PhotosLocation


Letaba_River Latitude and Longitude:

23°59′22″S 31°49′36″E / 23.98944°S 31.82667°E / -23.98944; 31.82667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Letaba River
View of the Letaba River
Letaba River is located in South Africa
Letaba River
Location of the Letaba River's mouth
EtymologyMeaning "sandy river" in Northern Sotho language [1]
Native nameRitavi ( Tsonga)
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°E / -23.98944; 31.82667
Basin size67,000 km2 (26,000 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • left Nharhweni River, Ngwenyeni River, Klein Letaba River, Molototsi River, Nsama River
 • right Groot Letaba River, Nwanedzi River, Makhadzi 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, Ngwenyeni River, Nwanedzi River, Molototsi River, Nsama River, and Makhadzi River.

Dams in the basin

Game animals along its banks, near Letaba camp, central Kruger Park

See also

References

  1. ^ Jenkins, Elwyn (2007), Falling into place: the story of modern South African place names, David Philip Publishers, p. 75