What is the largest drainage basin in South Africa?

What is the largest drainage basin in South Africa?

At 408 250 km², the Limpopo River basin is one of the largest drainage areas in the SADC region, covering large portions of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe (LBPTC 2010).

How does climate affect drainage basin systems?

In general, river basins are shaped by rainfall, which erodes the land as it drains down into a river or stream. In humid environments, a large fraction of rainfall seeps into the Earth, creating a water table, or a local reservoir of groundwater.

What is an example of a drainage basin?

For example, the total area drained by the Mississippi River constitutes its drainage basin, whereas that part of the Mississippi River drained by the Ohio River is the Ohio’s drainage basin.

How many drainage basins are in South Africa?

There are 15 recognised transboundary river basins in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. They range in size from the large Congo River Basin (3 730 470 km²) in the northern part of SADC, to Umbeluzi River Basin (5 500 km²) in the southeast.

Where is drainage basin in South Africa?

The Limpopo River Basin 45% of the drainage area lies in South Africa, while Botswana and Mozambique each occupies 20%. Before entering into Mozambique, 1 770 km of the river forms the border between Botswana and South Africa, and the entire border between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

What causes drainage basins?

The drainage basin includes all the surface water from rain runoff, snowmelt, hail, sleet and nearby streams that run downslope towards the shared outlet, as well as the groundwater underneath the earth’s surface.

What are the factors that affect the drainage system?

Factors Influencing Drainage and Drainage Properties of Soil

  • Topography of the affected area of the adjoining watershed which contributes flow of the problem area.
  • Soil characteristics.
  • Rainfall and other climatic factors.
  • Crop factors.

Where are drainage basins located?

A drainage basin is any area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water.

Which is the second largest basin in the world?

The Atlantic basin is the second largest basin, followed by the Indian Ocean basin, the Southern Ocean, and finally the Arctic Ocean basin.

What 3 major river systems drain southern Africa?

Three major river systems drain the region of southern Africa (see Map Six)….Rivers and Lakes of Southern Africa.

Victoria Falls, Zambezi River Zambezi River Gorges
Cahora Bassa Hydro-Electric Dam, Zambia/Zimbabwe Kariba Hydro-Electric Dam, Zambia/Zimbabwe border Mozambique

Which is the main water divide in southern India?

The Western Ghats
The Western Ghats form the main water divide in Peninsular India.

What is called a drainage basin?

A drainage basin is an area of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a river, lake, wetland or ocean. The drainage basin includes both the streams and rivers that convey the water as well as the land surface from which water drains into those channels.

What are the causes of drainage basin?

Water inputs may carry pollutants such as sediments and agricultural runoff with them as they drain toward their output. Excess water input and activities like deforestation may also cause flooding in a drainage basin.

What causes poor drainage system?

The problem of blocked drains occurs when foreign materials such as soap, hair, food, and fats build up between the drain-pipe and other pipes that flow at the bottom. In the beginning, the materials are in a small amount. With time, as the amount of objects increases, it stops water to flow freely.

Which is the major river that drains in the South Atlantic Ocean?

The Alabama River Basin. Located in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The drainage into Mobile Bay excluding the Alabama River Basin. Located in Alabama and Mississippi.

What are the 4 basic drainage basins?

Types of Drainage Basins

  • Ocean Basins. Ocean drainage basins are comprised of large river, lake and other types of basins that ultimately drain into an ocean.
  • River Basins. A river basin is a section of land drained by a river and its connected tributaries.
  • Endorheic Basins.
  • Importance.

Which river is known as Dakshin Ganga?

River Godavari
River Godavari is also known as Dakshin Ganga. It is the largest Peninsular river system. It rises in the Nasik district of Maharashtra and discharges its water into the Bay of Bengal.

Which is the smallest river basin in India?

The Avari River
The Avari River, the smallest or shortest river in India, has the smallest river basin in the country. The river basin spread across an area of 492 square kilometers in the state of Rajasthan.

What does the hydrograph say about the drainage basin of a river?

For the River Shui’s hydrograph, we could say that the high peak discharge and the steep rising limb suggests that the drainage basin is circular because if it was, the precipitation will land at points equidistant from one another and reach the river at roughly the same time, producing the high peak discharge. River Processes »

Why is a river hydrograph called a flashy River?

For a circular drainage basin, the river’s hydrograph can often be described as “flashy” because it will have a fairly steep rising limb and a high peak discharge. This is because all points in the drainage basin are (again, roughly) equidistant from the river so all the precipitation reaches the river at the same time.

What changes the shape of a hydrograph?

The Drainage Basin The shape of a hydrograph is altered by a few different things. One factor is the shape of the drainage basin. Drainage basins come in a wide assortment of shapes. (Roughly) Circular shapes are common as are more elongated and narrow shapes.

What are the characteristics of a drainage basin?

The Drainage Basin. Drainage basins come in a wide assortment of shapes. (Roughly) Circular shapes are common as are more elongated and narrow shapes. For a circular drainage basin, the river’s hydrograph can often be described as “flashy” because it will have a fairly steep rising limb and a high peak discharge.