Directorate: Curriculum FET
SUBJECT and GRADE GEOGRAPHY – GRADE 12
TERM 1 Week 5: Lesson 6
TOPIC DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA
AIMS OF LESSON • To strengthen your knowledge, understanding and interpretation of Drainage systems in South
Africa.
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
• Lesson on pages 2 - 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvg_mbI0DCk&t=290s
• Learner tasks on page 6-7
• Textbook: Subtropical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf0_b2hJ0gs&feature=youtu.be
anticyclones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSqzxUv3qsw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWsJpcp6ag&t=10s
INTRODUCTION You should know from previous lessons:
Grade 11: Pressure belts – Subtropical high pressure belt
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS You must know: You must be able to:
• Important concepts • apply knowledge and concepts on various
• Types of rivers geographic sources.
• Drainage density • read and interpret sources such as graphs, maps,
• Drainage patterns world maps, infographics, diagrams, case studies
• Stream order to answer data response questions & write a
• Laminar and Turbulent flow paragraph.
ACTIVITIES/ Complete the:
ASSESSMENT • activity for this lesson on pages 6 - 7.
• additional activities in your textbook.
CONSOLIDATION You must study this topic by asking key Geographic questions such as: What is it? Why is it there? What
does it look like? What is the effect?
VALUES Awareness of the availability of running water for us and our contribution to the sustainable use of the
rivers in our country.
1
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA
What topics will The following topics will be covered in this lesson:
be covered in 1. Important concepts
this lesson? 2. Types of rivers
3. Drainage density
4. Drainage patterns
5. Stream order
6. Laminar and turbulent flow
1. IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
What is it? Where is it? Why is it there? What does it look like?
Define/identify
the following
concepts
You must be able
to define all
these concepts
and identify them
on diagrams and
topographic
maps. Concepts
are very
important for
Geomorphology
Application of See diagram.
consepts on
diagrams and
topographic
maps.
2
2. TYPES OF RIVERS
What is it? Where is it? What does it look like?
Name the type See table
of river,
describe their
characteristics
and give
examples of
each
3. DRAINAGE DENSITY
What is it? Where is it? What does it look like?
Identify a high See diagram
and low
drainage
density on
diagrams and
topographic
maps
Discuss the
factors that
cause high and
low drainage
densities
.
You must know the
factors that
influence
infiltration
3
4. DRAINAGE PATTERNS
What is it? Where is it? How is it formed? What does it look like?
Name the • Dendritic
seven drainage • Trellis
patterns • Radial
• Rectangular
• Centripetal
• Deranged
• Parallel
Identify each of See Table and
the drainage diagram
patterns on a
diagram.
Describe the See table
underlying
structures that
caused each
of the drainage
patterns
Identify the See mapwork
drainage section the at
pattern on the end of the lesson
topographic You must know the following with regard
and orthophoto to drainage patterns:
map. • The name of each pattern
• Identify each of the patterns on
diagrams.
• Identify stream patterns on
topographic maps.
• Give a description of the patterns.
• Describe the underlying structures that caused the stream pattern.
4
5. STREAM ORDERS
What is it? Where is it? How is it formed? What does it look like?
What are first, First order
second and streams: Small
third order stream at source
streams Second order
streams: Where
two first order
streams join.
Third order
stream: where
two second
order streams
join, and so on.
See diagram and
topographic
map.
6. LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOW
What is it? Where is it? How is it formed? What does it look like? What is the impact?
Distinguish See table
between
laminar and
turbulent flow.
Describe the
river bed at
laminar and
You must be able
turbulent flow
to compare
laminar with
In which course
turbulent flow.
of the river
would you find
(a) laminar and
(b) turbulent
flow
5
APPLICATION ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
DRAINAGE PATTERNS
Always be prepared to answer questions regarding drainage patterns based on a
topographic- and orthophoto map! Look for the following to identify the drainage
patterns above:
Dendritic: The shape of the river and its tributaries looks like a tree
Trellis: Look for parallel mountains (brown), with rivers in between. Rivers have
short tributaries.
Rectangular: Rivers join (confluence) at 90⁰ angles. River bends are also 90⁰.
Trellis: Circular contours of a butte/conical/ mesa. Rivers flow away from hill.
6
LEARNER TASK 1
The questions are based on the diagram below.
1. Indicate whether each drainage pattern, A, B and C, refers to landscape
1, 2 or 3, on which it is likely to develop. (3x1) (3)
2. Name ONE factor that results in different drainage patterns forming. (1x1) (1)
3. State ONE characteristic of each of the drainage patterns B and C. (2x2) (2)
4. Describe the rock type and underlying structures associated with each of the
drainage patterns A and C. (2x2) (2)
5. Why do the tributaries in landscape 3 join the main stream at a 90° angle? (1x2) (2)
7
LEARNER TASK 2
The questions are based on the diagram below.
Indicate whether each of the descriptions below refers to drainage basin A or drainage basin B.
1. Dense vegetation cover that prevents surface run-off
2. A drainage basin that experiences high rainfall
3. A drainage basin that has mainly clay soils
4. A drainage basin that has mainly permeable rock
5. A river that flows through hilly areas
6. A drainage basin that has porous rock with sandy soils
7. A river that flows through gently sloping land
8
CONCEPTS/TERMS
• You must know the definitions of the following concepts/terms
• Definitions of terms appear in in exam questions.
▪ These terms are used when setting questions. You must know them in order to
understand the questions
▪ These terms should form part of your Geography subject language
WORD BOARD
Catchment area Interfluve Drainage density
Infiltration River system Patterns:
Confluence Permanent Dendritic
river
Tributary Trellis
Periodic river
River mouth Radial
Episodic river
Source Rectangular
Exotic river
Watershed Centripetal
Stream order
Water table Deranged
Laminar and
Run-off Parallel
turbulent flow
Ground water
