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Mpumalanga

Encyclopedia : M : MP : MPU : Mpumalanga

 

Mpumalanga

Area 79,490 km²
Population (2001) 3,122,994
Languages of South Africa>Languages SiSwati (30.8%)
IsiZulu (26.4%)
IsiNdebele (12.1%)
Sepedi (10.8%)
Races Black (92.4%)
whites>White (6.5%)
Coloured (0.2%)
Asian (0.2%)
Capital Nelspruit
List of Premiers of South African provinces>Premier
(List) 		ANC)

Mpumalanga, (name changed from Eastern Transvaal on 24 August 1995), is a province in South Africa. The name means "the place where the sun rises" in Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area. In the north it borders on Limpopo and to the west the Free State and Gauteng. The capital is Nelspruit. Prior to 1994, Mpumalanga was part of Transvaal Province.

Contents

Geography

The Drakensberg Escarpment divides Mpumalanga into a westerly half consisting mainly of grassland called the Highveld and an eastern half situated in low altitude subtropical Lowveld/Bushveld. The southern half of the Kruger National Park is situated in the latter region.

Fauna and flora

The diverse and special flora and fauna of the province enjoys protection in a range of nature reserves, including:
Flag of Mpumalanga
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Flag of Mpumalanga

Law and government

The Mpumalanga Province's legislation is an amalgam of national and regional legislation promulgated prior to the establishment of the Province on 27 April 1994, and legislation which it has itself promulgated since it came into existence. Lists of and the original texts of this legislation are available through various South African governmental websites, and amended and updated versions of the legislation is available through commercial vendors on subscription and at a price. See External links for more information.

Subdivisions

Map showing predominant home languages in the province.
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Map showing predominant home languages in the province.

Mpumalanga Province is divided into three municipal districts, which are further subdivided into 17 local municipalities:

Economy

Agriculture

The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. More than 68% of Mpumalanga is utilised by agriculture. Crops include maize, wheat,sorghum, barley, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus, subtropical and deciduous fruit.

Forestry is extensive around Sabie in the far north of the province. Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa's largest paper mills (Sappi).[Mpumalanga in brief: The economy of the province] (URL accessed April 30, 2006)

Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton, wool, poultry, and dairy.

Mining

Extensive mining is done and the minerials found include: Gold, Platinum group metals, Silica, Chromite, Vanadiferous Magnetite, Argentiferous Zinc, Antimony, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Tin, Coal, Andalusite, Chrysotile Asbestos, Kieselguhr, Limestone, Magnesite, Talc, and Shale.

Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today. ["Barberton"], Mpumalanga South Africa, ExploreSouthAfrica.net. (URL accessed April 30, 2006)

Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa's coal production. 90% of South Africa's coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. The mining company Sasol, a coal liquification plant in Secunda is the site of one of the country's two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the mining company Sasol. ["Coal"], South Africa Country Analysis Brief, Energy Information Administration. (URL accessed April 30, 2006)

Tourism

Mpumalanga is also a popular tourism destination. Kruger National Park, established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,800 square miles), is a popular destination.["Kruger National Park"], South Africa Explored. The ancient Sudwala Caves are also a major tourist attraction.[Sudwala Caves - Mpumalanga - South Africa], EcoTravel.

Major cities and towns

See List of cities and towns in Mpumalanga

References

External links

Provinces of South Africa

Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | KwaZulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | Northern Cape | North West | Western Cape

 

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