Some Swaziland Examples Of Localised Control Of Base Levels: The Lower Umbeluzi

Summary The soil toposequence occurring over most of the basalt region of the Eastern Swaziland Lowveld is described and compared with that found in the Umbeluzi basin. From ’relict hydromorphic features. it is inferred that the soils in the Umbeluzi basin were subject to a prolonged and fairly recent period of high walertables, which did not obtain in the neighbouring river basins. It is thought that there was a local hiatus in Quaternary dissection and the lowering of base- and ground water table levels. The possibility that this hiatus was caused by a hard rock band in the Lebombo ignimbrites downstream is examined.