The Notwane River (or Ngotwane River) is a river in southeastern Botswana. Certain sections of its course form the international boundary with South Africa. Its mouth is at the head of the Limpopo River. It has a catchment area of 18,053 square kilometers.
The Notwane rises about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Ramotswa, and runs along the border in a northeast direction to enter the Limpopo at the same longitude as Mahalapye.[1] The Notwane has its source in the sandveld, at the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert. It flows roughly northeastwards past the most densely populated area of Botswana, passing east of Lobatse, between the city of Gaborone and Tlokweng village and then through Mochudi village. Finally it joins the left bank of the Limpopo River at the border with South Africa, just 6 km short of the confluence of the Limpopo with the Matlabas River.[2]
The Notwane basin is drained by the Notwane itself and its tributaries the Taung, Segoditshane, Metsimotlhabe, Metsemaswaane and Nywane.[1] Its main tributaries are the Taung, Peleng, Metsimotlhabe and Nywane rivers. All the rivers in the Notwane basin are ephemeral experiencing mostly brief, seasonal flow depending from the rainfall. The Notwane and Taung riverbeds are dry during the dry season and in years of drought they may be completely dry the whole year round. All these rivers may cause flash floods.[3]
History
The banks of the Notwane River have been occupied since the middle Stone Age. The first modern settlement was Moshaweng, which was established by Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa in the late 1880s, near the site of the modern capital.[4] The city of Gaborone, an expansion of the earlier settlement, was developed on the Notwane River in the 1960s in part due to proximity to the railway, in part due to availability of water provided by the river.[5]
Dams
NASA picture of the Notwane River with the Gaborone Dam
The Gaborone Dam, which supplies water to the city of Gaborone, has a capacity of 144,000,000 cubic metres (5.1×109 cu ft). Further upstream, the Ngotwane Dam in Lehurutshe, South Africa has a capacity of 18,000,000 cubic metres (640,000,000 cu ft). In the Gaborone dam catchment area there are many other dams, mostly very small, with only the Nnywane Dam near Lobatse being used for domestic water supply. Following a 1992 study on their impact on downstream water resources, a moratorium was placed on construction of small dams in the catchment area.[6]
Fauna and Flora
Whilst the flow of the Notwane is ephemeral; biodiversity is the highest immediately upstream of the Gaborone Dam, north of the confluence with the Taung river. The riverbed in this area generally retains small pools of water, even during prolonged dry periods.
The African sharptooth catfish, locally known as barbel, are the most common fish species in these waters. The river also supports smaller populations of bream, tilapia and introduced carp.
Brook, Michael C. (2011). Crocodile Pools Botswana: History and Biodiversity. Michael C. Brook. ISBN978-99912-934-3-1.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Notwane River.
A Preliminary Chronology of Modern Gaborone
About Botswana
April 01, 2023
notwane, river, ngotwane, river, river, southeastern, botswana, certain, sections, course, form, international, boundary, with, south, africa, mouth, head, limpopo, river, catchment, area, square, kilometers, view, gaborone, location, mouthlocationcountrybotsw. The Notwane River or Ngotwane River is a river in southeastern Botswana Certain sections of its course form the international boundary with South Africa Its mouth is at the head of the Limpopo River It has a catchment area of 18 053 square kilometers Notwane RiverView of Gaborone Dam in the Notwane RiverLocation of the Notwane River mouthLocationCountryBotswanaPhysical characteristicsSourceKalahariMouthPala Camp locationLimpopo River South Africa Botswana border coordinates23 44 56 S 26 57 37 E 23 74889 S 26 96028 E 23 74889 26 96028 Coordinates 23 44 56 S 26 57 37 E 23 74889 S 26 96028 E 23 74889 26 96028 elevation847 m 2 779 ft Basin size18 053 km2 6 970 sq mi Contents 1 Course 2 History 3 Dams 4 Fauna and Flora 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCourse Edit Train crossing bridge over Notwane River The Notwane rises about 11 kilometres 6 8 mi south of Ramotswa and runs along the border in a northeast direction to enter the Limpopo at the same longitude as Mahalapye 1 The Notwane has its source in the sandveld at the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert It flows roughly northeastwards past the most densely populated area of Botswana passing east of Lobatse between the city of Gaborone and Tlokweng village and then through Mochudi village Finally it joins the left bank of the Limpopo River at the border with South Africa just 6 km short of the confluence of the Limpopo with the Matlabas River 2 The Notwane basin is drained by the Notwane itself and its tributaries the Taung Segoditshane Metsimotlhabe Metsemaswaane and Nywane 1 Its main tributaries are the Taung Peleng Metsimotlhabe and Nywane rivers All the rivers in the Notwane basin are ephemeral experiencing mostly brief seasonal flow depending from the rainfall The Notwane and Taung riverbeds are dry during the dry season and in years of drought they may be completely dry the whole year round All these rivers may cause flash floods 3 History EditThe banks of the Notwane River have been occupied since the middle Stone Age The first modern settlement was Moshaweng which was established by Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa in the late 1880s near the site of the modern capital 4 The city of Gaborone an expansion of the earlier settlement was developed on the Notwane River in the 1960s in part due to proximity to the railway in part due to availability of water provided by the river 5 Dams Edit NASA picture of the Notwane River with the Gaborone Dam The Gaborone Dam which supplies water to the city of Gaborone has a capacity of 144 000 000 cubic metres 5 1 109 cu ft Further upstream the Ngotwane Dam in Lehurutshe South Africa has a capacity of 18 000 000 cubic metres 640 000 000 cu ft In the Gaborone dam catchment area there are many other dams mostly very small with only the Nnywane Dam near Lobatse being used for domestic water supply Following a 1992 study on their impact on downstream water resources a moratorium was placed on construction of small dams in the catchment area 6 Fauna and Flora EditWhilst the flow of the Notwane is ephemeral biodiversity is the highest immediately upstream of the Gaborone Dam north of the confluence with the Taung river The riverbed in this area generally retains small pools of water even during prolonged dry periods The African sharptooth catfish locally known as barbel are the most common fish species in these waters The river also supports smaller populations of bream tilapia and introduced carp Birdlife proliferates as one gets nearer to the Gaborone Dam this includes a number of heron and kingfisher species African fish eagle are seen regularly along with reed cormorant and african darter Verreaux s eagle owl do occur in the area and yellow billed kite are common summer visitors Southern yellow billed hornbill southern red billed hornbill and natal spurfowl are often seen in the surrounding woodland Vervet monkey are common along the river course nearer the Gaborone Dam Chacma baboon may also be encountered and antelope species such as kudu and impala are present but rare Lesser bushbaby nest in this area and black backed jackal are heard occasionally in the evening A small population of nile crocodile are resident in the lower courses of the river close to the Gaborone Dam Both nile monitor and rock monitor do occur in the area the former being seen more regularly The riparian vegetation and surrounding woodland also provides suitable habitat for African rock python and mozambique spitting cobra The river course is dominated by syringa berrytree water fig and white bauhinia The syringa berrytree being an invasive species introduced from India The riparian vegetation eventually gives way to acacia woodland Buffalo thorn paperback thorn and knobthorn are common to this woodland Marula and weeping wattle also occur in the area See also EditDrainage basin A Limpopo RiverReferences Edit a b Yadava 2003 p 125 Major rivers and streams within the Limpopo River Basin The South East District Botswana Archived 2011 12 09 at the Wayback Machine Firestone amp Karlin 2010 p 79 Mwakikagile 2009 p 59 Molaodi 2006 Sources Firestone Matthew Karlin Adam 5 February 2010 Botswana amp Namibia Lonely Planet p 79 ISBN 978 1 74104 922 0 Retrieved 19 September 2012 Molaodi Phillimon 6 March 2006 Minister Reveals Gaborone Dam Catchment Area Mmegi Retrieved 19 September 2012 Mwakikagile Godfrey 31 October 2009 Botswana Since Independence Godfrey Mwakikagile GGKEY YU62DC73GS9 Retrieved 19 September 2012 Yadava Ram Narayan 2003 Watershed Hydrology Allied Publishers ISBN 978 81 7764 547 7 Retrieved 19 September 2012 Brook Michael C 2011 Crocodile Pools Botswana History and Biodiversity Michael C Brook ISBN 978 99912 934 3 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Notwane River Limpopo River Basin Greater Gaborone A Preliminary Chronology of Modern Gaborone About Botswana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Notwane River amp oldid 1119358213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
