Limpopo River
The Limpopo River (/lɪmˈpoʊpoʊ/) rises in South Africa[2] and flows generally eastward through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountainous vicinity and named the area after their leader. The river has been called the Vhembe by local Venda communities of the area where now that name has been adopted by the South African government as its District Municipality in the north, a name that was also suggested in 2002 as a possible title for the province but was voted against. The river is approximately 1,750 km (1,090 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 415,000 km2 (160,000 sq mi) in size. The mean discharge measured over a year is 170 m3/s (6,000 cu ft/s) to 313 m3/s (11,100 cu ft/s) at its mouth.[3][1] The Limpopo is the second largest African river that drains to the Indian Ocean, after the Zambezi River.[4]
For the province, see Limpopo.
Limpopo River
Vhembe
Botswana/South Africa border
872 m (2,861 ft)
0 m (0 ft)
1,750 km (1,090 mi)
415,000 km2 (160,000 sq mi)
(Period: 1971–2000)313.4 m3/s (11,070 cu ft/s)[1]
Limpopo River
Notwane, Bonwapitse, Mahalapswe, Lotsane, Motloutse, Shashe, Umzingwani, Bubi, Mwenezi, Changane
The first European to sight the river was Vasco da Gama, who anchored off its mouth in 1498 and named it Espirito Santo River. Its lower course was explored by St Vincent Whitshed Erskine in 1868–69, and Captain J F Elton travelled down its middle course in 1870.
The drainage area of Limpopo River has decreased over geological time. Up to Late Pliocene or Pleistocene times, the upper course of the Zambezi River drained into the Limpopo River.[5] The change of the drainage divide is the result of epeirogenic movement that uplifted the surface north of present-day Limpopo River, diverting waters into Zambezi River.[6]
History[edit]
Vasco da Gama, on his first expedition, was probably among the first Europeans to sight the river, when he anchored off the mouth in 1498. However, there has been human habitation in the region since time immemorial—sites in the Makapans Valley near Mokopane contain Australopithecus fossils from 3.5 million years ago. St Vincent Whitshed Erskine, later surveyor general for South Africa, traveled to the mouth of the river in 1868–69.[14]
A Zambezi shark was caught hundreds of kilometres upriver at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in July 1950. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up the Limpopo.[15] In 2013, approximately 15,000 Nile crocodiles were accidentally released into the river from flood gates at the nearby Rakwena Crocodile Farm.[16]
The river as seen from Crook's Corner in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Straight ahead of the river is Mozambique. Across the river is Zimbabwe.
Crossing Limpopo in Mozambique
