The Republic of South Africa occupies the southernmost part of the African continent, stretching latitudinally from to 35o S and longitudinally from 17o to 33o E. Its surface area is 1 223 201 km2. It has common boundaries with Namibia, the Republic of Botswana and Zimbabwe, while the Republic of Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland lie to the north-east. Completely enclosed by South African territory in the south-east, is the Kingdom of Lesotho.
To the west, south and east, South Africa borders on the South Atlantic and southern South African oceans. Isolated, 1 920 km south-east of Cape Town in the South Atlantic, lie Prince Edward and Marion islands, taken into possession by South Africa in 1947
South Africa is surrounded by sea to the west, south and east. It therefore has a lengthy coastline. This coastline is swept by two major ocean currents - the Mozambique-Agulhas and the Benguela systems respectively. The former is a warm, south-flowing current skirting the east and south coasts as far as Cape Point. The latter, the Benguela current, is cold and flows northwards as far as southern Angola along the west coast.
The contrast in temperature between these two currents partly accounts for important differences in climate and vegetation between the east and west coasts of South Africa. It also causes big differences in marine life, because of the fact that the waters of the west coast are much richer in oxygen, nitrates, phosphates and plankton than those of the east coast. For this reason, the South African fishing industry is centered on the west coast. The coastline itself is an even, closed one with few bays or indentations naturally suitable for harbors. This is a feature the country shares with the rest of the continent. Along the south coast there are a number of wide bays which relieve the monotony, but which are unsuitable for establishing harbors.
The only ideal natural harbor along some 3 000 km of coastline is Saldanha Bay in the south-west. However, the area lacks fresh water and offers no natural lines of penetration to the interior. Because of this, Table Bay, relatively unsheltered but with sufficient fresh water supplies, was chosen as the site for the first permanent white settlement.
Most South African river mouths are unsuitable for use as harbors because large sandbars block entry for most of the year. These bars are formed by the action of waves and currents, and the intermittent flow, heavy sediment load and steep gradients of most South African rivers.
Only the largest rivers, such as the Orange and Limpopo, maintain narrow permanent channels through the bars. For much the same reasons, the country has no navigable rivers.
To the west, south and east, South Africa borders on the South Atlantic and southern South African oceans. Isolated, 1 920 km south-east of Cape Town in the South Atlantic, lie Prince Edward and Marion islands, taken into possession by South Africa in 1947
South Africa is surrounded by sea to the west, south and east. It therefore has a lengthy coastline. This coastline is swept by two major ocean currents - the Mozambique-Agulhas and the Benguela systems respectively. The former is a warm, south-flowing current skirting the east and south coasts as far as Cape Point. The latter, the Benguela current, is cold and flows northwards as far as southern Angola along the west coast.
The contrast in temperature between these two currents partly accounts for important differences in climate and vegetation between the east and west coasts of South Africa. It also causes big differences in marine life, because of the fact that the waters of the west coast are much richer in oxygen, nitrates, phosphates and plankton than those of the east coast. For this reason, the South African fishing industry is centered on the west coast. The coastline itself is an even, closed one with few bays or indentations naturally suitable for harbors. This is a feature the country shares with the rest of the continent. Along the south coast there are a number of wide bays which relieve the monotony, but which are unsuitable for establishing harbors.
The only ideal natural harbor along some 3 000 km of coastline is Saldanha Bay in the south-west. However, the area lacks fresh water and offers no natural lines of penetration to the interior. Because of this, Table Bay, relatively unsheltered but with sufficient fresh water supplies, was chosen as the site for the first permanent white settlement.
Most South African river mouths are unsuitable for use as harbors because large sandbars block entry for most of the year. These bars are formed by the action of waves and currents, and the intermittent flow, heavy sediment load and steep gradients of most South African rivers.
Only the largest rivers, such as the Orange and Limpopo, maintain narrow permanent channels through the bars. For much the same reasons, the country has no navigable rivers.
