THE BATHYMETRY AND POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF LAKES SIBAYI, NHLANGE AND SIFUNGWE IN ZULULAND (NATAL)

Summary

A bathymetric survey has been carried out of lakes Sibayi, Nhlange and Sifungwe in Zululand. The lakes appear to have originated as estuaries which were later drowned either through eustatic rise in sea-level or isostatic drowning of the shoreline. Morphometric measurements show that Lake Sibayi is the largest lake having the largest surface area, greatest maximum and mean depth and containing the largest volume of water. The level of Lake Sibayi apparently fluctuates considerably. Lakes Nhlange and Sifungwe are normally connected to the sea and their levels do not fluctuate.