Soutpansberg | |
---|---|
![]() The western extremity of the Soutpansberg – as seen from Vivo, 10 km from the salt pan | |
Highest point | |
Peak | Lajuma |
Elevation | 1,747 m (5,732 ft) |
Listing | Mountain ranges of South Africa |
Coordinates | 23°0′0″S 29°52′0″E / 23.00000°S 29.86667°E |
Dimensions | |
Length | 170 km (110 mi) E/W |
Width | 50 km (31 mi) N/S |
Naming | |
Native name | Tha vhani ya muno (Venda) |
Geography | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Limpopo |
Geology | |
Orogeny | Kaapvaal craton |
Age of rock | Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic |
Type of rock | Bushveld igneous complex, sandstone |
The Soutpansberg (formerly Zoutpansberg), meaning "Salt Pan Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in far northern South Africa. It is located in Vhembe District, Limpopo. It is named for the salt pan (Venda: Thavha ya muno, or "place of salt")[1] located at its western end. The mountain range reaches the opposite extremity[2] in the Matikwa Nature Reserve, some 107 kilometres (66 mi) due east. The range as a whole had no Venda name, as it was instead known by its sub-ranges which include Dzanani, Songozwi and others.[3]
The Soutpansberg forms part of the 'Vhembe Biosphere Reserve', which was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009.[4] The latter reserve also includes the Blouberg Range, Kruger National Park and the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape.[5]
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