# Bronkhorst Spruit

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{{Short description|River in South Africa}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Bronkhorst Spruit
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = Likely named after "bronkors" or "bronkhorst" the [Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans) word for [watercress](/source/watercress) ''(Nasturtium officinale)''<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames/SaPlaceNames_djvu.txt Dictionary of Southern African Place Names]</ref>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Bronkhorstspruit met wilgerboom op oewer, a.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = 
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Location of the Bronkhorstspruit mouth
| pushpin_map        = South Africa
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<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [South Africa](/source/South_Africa)
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng_Province) and [Mpumalanga](/source/Mpumalanga_Province)
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
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<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             =  
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [Witwatersrand](/source/Witwatersrand)
| source1_location   = East of [Springs, Gauteng](/source/Springs%2C_Gauteng)
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|1630|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [Wilge River (Olifants)](/source/Wilge_River_(Olifants))
| mouth_location     = East of [Bronkhorstspruit](/source/Bronkhorstspruit)
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|25|48|30|S|28|51|10|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|1370|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = [Delmas River](/source/Delmas_River)
| tributaries_right  = 
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}}
The '''Bronkhorst Spruit''', meaning ''[watercress](/source/watercress) stream'' or ''creek'', is a river in the [Mpumalanga](/source/Mpumalanga) and [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng) provinces of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). In the 19th century it as was known as the '''Kalkoenkransrivier''' or '''Rhenosterpoortrivier'''. It is a tributary of the [Wilge River](/source/Wilge_River_(Olifants)) in the [Olifants River](/source/Olifants_River_(Limpopo)) basin,<ref>[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/eco/FROC/WMA4Olifants.jpg Olifants WMA 4]</ref> and it lends its name to the town of [Bronkhorstspruit](/source/Bronkhorstspruit), situated mainly on its right bank.

==Course==
Its sources are located in the [highveld](/source/highveld) [grasslands](/source/grasslands)<ref>[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/IWQS/rhp/state_of_rivers/state_of_crocsabieolif_01/olif_eco_7.02.html The Olifants River System]</ref> of western Mpumalanga, about 30&nbsp;km to the ESE of [Springs, Gauteng](/source/Springs%2C_Gauteng). It flows generally northwards and its main tributary, the [Delmas River](/source/Delmas_River), joins its left bank. Further downstream it flows into the [Bronkhorstspruit Dam](/source/Bronkhorstspruit_Dam), situated in eastern Gauteng. Then before it bends northeastwards it passes by the Bronkhorstspruit urban area. It finally has a confluence with the Wilge River some 10&nbsp;km east of the town,<ref>[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/eco/FROC/WMA4Olifants.jpg Olifants WMA 4]</ref> at Premiermyn Dam, Gauteng.

==History==
{{main|Action at Bronkhorstspruit}}
When a group of [Voortrekkers](/source/Voortrekkers) arrived at it in 1858, they called it the Kalkoenkransrivier, suggesting a breeding site of [bald ibis](/source/southern_bald_ibis), and on Merensky's map of 1875 it (including the current lower Wilge) is the Rhenosterpoortrivier.<ref name="coe1">{{cite web |last1=Coetzee |first1=Tobias |title=Vlakfontein: AIA-270716 (A Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment for I-Cat International Consulting & Trading (Pty) Ltd on a Portion of Portion 25 of the Farm Vlakfontein 523 JR, Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng) |url=https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/heritagereports/EM00010_JCJ_HIA%20R_V0.0_19_04_18.pdf |website=sahris.sahra.org.za |access-date=23 November 2021 |date=September 2016 |page=17}}</ref> In 1880 this river was the scene of the [action at Bronkhorstspruit](/source/action_at_Bronkhorstspruit), a battle between a Boer commando under the command of Frans Joubert and British troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther. It was one of the first serious clashes in the early days of the [First Boer War](/source/First_Boer_War).<ref>Castle, Ian. ''Majuba 1881: The Hill of Destiny.'' Oxford, Osprey Publishing, 1996, {{ISBN|1-85532-503-9}}</ref>

== Dams in the river==
* [Bronkhorstspruit Dam](/source/Bronkhorstspruit_Dam)
* [Premiermyn Dam](/source/Premiermyn_Dam)

== See also ==
* [List of rivers of South Africa](/source/List_of_rivers_of_South_Africa)
* [List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa](/source/List_of_reservoirs_and_dams_in_South_Africa)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120306135413/http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Research_Impacts/Benchmark_Basins/Olifants.aspx The Olifants River Basin, South Africa]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120610212125/http://www.ewisa.co.za/misc/School/oLIFANTS%20COVER.pdf Olifants River Catchment]
*[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/gis_data/rivslopes/RiverSlopeReportBX.pdf Channel Slopes in the Olifants, Crocodile and Sabie River Catchments]

Category:Olifants River (Limpopo)
Category:Rivers of Gauteng
Category:Rivers of Mpumalanga

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bronkhorst Spruit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronkhorst_Spruit) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronkhorst_Spruit?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.