Mist Belt, noun phrase

Also with small initials. Collectively, several areas in the eastern foothills of the Drakensberg, lying mainly between 1 100 and 1 500 metres above sea level, in which mist and high humidity are so common that they have a notable effect on vegetation and agriculture. Also attributive.
1928 Farming in S. Afr. Oct. 1031 (Swart)Citrus scab is widely distributed in citrus nurseries, especially in the regions known collectively as the ‘mist belt’.
c1936 S. & E. Afr. Yr Bk & Guide 715The ‘Mist-belt’ region and the land lying along the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains are exceptionally fertile.
1951 Archeology & Nat. Resources of Natal (Univ. of Natal) 56The agricultural significance of these local scarps has given rise to a specific term, namely the ‘mist belt’, in which are to be found most of the wattle plantations, mixed-dairy farms and horticultural nurseries of Natal.
1957 Handbk for Farmers (Dept of Agric.) I. 19The Mist Belt. Along a belt of high country (1,500 to 4,500 feet in altitude) traversing the Natal midlands the annual rainfall..is both supplemented and rendered more effective by..mists...In summer..they generally occur on about 10 days in the month. The moisture which is filtered out by condensation against the vegetation is an appreciable addition to the rainfall...Largely on account of its humidity this is an area of intensive agriculture.
1967 D. Edwards Plant-Ecological Survey of Tugela River Basin 167The Midland Mist Belt Region, from 3,500 ft to 4,500 ft.
1967 D. Edwards Plant-Ecological Survey of Tugela River Basin 174Evergreen Podocarpus Forests form the climatic climax vegetation of the Midland Mist Belt.
c1988 S. Afr. 1987–8: Off. Yrbk (Bureau for Info.) 9In the summer rainfall region, light orographic rains are common along the windward slopes of the eastern escarpment. Lower down, at heights of 1 100 to 1 500 m, orographic lifting of the moist air causes what is known as the ‘mist belt’.
1990 W.R. Tarboton in Fauna & Flora No.47, 1The highest rainfall areas support ‘mistbelt’ type evergreen forests.
1990 W.R. Tarboton in Fauna & Flora No.47, 2These mistbelt forests fall within the Acocks veld-type known as ‘north-eastern mountain sourveld’ which is essentially a forest-grassland mosaic.
Also with small initials. Collectively, several areas in the eastern foothills of the Drakensberg, lying mainly between 1 100 and 1 500 metres above sea level, in which mist and high humidity are so common that they have a notable effect on vegetation and agriculture. Also attributive.
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