Soutpansberg
| Soutpansberg | |
|---|---|
The western extremity of the Soutpansberg – as seen from Vivo, 10 km from the salt pan | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Lajuma |
| Elevation | 1,747 m (5,732 ft) |
| Listing | Mountain ranges of South Africa |
| Coordinates | 23°0′0″S 29°52′0″E / 23.00000°S 29.86667°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 170 km (110 mi) E/W |
| Width | 50 km (31 mi) N/S |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Tha vhani ya muno (Venda) |
| Geography | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Limpopo |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Kaapvaal craton |
| Rock age | Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic |
| Rock type(s) | Bushveld igneous complex, sandstone |
The Soutpansberg (formerly Zoutpansberg), meaning "Salt Pan Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in far northern South Africa. It is located in Vhembe District, Limpopo. It is named for the salt pan (Venda: Thavha ya muno, or "place of salt") located at its western end. The mountain range reaches the opposite extremity in the Matikwa Nature Reserve, some 107 kilometres (66 mi) due east. The range as a whole had no Venda name, as it was instead known by its sub-ranges which include Dzanani, Songozwi and others.
The Soutpansberg forms part of the 'Vhembe Biosphere Reserve', which was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009. The latter reserve also includes the Blouberg Range, Kruger National Park and the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape.