Umzimkulu River
| Mzimkhulu River Umzimkhulu, uMzimkhulu, Mzimkhulu | |
|---|---|
 Umzimkulu river scene | |
  Location of the Umzimkhulu River mouth | |
| Etymology | Meaning 'big place', 'large home', ie of the waters, in the Xhosa language and Zulu language[1] |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | _ |
| • location | Drakensberg |
| Source confluence | / |
| • coordinates | 30°03′24″S 29°47′26″E / 30.05667°S 29.79056°E |
| • elevation | 943 m (3,094 ft) |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
• location | Port Shepstone |
• coordinates | 30°44′12″S 30°27′25″E / 30.73667°S 30.45694°ECoordinates: 30°44′12″S 30°27′25″E / 30.73667°S 30.45694°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
The Mzimkulu River is a river in South Africa.[2] In the past, the Mzimkulu formed part of the border between Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Presently this river is part of the Mvoti to Umzimkulu Water Management Area.[3] In late February of every year, the river is host to one of South Africa's most popular canoe races, the Drak Challenge.[4]
Course[]
It rises in the Drakensberg mountains at the confluence of the and the . It flows southeast towards the Indian Ocean, which it enters through an estuary at Port Shepstone. Its main tributary is the which joins its right bank about halfway down its course.[5] Towns on the Umzimkulu include Underberg and Umzimkhulu.
Ecology[]
The scaly yellowfish (Labeobarbus natalensis) is a fish found in the Umzimkulu River System as well as in the Umgeni, Umkomazi, Tukhela and the Umfolozi. It is a common endemic species in KwaZulu-Natal Province and it lives in different habitats between the Drakensberg foothills and the coastal lowlands.[6]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
- ^ Meintjes, Malcolm (2005). Remarkable Flyfishing Destinations of Southern Africa. Struik. ISBN 1-86872-976-1.
- ^ Is there a role for traditional governance systems in South Africa's new water management regime?
- ^ Drak Challenge
- ^ Mvoti to Umzimkulu WMA 11
- ^ "Technical Report on the State of Yellowfishes in South Africa 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
External links[]
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- KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
- Rivers of South Africa
- Rivers of KwaZulu-Natal
- Internal borders of South Africa
- South Africa river stubs