The Mpumalanga/Limpopo Escarpment: Geology and Fluvial Landforms

Abstract

The Mpumalanga/Limpopo sector of the Great Escarpment of northeast South Africa is unique in its wide variety of rock types which have largely controlled the formation and morphology of the spectacular landscapes of the region. This chapter describes how epeirogenic uplift of the escarpment, followed by headward erosion by rivers into different geological formations, has sculpted different landforms and largely controlled the development of features such as waterfalls, scarp faces, gorges and canyons. Pothole formation in harder rocks has been a major factor in the development of gorges. The weathering characteristics of dolomite formations and nature and origin of dolomitic caves, their dripstone deposits and calcareous tufa deposits along the escarpment region are also described. The spectacular natural features of the region have made it a popular tourist destination.