Editing Bushveld

{{short description|Sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa}}
{{distinguish|Veld#Lowveld{{!}}Lowveld|Highveld}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = Bushveld
|image = Burkea africana, habitus, WB Natuurpraal, a.jpg
|image_size = 
|image_alt = 
|caption = Bushveld in the [[Waterberg Biosphere]]
|map = AT0717 map.png
|map_size = 250
|map_alt = 
|map_caption = {{legend|#808000|outline=gray|Extent of bushveld in [[Southern Africa]]}}
|ecozone = [[Afrotropical realm|Afrotropical]]
|biome  = [[tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]]
|animals = 
|bird_species = 
|mammal_species = 
|border = [[Drakensberg]] montane grasslands, woodlands, and forests
|border1 = [[Highveld]] grasslands
|border2 = [[Kalahari acacia woodlands]]
|border3 = [[Makgadikgadi halophytics]]
|border4 = [[Southern miombo woodlands]]
|border5 = [[Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands]]
|border6 = [[Zambezian and mopane woodlands]]
|area = 223000
|country = [[Botswana]]
|country1 = [[South Africa]],
|country2 = [[Zimbabwe]]
|state1 = 
|region_type = 
|elevation = 
|geology = 
|seas =
|rivers = 
|climate = 
|soil =
|conservation = Vulnerable
|global200 =
|habitat_loss = 
|habitat_loss_ref =
|coordinates =
|protected =  
|protected_ref = 
|embedded = 
}}

{{multiple image
 |align=right
 |direction=vertical
 |image1=Bushveld.jpg
 |caption1=Higher altitude bushveld near [[Mookgophong]], Limpopo
 |width1=230
 |image2=Bosveld, Steenbokpan.jpg
 |caption2=Low altitude bushveld in the [[Limpopo River|Limpopo valley]]
 |width2=220
}}

The '''Bushveld''' (from [[Afrikaans]]: ''bosveld'', [[Afrikaans]]: ''bos'' 'bush' and {{langx|af|[[veld]]}}) is a [[Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|sub-tropical woodland]] [[ecoregion]] of [[Southern Africa]]. The ecoregion straddles the [[Tropic of Capricorn]] and constitutes the southern part of the [[Zambezian region]]. It encompasses most of [[Limpopo]] and a small part of [[North West (South African province)|North West]] in [[South Africa]], the [[Central District (Botswana)|Central]] and [[North-East District (Botswana)|North-East District]]s of [[Botswana]] and the [[Matabeleland South Province|Matabeleland South]] and part of [[Matabeleland North Province|Matabeleland North]] provinces of [[Zimbabwe]]. The [[Kruger National Park]] has a number of 'Bushveld' camps,<ref name="KNP">{{cite web |title=Kruger National Park Camping |url=http://krugerparkbookings.com/category/kruger-national-park-camping/ |publisher=Kruger National Park Camping |access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref> but these are strictly speaking in the [[Veld#Lowveld|lowveld]], as these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Although their limits are somewhat blurred,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/south-africa-info-lowveld.html |title = Lowveld - South Africa Geographic Regions}}</ref> lowveld is generally restricted to the more easterly parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

==Geography==
The elevation of this region varies from 750 to 1,400 m and the annual rainfall ranges from 350&nbsp;mm in the west to 600&nbsp;mm in parts of the northeast. There are four significant mountain ranges in this region: the [[Magaliesberg]] which runs from [[Rustenburg]] in the west to [[Bronkhorstspruit]] in the east and forms the southern border of the Bushveld; the [[Drakensberg]] [[escarpment]] that forms the eastern border of the Bushveld and runs from [[Tzaneen]] in the north to [[Belfast, South Africa|Belfast]] in the south; the [[Waterberg Biosphere|Waterberg]] range that is in the middle of the Bushveld and the [[Soutpansberg]] range just north of [[Louis Trichardt]]. The latter is the northernmost mountain range in South Africa.

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Pilansberg 015.jpg|thumb|Flora and Fauna]]
As implied by the region's name, the Bushveld's grassy plains are dotted by dense clusters of trees and tall shrubs. The grasses found here are generally tall and turn brown or pale in [[winter]] (May to August), which is the dry season throughout most of Southern Africa. The undisturbed portions of this habitat, such as much of the [[Waterberg Biosphere]], are home to many large [[mammal]] [[species]] including [[white rhino]], [[black rhino]], [[giraffe]], [[blue wildebeest]], [[kudu]], [[impala]] and a variety of additional [[antelope]] species and other game.

==Geology==
{{main|Bushveld Igneous Complex}}
The Bushveld is one of the most [[mineral]]-rich regions of the world. This is due to the [[Bushveld igneous complex]], an extremely rich saucer-shaped geological formation that stretches over more than 50,000 square kilometers. This formation contains most of the world's reserves of minerals such as [[andalusite]], [[chromium]], [[fluorspar]], [[platinum]] and [[vanadium]]. The complex includes the [[Merensky Reef]], which is the world's biggest source of [[platinum]] as well as platinum-group metals.

==Farming==
As most of the region tends to be dry, the Bushveld is mostly [[beef cattle]] and [[game farm|game farming]] country, with only a few drought-resistant crops such as [[sorghum]] and [[millet]] being farmed, usually under [[irrigation]].

==Middleveld==
The term ''Middleveld'' is sometimes used to describe land lying between an elevation of {{convert|600|and|1200|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/veld|title=Veld - grasslands, Africa|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> and has been treated as synonymous with the term ''Bushveld''.<ref name="Agriculture1955">{{cite book|author=South Africa. Department of Agriculture|title=Bulletin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oH7xThin5Y0C|year=1955}}</ref>

==Towns and cities==
Towns and cities in the region include:
* [[Beitbridge]]
* [[Bela Bela]] (formerly [[Warmbaths]])
* [[Bulawayo]]
* [[Brits, North West|Brits]]
* [[De Wildt]]
* [[Haenertsburg]]
* [[Hammanskraal]]
* [[Lephalale]] (formerly [[Ellisras]])
* [[Louis Trichardt]]
* [http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/ZA/Mara.html Mara]
* [[Modimolle]] (formerly [[Nylstroom]])
* [[Mokopane]] (formerly [[Potgietersrus]])
* [[Mookgophong]] (formerly [[Naboomspruit]])
* [[Musina]] (formerly [[Messina, South Africa|Messina]])
* [[Northam, South Africa|Northam]]
* [[Phalaborwa]]
* [[Pienaarsrivier]]
* [[Polokwane]] (formerly [[Pietersburg]])
* [[Roedtan]]
* [[Selebi-Phikwe]]
* [[Sun City, South Africa|Sun City]]
* [[Thabazimbi]]
* [[Tzaneen]] 
* [[Vaalwater]]
* [[Vivo, South Africa|Vivo]]
* [[Zion City Moria]]
* [[Rustenburg]]
* [[Zvishavane]]

==See also==
* [[Geography of South Africa]]
* [[Hlane Royal National Park]]
* ''[[Jock of the Bushveld]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{WWF ecoregion|name=Southern Africa bushveld|id=at0717}}

{{Regions of Africa}}
{{Biodiversity of South Africa|ecoreg}}

{{coord|24|S|28|E|type:landmark_region:ZA|display=title}}

[[Category:Afrotropical ecoregions]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Botswana]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of South Africa]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Geography of Matabeleland North Province]]
[[Category:Geography of Matabeleland South Province]]
[[Category:Geography of North West (South African province)]]
[[Category:Grasslands of Botswana]]
[[Category:Grasslands of South Africa]]
[[Category:Grasslands of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Geography of Limpopo]]
[[Category:Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]]
[[Category:Zambezian region]]