NATAL, a province of the Union of South Africa, is bounded by the Indian ocean, by the Umtamvuna and Umzimkulu rivers, which divide it from the Griqualand East division of Cape Colony, by the Drakensberg, which separates it from Basutoland, the Orange Free State, and part of the Transvaal, and by the Pongola river, the Lebombo range, and, for a short distance, a line of latitude, which mark it off from the Transvaal, Swaziland and Portuguese East Africa. Natal, in this extended and official sense, includes Zululand and Amatongaland. The northern boundary of Natal proper for part of the way is the Tugela. The sea board from the mouth of the Umtamvuna to the mouth of the Tugela is 166 m., and from the Tugela to the Portuguese border near Ore Point, 2I0 miles. Its total area is 35,284 sq.m., or 7.47% of the Union, while it carries a little over 2o% of the Union's popu lation. The area of Natal proper is 24,910 sq. miles.
Geologically, the country consists of a monoclinal f old affect ing Karroo rocks. Along the axis, which runs more or less north and south, these have been eroded and the underlying rocks of the Swaziland system (granite, schists, etc.) have been exposed along a fairly continuous belt, which can be followed from a point, 5 or 6 m. inland from Port Shipstone, through Inchanga, the Valley of a Thousand Hills, and on into Zululand, where their area broadens out. A great part of the country is formed of hori zontal, or gently inclined shales and sandstones, among which numerous sills of dolerite are intercalated. Erosion, attacking these beds, has produced a distinctly terraced topography. The hills are often steep-sided and flat-topped.
Conventially, three zones are distinguished : (a) the Coast belt below i,000 ft., which is about 20 m. wide behind Durban, and which narrows southward, and widens considerably when followed northward and into Zululand. (b) The Midlands, be tween 2,000 and 4,00o feet. (c) The Highlands from 4,00o f t. to the foot of the Drakensberg. This classification is over simpli fied, but may serve as a rough indication of the build of the country. The rivers, owing to rejuvenation, have cut deep val leys in their lower courses, with the result that the topography of the coast belt and part of the midlands is very broken. In their
middle, and in part of their upper courses, the rivers flow in broad, open valleys. Owing to their high average gradient, and the numerous waterfalls, due to the outcropping of hard beds of sandstone and dolerite, and also to their low winter level, they are all unnavigable, except for stretches of 3 or 4 m. at the mouths of the Umkomaas and Umzimkulu. The dominant topo graphical feature is the great barrier of the Drakensberg (q.v.), which rises to over io,000 ft., and from which several secondary ranges run out toward the coast. The Lebombo range, in the north runs from north to south, and is caused by the outcrop of resistant lavas. Rivers, such as the Usutu and the Pongola cut across this escarpment in great "poorts." Climate and Vegetation.—These are described under UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. Owing to the range of altitude from sea-level to 5,000 or 6,000 ft. at the foot of the Drakensberg, there is 3 wide range of climate, which is further complicated by the varied topography. Always, however, the sub-tropical coast belt stands out as a distinct natural region, with its humid heat, small temperature ranges and its sub-tropical vegetation and produc tion. Inland, the winter drought becomes more clearly marked and frosts more frequent and severe during the winter nights. The chief rain-bearing wind is from the south-west. A very char acteristic feature of the Natal climate is the "hot winds," which are usually most frequent in spring and summer. They appear to be due to the flow of air being drawn toward depressions pass ing southward along the coast. They blow from the north-west and are heated by compression as they descend the escarpments. The temperature often rises above 90° and the relative humidity may fall to 3o. A hot wind may blow for a few hours, or for two or three days. It causes great clouds of dust, and all doors and windows in the houses have to be closed. Usually these winds change suddenly, or are replaced by a cool, moist wind from the south-west, which often brings greatly appreciated rain, or some times, in the higher districts, snow.