Mokolo River
Encyclopedia
The Mokolo River is a major watercourse in Limpopo Province of South Africa
. The river's catchment area comprises 8387 square kilometers. This river collects much of the drainage of the Waterberg Massif and discharges it to the Limpopo River
. It threads through the Waterberg Massif, which is a biosphere
that contains considerable biodiversity
, including numerous large mammals such as giraffes, white rhinos, blue wildebeest
s. Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a biosphere reserve
by UNESCO
. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of river erosion to yield diverse bluffs and buttes
.
Approximately 87 percent of the river's water beneficial uses is for agriculture
. Some wetlands rehabilitation in the upper Mokolo has been carried out and that effort has been deemed a success.
The Mokolo River and its tributaries rise in the western part of the Waterberg (between 1200 and 1600 metres above mean sea level). It originates in a flattish, open area with numerous koppies and flows through a steep gorge emerging above the town of Vaalwater
. Here the river flows through a relatively flat area until it enters the Mokolo Dam
. From there, it flows through another gorge before entering the Limpopo Plain, near the junction with the Rietspruit. From this point, the Mokolo River flows through flat sandy areas until it reaches the Limpopo River
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The river's catchment area comprises 8387 square kilometers. This river collects much of the drainage of the Waterberg Massif and discharges it to the Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
. It threads through the Waterberg Massif, which is a biosphere
Biosphere
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth, a closed and self-regulating system...
that contains considerable biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, including numerous large mammals such as giraffes, white rhinos, blue wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
The Blue Wildebeest , also called the Common Wildebeest, is a large antelope and one of two species of wildebeest. It grows to 115–145 cm shoulder height and attains a body mass of 168–274 kg. They range the open plains, bushveld and dry woodlands of Southern and East Africa, living for...
s. Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of river erosion to yield diverse bluffs and buttes
Buttes
Buttes was a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009, the former municipalities of Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpice and Travers merged to form Val-de-Travers....
.
Approximately 87 percent of the river's water beneficial uses is for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Some wetlands rehabilitation in the upper Mokolo has been carried out and that effort has been deemed a success.
The Mokolo River and its tributaries rise in the western part of the Waterberg (between 1200 and 1600 metres above mean sea level). It originates in a flattish, open area with numerous koppies and flows through a steep gorge emerging above the town of Vaalwater
Vaalwater
Vaalwater is a small town situated on the Mokolo River in the Limpopo province of South Africa.- Location :The town, unlike other towns in the Limpopo province, is not located on a national road, of which the nearest one is at Nylstroom/Modimolle. It does however lie halfway on a road streching...
. Here the river flows through a relatively flat area until it enters the Mokolo Dam
Mokolo Dam
Mokolo Dam is a dam on the Mokolo River, near Lephalale, Limpopo, South Africa. It was established in 1980.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
. From there, it flows through another gorge before entering the Limpopo Plain, near the junction with the Rietspruit. From this point, the Mokolo River flows through flat sandy areas until it reaches the Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
.