seabilwe
commented
3 years ago 11. BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
11.1. General description of site characteristics and topography of area:
(Briefly describe the major topographic features (wetlands, marshes, mountain ranges, dunes etc.) which most typically characterize the landscape of the area). Topography: The Waterberg Mountain range is the most noticeable topographic feature in the biosphere reserve. The elevation of the range above sea level within the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve area varies between 807.7 meters (lowest point) in Wonderkop Nature Reserve and 2100 meters (highest point) in Marakele National Park. The mountainous area of the Waterberg forms a large plateau with steep escarpments t the south and east. The mountain range has predominantly sandstone hills and mountains.
The area receives between 650 and 900 mm of rain annually. It is characterized by numerous streams and small streams, rock-pools and large pools in the stream and river beds, fountains , marshes, and other features associated with high rainfall on the rocky areas of the mountains. The bare and beautiful sandstone cliffs so typically of the Waterberg mountains and other adjacent hill or koppies can be described as a major characterizing feature of the biosphere as well.
Vegetation The vegetation of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and surrounding area are classified and considered to being savanna. Therefore being a savanna biome. Less than 5% of the biome is formally protected in the region. There are bout 5 different veld types represented in the biosphere reserve. The common types are the Sour Bushveld and Mixed Bushveld. The north is dominated by the Arid Sweet Bushveld. The south and central on the highest parts of the Waterberg are covered by one of the most threatened veld types (i.e. the North-Eastern Mountain Sourveld). The Sour Bushveld has the most occurrence in the biosphere reserve. The Waterberg Plateau has very large diversity of habitat types, such as valleys, cliffs and slopes. The deep sandy are alternated by shallow and rocky soils that occur on the flats and plateau. In the valleys the vegetation changes from riparian vegetation to the predominately thornveld on the loamy alluvial valley floors.
River systems and wetlands The Lephalala, Mokolo, Matlabas, and the Mogalakwena are the four main drainage rivers that exist within the area. These rivers and other numerous smaller streams and rivers, constitute a major water catchment area for the Limpopo basin. The larger Waterberg District and the concept of promoting the biosphere reserve model as an important bio-regional plan and strongly advocates the integration of the Nylsvley floodplain in the future zonation pattern of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.
Wetlands play an important hydrological and ecological role, because they perform a number of functions, such as water storage , stream flow regulation, flood attenuation, water purification, nutrient assimilation, sediment accretion, and the provision of habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.
11.2 Altitudinal range
11.2.1 Highest elevation above sea level: 2100 metres 11.2.2 Lowest elevation above sea level: 800 metres 11.2.3 For coastal/marine areas, maximum depth below mean sea level: ____ metres
11.3. Climate:
(Briefly describe the climate of the area, you may wish to use the regional climate classification by Köppen as suggested by WMO (http://www.wmo.int/pages/themes/climate/understanding_climate.php)). 11.3.1 Average temperature of the warmest month: between 25 to 28 °C 11.3.2 Average temperature of the coldest month: between 14 to 19 °C 11.3.3 Mean annual precipitation: between 600 to 900 mm, recorded at an elevation of ___ metres
11.3.4 Is there a meteorological station in or near the proposed biosphere reserve? If so, what is its name and location and how long has it been operating?
- Lephalale
- Thabazimbi
- Mokopane
- Bela-Bela
11.4. Geology, geomorphology, soils:
(Briefly describe important formations and conditions, including bedrock geology, sedimentary deposits, and important soil types). Geology The main mass of the Waterberg consists sedimentary rock, and is bounded by escarpments on the north, east and south with the central portion forming the Palala Plateau. These sediments are entirely detritus and consist of sandstone, mudstone, shale, conglomerates, and lenses of grits. The Waterberg Group of Sandstone is almost entirely limited to the Waterberg Biosphere. The Bushveld Igneous Complex, was formed 1 954 +/- 30 million years ago while the Waterberg Super Group was formed about 1790 million years ago following an extensive period of leveling due to the erosion of the Bushveld Igneous Complex.
Soils The Waterberg is dominated by sandstone with a large percentage of quartz, therefore the nature of the soil is predominantly sandy. The sandy soils are very leached due to the relatively high rainfall and are, therefore , mostly of a distrophic nature. Large protions of the soils are very shallow and rocky, due to predominantly hilly and mountainous nature of the terrain. Dominant soils found on the flat areas such as the plateau and lower lying plains are of the Clovelly and Avalon forms. Other forms of soil are higher in clay and nutrient content and generally with a better developed structure are more common.
zacharlie
gubuntu
Table 1: Aridity index resulting from the use of P/ETP Mean annual precipitation (P)/mean annual potential evapotranspiration (ETP)
ref biosphere_reserve_nomination_form_2013_en.pdf