Geographical factors affecting the land transport network in the Republic of South Africa (A study in the geography of land transport)

Road transport is an effective engine for economic development in all economic activities and sectors in the Republic of South Africa, as road transport movement contributes to economic development, whether agricultural, industrial or tourism.

The research addressed the geographical factors affecting the road transportation network in the Republic of South Africa, which were divided into natural factors and human economic factors, and the role of natural factors related to location and spatial relations was clearly evident due to its association with climatic and vegetation conditions as well as sea fronts, and the geological structure and surface features were studied and the extent to which this affects the drawing of road, railway and pipeline network lines.

The study dealt with the country's climatic characteristics such as temperature, wind, rain and humidity and the extent to which these characteristics contribute to influencing land transportation, in addition to plant life such as forests and grasses.

The human-economic factors were represented by two important elements, namely population and economic activity with its various elements and the extent to which this affects road transportation networks in the Republic of South Africa.

Keywords: Geographical factors - Location and spatial relationships - Geological structure - Surface features - Climate - Vegetation - Population - Economic activity - Land transportation