Soutpansberg

Soutpansberg
Soutpansberg
	The western extremity of the Soutpansberg; – as seen from Vivo, 10 km from the salt pan
Highest point
Peak	Lajuma
Elevation	1,747 m (5,732 ft)
Listing	Mountain ranges of South Africa
Coordinates	23°0′0″S 29°52′0″E / 23.00000°S 29.86667°E
Dimensions
Length	170 km (110 mi) E/W
Width	50 km (31 mi) N/S
Naming
Native name	Tha vhani ya muno (Venda)
Geography
	Soutpansberg
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
Geology
Orogeny	Kaapvaal craton
Age of rock	Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic
Type of rock	Bushveld igneous complex, sandstone

The Soutpansberg (formerly Zoutpansberg), meaning "Salt Pan Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in far northern South Africa. It is located in Vhembe District, Limpopo. It is named for the salt pan (Venda: Thavha ya muno, or "place of salt")^[1] located at its western end. The mountain range reaches the opposite extremity^[2] in the Matikwa Nature Reserve, some 107 kilometres (66 mi) due east. The range as a whole had no Venda name, as it was instead known by its sub-ranges which include Dzanani, Songozwi and others.^[3]

The Soutpansberg forms part of the 'Vhembe Biosphere Reserve', which was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009.^[4] The latter reserve also includes the Blouberg Range, Kruger National Park and the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape.^[5]

^ Located at 22°58′S 29°20′E / 22.967°S 29.333°E / -22.967; 29.333 (Salt Pan, Soutpansberg)
^ Located at 22°58′S 30°20′E / 22.967°S 30.333°E / -22.967; 30.333
^ Sacred Traditions and Biodiversity Conservation in the Forest Montane Region of Venda, South Africa. Clark University. 2008. p. 41. ISBN 9780549518686.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ "Vhembe Region named UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve". Archived from the original on 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
^ UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve Information. Accessed 31 July 2023.

[1] Located at 22°58′S 29°20′E / 22.967°S 29.333°E / -22.967; 29.333 (Salt Pan, Soutpansberg)

[2] Located at 22°58′S 30°20′E / 22.967°S 30.333°E / -22.967; 30.333

[sacred-3] Sacred Traditions and Biodiversity Conservation in the Forest Montane Region of Venda, South Africa. Clark University. 2008. p. 41. ISBN 9780549518686.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[4] "Vhembe Region named UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve". Archived from the original on 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2012-04-05.

[5] UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve Information. Accessed 31 July 2023.

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