Molopo River
- Overview
- Tributaries
- Geophysical
- Hydrology and Geohydrology
- Ecology
- Land-uses
- Populated Places
- Water Infrastructure
- References
Overview
The Molopo river flows south-westerly. It is about 960 km long and it also acts as a border between South Africa and Botswana in the north-western part of South Africa. Molopo River flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the South.”
It ascends east of Mafikeng in Northwest Province of South Africa . Furthermore, it runs usually west for approximately 600miles to attach the Orange River close to the Southern eastern boundary of Namibia .”
The Upper Molopo River is a tributary of the Orange River. It ceases as a surface flow and discharges into pans in Botswana before turning south and emerging as surface flow just before it reaches the Orange River.
The Upper Molopo river catchment covers an area of 4 300 km2.
Tributary
| Name | Comment |
|---|---|
| Kuruman River | |
| Phephane River | |
| Ramatlabama River | |
| Nossob River | |
| Madebe River | |
| Modimola River | |
| Setlagoli River | |
| Upper Molopo River |
Geophysical
Soils
The western portion of Upper Molopo catchment is underlain by Basement granite. This is covered with an increasing thickness of Kalahari sand to the west. A mostly intrusive volcanic rock assemblage (Allanridge lava) lies to the east of Mafikeng. Significant aquifers are present locally north of Slurry. The aquifers tend to be relatively shallow.
Moderate to deep clay loam soils occur in most of the Upper Molopo catchment with moderate to deep sandy soils in the lower reaches.
The moderate to deep clay loam soils are not the ideal soils for irrigation farming because although they have a reasonably high water holding capacity they are not readily penetrable by water The northern and western part of the Molopo River, is mainly underlain by sedimentary formations and covered by Kalahari sands.
Hydrology and Geohydrology
Hydrology
Requirements for water in the Molopo sub-area are relatively small and constitute only 6% of the total water requirements within the water management area.
It must be noted that the 197 million m3 per annum is the natural mean runoff for the entire Molopo catchment, including the upper portion of the catchment, which falls outside this water management area, in the neighbouring state of Botswana. The contribution of runoff from the South African portion of the Molopo catchment is negligible as the remaining runoff is lost through evaporation.
Ecology
Terrestrial Animals
These different areas enable us to offer a wide range of game species. These areas are home to Eland, Sable Antelope, Tsessebe, Kudu, Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Warterbuck, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Bushbuck, Springbok, Impala and many others. There are also over 350 bird species to be seen.
Vegetation
Infestations of invading alien vegetation occur along some watercourses, and is particularly serious in parts of the Molopo River catchment.
Grassland and sparse bushveld shrubbery and trees cover most of the terrain in the Upper Molopo
Overgrazing in the Upper Molopo results in excessive soil erosion and loss of land cover.
Climate
Temperature
Maximum temperatures are experienced in January and minimum temperatures usually occur in July.
Frost occurs in winter.
Rainfall
The climate of the catchment of the Upper Molopo is generally semi-arid in the east and dry in the west. The Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) ranging between 400 and 600 in the Upper Molopo catchments. The rainfall is strongly seasonal with rainfall occurring as thunderstorms in summer. The variation in annual rainfall from the long term mean is especially pronounced in the Upper Molopo river catchments (DWAF: 1997).
The average potential Mean Annual Evaporation (MAE) for the the Upper Molopo is very high. It is estimated to be as high as 2800mm, with the highest levels occurring in December (DWAF: 2001).
Land-use
Agricultural
In the Upper Molopo catchment the land use pattern is mainly grazing and dryland subsistence agriculture, with Mafikeng the major urban and industrial town in the catchment. Commercial irrigated agriculture occurs in the northern and western portions of the catchment where the dolomites traverse the Upper Molopo catchment.
Populated Places
| Town | District | Municipality | River/Tributary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logaging | NCape | Setlagole River – tributary of Molopo River | |
| Mafikeng | NWest | Molopo River | |
| Makgobistad | NWest | Molopo River | |
| Mmabatho | NWest | Molopo River | |
| Masibi | NWest | Molopo River | |
| Morokweng | Molopo River | ||
| Noenieput | NCape | Molopo River | |
| Riemvasmaak | NCape | Molopo River | |
| Vorstershoop | Phepane River- tributary of Molopo River | ||
| Witdraai | NCape | Kuruman River – tributary of Molopo River |
Water Infrastructure
Dams
| Name | Capacity | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Disaneng Dam | 14.1 | Upper Molopo River |
| Madimola Dam | Upper Molopo River | |
| Setumo Dam | 20.7 | Upper Molopo River |
References:
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Area: Internal Strategic Perspective of the Marico-Upper Molopo & Upper Ngotwane catchments. Prepared by Goba Moahloli Keeve Steyn in association with Golder and Associates and Tlou and Matji (Pty) Ltd. DWAF Report No. P WMA 03/000/00/0404