Letaba River
Letaba River | |
---|---|
Location of the Letaba River's mouth | |
Etymology | Meaning "sandy river" in Northern Sotho language[1] |
Native name | Ritavi |
Location | |
Country | South Africa |
Region | Limpopo Province |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Gauteng Province |
2nd source | |
• location | Soutpansberg |
Mouth | Olifants River |
• location | Limpopo Province |
• coordinates | 23°59′22″S 31°49′36″E / 23.98944°S 31.82667°ECoordinates: 23°59′22″S 31°49′36″E / 23.98944°S 31.82667°E |
Basin size | 67,000 km2 (26,000 sq mi) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Nharhweni River, , Klein Letaba River, Molototsi River, |
• right | Groot Letaba River, , |
The Letaba River (Afrikaans: Letabarivier), also known as Leţaba, Lehlaba or Ritavi, is a river located in eastern Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Olifants River.
Course[]
It starts at the confluence of the Groot Letaba River and Klein Letaba River, whence they continue their journey eastwards through the Lowveld as the Letaba River. It joins the Olifants River in the foothills of the Lebombo Mountains, near South Africa's border with Mozambique. In Mozambique the latter river is called the Rio Elefantes.
Tributaries include the Middle Letaba River, Nharhweni River, , , Molototsi River, and .
Dams in the basin[]
- Ebenezer Dam
- Tzaneen Dam
- , in the Molototsi River
- , in the Nsama River
- Middle Letaba Dam, in the Middle Letaba River
- Engelhard Dam
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jenkins, Elwyn (2007), Falling into place: the story of modern South African place names, David Philip Publishers, p. 75
Categories:
- Olifants River (Limpopo)
- Rivers of South Africa
- Rivers of Limpopo
- Limpopo geography stubs
- South Africa river stubs