Waterberg Biosphere
Waterberg (Thaba Meetse) | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Peak | Geelhoutkop[1] |
Elevation | 1,830 m (6,000 ft) |
Listing | List of mountain ranges of South Africa |
Coordinates | 24°4′30″S 28°8′30″E / 24.07500°S 28.14167°E |
Dimensions | |
Length | 170 km (110 mi) NE/SW |
Width | 80 km (50 mi) NW/SE |
Geography | |
near Vaalwater | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Limpopo |
Geology | |
Orogeny | Kaapvaal Craton |
Age of rock | Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic |
Type of rock | Bushveld Igneous Complex, sandstone |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | From the towns of Vaalwater or Bela-Bela |
The Waterberg (
Waterberg (
Geology
The underlying rock formation derives from the
History
The sandstone formations could retain groundwater sufficient to make a suitable environment for primitive man. The cliff overhangs offered natural shelters for these early humans. The first human ancestors may have been at Waterberg as early as three million years ago, since Makapansgat, 40 kilometres distant, has yielded skeletons of Australopithecus africanus.[2] Hogan suggests that Homo erectus, whose evidence remains were also discovered in Makapansgat, "may have purposefully moved into the higher areas of the Waterberg for summer (December to March) game".
Later people left the first Stone Age artefacts recovered in northern
The first white settlers arrived in Waterberg in 1808 and the first naturalist a
After battles between Boer settlers and tribesmen, the races co-existed until around 1900. The Boers brought further cattle grazing, multiplying the impacts of indigenous tribes. By the beginning of the 20th century there were an estimated 200 western inhabitants of the Waterberg,[4] and grassland loss began to have a severe impact upon native wildlife populations.
Ecology
There are several sub-habitats within the Waterberg Biosphere, which is fundamentally a dry deciduous forest; according to Hogan: "These sub-habitats include high plateau savanna, specialized shaded cliff vegetation system and riparian zone habitat with associated marshes".[2]
Flora and fauna
The savanna consists of rolling grasslands and a semi-
Other indigenous mammals include
Vegetative cliff habitats are abundant in the Waterberg due to the extensive historic riverine
Riparian zones are associated with various rivers that cut through Waterberg. These surface waters all drain to the Limpopo River which flows easterly to discharge into the Indian Ocean. The river bushwillow is a riparian tree in this habitat. These riparian zones offer habitat for birds, reptiles and mammals that require more water than plateau species. The riverine areas are inhabited by the apex predator Nile crocodile and the hippopotamus. These wet habitats have reduced numbers of water-living insects, and the Waterberg is thus considered an almost malaria-free region.
Land management
As of 2006 about 80,000 people lived on the Waterberg plateau, which is part of the Bushveld district of Limpopo Province of South Africa. After
The rise in
Protected areas
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve | |
---|---|
Location | Limpopo, South Africa |
Nearest city | Lephalale |
Coordinates | 23°55′S 28°05′E / 23.917°S 28.083°E |
Area | 654,033 ha (1,616,150 acres) |
Established | 2001 |
Governing body | Waterberg Biosphere Reserve |
waterbergbiosphere | |
UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve was designated in 2001. It has a total area of 654 033 hectares.[7]
The Welgevonden Game Reserve covers 37,500 hectares of the plateau.[8] The Kololo Game Reserve covers 3000 hectares, part of which is in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, and part of which is completely protected.[9]
The Lapalala Wilderness Nature Reserve, just north of Melkrivier covers approximately 48’000 hectares and is the largest private game reserve in the Waterberg and the Limpopo province.
See also
References
- ^ Geelhoutkop - Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
- ^ a b c C. Michael Hogan, Mark L. Cooke and Helen Murray, The Waterberg Biosphere, Lumina Technologies, 22 May 2006. "Lumaw". Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ISBN 1-86872-822-6
- ^ The Encyclopedic History of the Transvaal, Praagh and Lloyd, Johannesburg (1906)
- ^ Eugene Marais, Soul of the Ape, Human and Rousseau (1937)
- ISBN 1-86872-120-5
- ^ "Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa". UNESCO. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Welgevonden Game Reserve". Archived from the original on 4 September 2013.
- ^ "Kololo Game Reserve". Archived from the original on 26 August 2012.