Geography

The geography of the Orange-Senqu River basin is highly variable, from the mountainous terrain of the Kingdom of Lesotho, through the semi-arid and arid landscapes of South Africa’s Karoo and Richtersveld, to the deserts of southern Namibia. Because the river basin intersects four countries (including essentially the whole of Lesotho), traverses various geographical regions and biomes, and supports a wide array of water demands, there is a great need for Integrated Water Resource Management.

This chapter of the Orange-Senqu River Awareness Kit summarises basin geography, describes the footprint of the River basin, reviews the geological history that shaped the basin, and provides an overview of the soils of the region.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covers the following concepts and material:

• The topography, significant geographical characteristics and main land types of the Orange-Senqu River basin
• The geography of the Orange-Senqu River basin, including the distribution of sub-catchments and the primary rivers
• The types and distribution of landcover in the Orange-Senqu River basin
• The geology of the Orange-Senqu River basin
• The main soil types present in the Orange-Senqu River basin and their distribution
• The names and distribution of the main mineral reserves in each country

Golden Gate Park, South Africa.

Source:Hughes 2004

( click to enlarge )