catchment area, this means high rainfall in the region. The natural runoff of the Luvhuvu River brings about 121 million m³ / year to the valley. Groundwater resources are available in different amounts. They are largest in the central catchment area, which is why they are the most densely populated.

The geology of the region is diverse. It consists of sedimentary rocks in the north and metamorphic and igneous rocks in the south. High-quality coal deposits can be found near Tshikondeni and in the northern part of the Kruger National Park.

Tributaries / dams

View of the Luvuvhu, Makuleke area

At the level of the estuary into the Limpopo (near Pafuri)

Tributaries of the Luvuvhu are the Barotta , Latonyanda , Madsaringwe , Mambedi , Mbodi , Mutshindudi , Mutale , and Ngwedi .

Some of the rivers are dammed by means of barriers. In the Luvhuvu, for example, the Albasini Dam , built in 1952, is used for local irrigation. It has a maximum capacity of 25.6 million m³. The Nandoni Dam has a capacity of 163 million m³ . The dammed water of the Damani dam (12.4 million m³) was used to irrigate a coffee plantation and is now being rededicated (regional water supply). The Mambedi Dam (7 million m³) is located in the tributary of the same name of the Luvuvhu and is used for private purposes by a South African tea producer. In Barotta is the Tshakhuma-dam (2.1 million m³), which was built in 1990 and in Mutshindudi the vono Dam (30.4 million m³).

Fauna / flora

The eastern part of the Luvuvhu catchment area lies within the Kruger National Park. Characteristically, this is where the habitat of birds such as the gray din , hornbills , flycatchers , stranglers and whackers is located . The African baobab tree is abundant in terms of vegetation . Millet and sorghum are grown under irrigation conditions .

See also

• List of rivers in South Africa
• List of dams in South Africa
• Border between South Africa and Mozambique

Web links

Commons : Luvuvhu  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Luvuvhu Sub-basin

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Luvuvu and Lethaba WMA 2
2. ↑ LETABA AND LUVUVHU RIVER SYSTEMS - 2001 ( Memento of the original from April 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
3. ^ Elwyn Jenkins, Falling into Place: The Story of Modern South African Place Names , David Philip Publishers, p. 75, 2007
4. ^ EJ du Plessis, Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Table Mountain uitgewers, Cape Town. p. 265, 1973
5. ^ Water resources Luvuvhu
6. ^ Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Luvuvhu / Letaba Water Management Area: Internal Strategic Perspective. Prepared by Goba Moahloli Keeve Steyn (Pty) Ltd in association with Tlou and Matji, Golder Associates Africa and BKS on behalf of the Directorate: National Water Resource Planning. DWAF Report No. P WMA 02/000/00/0304
7. ↑ LUVUVHU RIVER ( Memento of the original from June 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ↑ Nandoni Dam
9. ↑ LUVUVHU RIVER: Dams ( Memento of the original from June 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.