Maluti Mountains
| Maloti | |
|---|---|
| Maluti | |
Peaks of the Maloti range in Lesotho
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Thabana Ntlenyana |
| Elevation | 3,482 m (11,424 ft) |
| Listing | Mountain ranges of South Africa |
| Coordinates | 29°0′0″S 28°25′0″E / 29.00000°S 28.41667°ECoordinates: 29°0′0″S 28°25′0″E / 29.00000°S 28.41667°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 150 km (93 mi) NW/SE |
| Width | 90 km (56 mi) NE/SW |
| Geography | |
 Maloti
|
|
| Countries | Lesotho and South Africa |
| Region | Southern Africa |
| Parent range | Drakensberg |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Kaapvaal craton |
| Age of rock | Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic |
| Type of rock | Bushveld igneous complex, sandstone |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | From Maseru or Phuthaditjhaba |
The Maloti Mountains, also spelled Maluti (Afrikaans: Malutiberge), are a mountain range of the highlands of the Kingdom of Lesotho. They extend for about 100 km into the Free State. The Maloti Range is part of the Drakensberg system that includes ranges across large areas of South Africa. “Maloti” is also the plural for Loti, the currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The range forms the northern portion of the boundary between the Butha-Buthe District in Lesotho and South Africa’s Orange Free State.
The range forms a high alpine basalt plateau up to 3,400 m (11,200 ft) in height. It is located between Butha-Buthe District in Lesotho and the Free State Province of South Africa. The highest point, 3,482 m (11,424 ft) high Thabana Ntlenyana, is located in the north-east of the range. It is the highest peak of Southern Africa, and the highest in Africa south of the Kilimanjaro. The 3,291 m (10,797 ft) high Namahadipiek, the highest mountain in the Free State, is also part of the Maloti Range. The mountains form a continuous upland area of rounded peaks with incised deep valleys on the flanks which drain into the Senqu River. Snow and frost may be found even in summer on the highest peaks.
The bioregion is made up of sandstone and shale overlain by basalt. The mountain’s rough terrain makes it less accessible to visitors and prevented any significant exploitation of its mineral resources. The topography differs between the two countries. In Lesotho, the mountain range is made up of a continuous landscape of more rounded mountains with deep valleys that drain into Lesotho’s Senqu River, known as the Orange River in South Africa. In South Africa, sheer basalt cliffs drop off from the transfrontier into foothills composed of sandstone. This rock is incised by the rivers that flow eastwards.
...
Wikipedia