PHYSICAL FEATURES OF SOUTH AFRICA

CHAPTER 3 – Unit 2

Unit 2: Physical features of land

1. MOUNTAIN RANGES, MOUNTAINS, HILLS AND VALLEYS
1. A mountain range, is an area that has many mountains.
2. A mountain is very high land with steep sides.
3. A hill is a smaller mountain with gentle slopes.
4. A valley is a flat area of land in-between two areas of higher land, like hills or mountains.
5. A river starts out as many streams on a highs area of land that connects into one large river.
6. When rivers flow over the side of a steep area of land, it is then called a waterfall.

• A coastline is an area where the sea meets the land.
• A cape is a pointy piece of land that sticks out into the sea.
• A bay is a place along the coastline that is in between two capes.

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2. IMPORTANT FEATURES IN SOUTH AFRICA

• South Africa has many important physical features that makes up the map of South Africa.
• Each country will have their own important physical features that is connected to the history of the country.

3. PLACES NAMES

• Some places in South Africa was given its name for a specific reason. Some places have people’s names, other places are named after physical features. Example.

3.1. iNando – iNando is a settlement in Durban named after a mountain.

3.2. The Cape of Good Hope – this name was given over 500 years ago. When European sailors were traveling around Africa and made it to the point of Southern Africa, the sailors were happy and said that this place is a place of good hope.

3.3. White River – This is a town in Mpumalanga. The town was given the name because of the color of the water in the river because of the clay in the water.