LEBOMBO MOUNTAINS

also called Lubombo Mountains, long, narrow mountain range in South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique, southeastern Africa, about 500 miles (800 km) long and consisting of volcanic rocks. The mountains' name is derived from a Zulu word, Ubombo, that means big nose. The mountains extend from south of the Mkuze River (KwaZulu/Natal province) north into Kruger National Park (Northern province). The Lebombo Mountains form the boundary between the province of KwaZulu/Natal, S.Af., and Swaziland, between Swaziland and Mozambique, and between Eastern Transvaal and Northern provinces, S.Af., and Mozambique, extending north of the Olifants River. The average elevation of the range is about 1,970 feet (600 m) above sea level; Mount Mananga, on the border between Eastern Transvaal province, S.Af., and Swaziland, rises to about 2,500 feet (760 m). A number of rivers, including the eastward-flowing Mkuze, Olifants, Pongola, Ingwavuma (Ngwavuma), and Usutu, cut their way through the range, and the latter two have formed especially spectacular gorges. An immense storage dam has been built in the Pongola gorge. The vegetation on the range is mostly tropical forest and savanna, with ironwood and ebony on the better-drained slopes. In the narrow ravines, tree growth is dense and includes the large khoya tree, which resembles mahogany.