Lotsane River

The Lotsane River is a river in southeastern Botswana. It is a seasonal left hand tributary of the Limpopo River and has a catchment area of 9,748 square kilometers.

Lotsane River
Lotsane river near Palapye after a flood
Location of the Lotsane River mouth
Location
CountryBotswana
Physical characteristics
SourceKalahari
 • elevation1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Limpopo River, South Africa/Botswana border
 • coordinates
22°40′42″S 28°11′25″E
 • elevation
751 m (2,464 ft)
Basin size9,748 km2 (3,764 sq mi)

Course

The Lotsane has its source in the sandveld, at the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert. It flows roughly eastwards, passing close to Serowe and through Palapye and flanking the feet of the Tswapong Hills on their northern side near Maunatlala. Finally it joins the left bank of the Limpopo River at the border with South Africa.[1]

Its main tributaries are the Morupule River and the Kutswe River, the latter of which cuts across the Mokgware Hills, a mountain range that divides the watershed of the rivers flowing northeastwards, such as the Maitsokgwane, from those flowing southeastwards like the Mahalapswe. Other tributaries are the Dikabeya River and Susuela River, which join the Lotsane east of the Tswapong area.

All the rivers in the Lotsane basin are dry throughout the year, experiencing ephemeral flow during the summer rainy season. People in nearby areas collect water stored in the sandy riverbed.[2]

There is one main dam in the Lotsane River. Currently, the construction of other dams is planned.[3] According to the Water Utilities Corporation, as of March 2012 the Lotsane Dam was almost completed.[4]

  • NASA picture of the Tswapong Hills with the Lotsane River flowing along the northern edge.
  • Flash flood in Palapye, Central District, Botswana. Heavy rain caused a small dam to burst on the Lotsane River, which flows through the village

See also

References
  1. Limpopo RAK Archived 2012-08-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. Major rivers and streams within the Limpopo River Basin Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  3. Budget 2012: Fiscal Austerity Adhered to in Botswana - 3 Feb 2012 Archived 2012-03-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. "Lotsane Dam". Botswana Water Utilities Corporation. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
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