| Mthatha River Umtata River | |
|---|---|
 close to where the Mthatha River meets the Indian Ocean | |
  Location of the Mthatha River mouth | |
| Etymology | Sneeze-wood trees (Ptaeroxylon obliquum) growing on the banks of the river |
| Native name | 'mtathe Bawo (Xhosa) |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape Province |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Baziya Range, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| • elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
| • location | Coffee Bay, South Africa |
| • coordinates | 31°56′S 29°11′E / 31.933°S 29.183°E / -31.933; 29.183 |
| • elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 250 km (160 mi) |
| Basin size | 2,600 km (1,000 sq mi) |
Mthatha River or Umtata River (Xhosa: 'mtathe Bawo) is a river in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The river flows into the Indian Ocean in an estuary located near Coffee Bay. The Mthatha river flows in a southeastern direction and is approximately 250 km long with a catchment area of 2,600 km. Mthatha Town (Umtata) is named after it.
Its main tributaries are the Ngqungqu River and the Cicira River.
The Mthatha River marks the southern limit of the Pondoland region.
Dams
Presently this river is part of the Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area.
See also
- List of rivers of South Africa
- List of estuaries of South Africa
- List of dams and reservoirs in South Africa
References
- Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
- Mthatha River System - 2008 Archived 2016-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
- Niba, AS; Mafereka, SP (3 April 2015). "Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and distribution pattern in the upper Mthatha River, Eastern Cape, South Africa". African Journal of Aquatic Science. 40 (2): 133–142. Bibcode:2015AfJAS..40..133N. doi:10.2989/16085914.2015.1028323. ISSN 1608-5914. S2CID 84022844.
- Mzimbuvu to Keiskamma WMA 12
- Contributions to the ecology of Maputaland, Southern Africa
- Is there a role for traditional governance systems in South Africa's new water management regime?
External links
- The Ecological Health of the Mthatha River
- 180° view of Mthatha River Mouth
- Invasive alien plants along Mthatha river
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