EnviroTeach Editions

South Africa has a number of natural resources, including coal, gold, platinum, iron and many more. However, South Africa does not have a great amount of water. Water is a very important, but scarce resource in our country. The weather is also hot and dry, thus water evaporates very quickly. It is also not evenly distributed over the country.

The eastern half of the country is much wetter than the western half. The Northern Cape, in the western half of the country, is a semi-desert.

As South Africa's population grows and agricultural activity expands, so does the country's need for more water. Water pollution is also a big problem. Water management and care is therefore becoming very important in our country.

Our average rainfall is less than 470mm/year. The world average rainfall is 857mm/year. The driest part of our country receives less than 200mm/year and the wettest, more than 2500mm/year. Rain, however, does not always fall where it is needed most. In some areas where more is needed, such as in Gauteng (where there are many people and industries), the rainfall is not enough for what is needed. Most rain falls in the narrow belt (look at the rainfall map) along the eastern and southern coasts. The rest of the country receives only 27% of South Africa's total rainfall.