Abstract
Abstract. This research reconstructs the past evolution of the Limpopo River, a transboundary system located in south-eastern Africa, and describes its geomorphological settings through a literature review and field work activities, with the aim of analysing flood hazard in the basin. Major changes have occurred since the late Jurassic–early Cretaceous period due to successive tectonic events. The paper demonstrates that the apparently abandoned drainage conformation of the palaeo-Limpopo in the upper and middle stretches of the river today constitutes preferential flood-prone areas in the case of major rainfall events. An important palaeo-delta is identified in the lower Limpopo, which imposes a particular drainage pattern onto the floodplain in Mozambique and influences the flood dynamics at present. The adopted method is helpful in determining flood hazard in a data-scarce area showing complex fluvial dynamics, and allows for the identification of unsuitable locations for human settlements.
Highlights
The Limpopo River belongs to a transboundary basin located in southeastern Africa, with its outlet in the Indian Ocean. Spaliviero et al (2011) noted that human settlements tend to be concentrated closer to river streams due to the semi-arid or sub-humid conditions of the basin
It becomes important to propose scientific methodologies that allow for the identification with a fair level of accuracy of unsuitable areas for developing human settlements, using the limited data available, and which can take into account the complex flood dynamics of the river
A careful analysis of the geographical extent of the 2000 floods allows for the obtaining of a better understanding of the flood hazard in the lower Limpopo River basin
Summary
The Limpopo River belongs to a transboundary basin located in southeastern Africa, with its outlet in the Indian Ocean (see Fig. 1). Spaliviero et al (2011) noted that human settlements tend to be concentrated closer to river streams due to the semi-arid or sub-humid conditions of the basin. Spaliviero et al (2011) noted that human settlements tend to be concentrated closer to river streams due to the semi-arid or sub-humid conditions of the basin. In the attempt to respond to the research question, it investigates the role played by tectonics (as underlined by Blum and Tornqvist, 2000) in determining major changes of the Limpopo River. It reconstructs the past river’s development through an in-depth literature review regarding the geological evolution of southern Africa since the late. The paper discusses the relevance of the approach proposed and its applicability for other complex river systems
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