Komati River

{{About|a river in Africa|the Indian caste|Komati Caste}} {{Use South African English|date = December 2023}} {{Infobox river | name = Komati River | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = Komatirivier, Incomati River, Inkomati River | name_etymology = From the Swazi language word for "cow", meaning hippos  | image = Rio Komati gorge cmichaelhoganlowres.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The gorge near Carolina in the upper Komati River | mapframe = yes | mapframe-stroke-color = #4271ae | mapframe-zoom = 6 | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption =  | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|South Africa|Eswatini|Mozambique}} | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length_km = 480 | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|111|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max =  | source1_location = Near Ermelo, Mpumalanga | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = {{convert|1800|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = Indian Ocean | mouth_location = Maputo Bay | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|25|48|57.46|S|32|43|38.89|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size_km2 = 50000 | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Komati River''',<ref>{{cite book | last=Nakayama | first=M. | title=International Waters in Southern Africa | publisher=United Nations University Press | series=G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series | year=2003 | isbn=978-92-808-1077-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nBJPAAAAMAAJ | access-date=30 December 2021 | page=}}</ref> also known as the '''Inkomati River'''<ref name="sanbi">{{cite web | title=Kneria sp nov south africa| website=Red List of South African Species| publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) | url=http://speciesstatus.sanbi.org/assessment/last-assessment/115/ | access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref> or '''Incomati River'''<ref>{{cite book | last=Nakayama | first=M. | title=International Waters in Southern Africa | publisher=United Nations University Press | series=G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series | year=2003 | isbn=978-92-808-1077-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nBJPAAAAMAAJ | access-date=30 December 2021 | page=9,13,14}}</ref> (in Mozambique, from Portuguese '''Rio Incomati'''<ref name="eb">{{cite web | title=Komati River | website=Encyclopedia Britannica | date=12 December 2014 | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Komati-River | access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref>), is a river in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Originating in north-western Eswatini, it is joined by the Crocodile River in the Lebombo Mountains, enters far south-western Mozambique below the border town of Komatipoort, and enters the Indian Ocean around {{cvt|24|km}} north-east of Maputo.<ref name="eb" />

It is {{convert|480|km|mi|0}} long, with a drainage basin {{convert|50000|km2|sqmi|-2}} in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m<sup>3</sup>/s (3,920 cfs) at its mouth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nakayama|first=Mikiyasu|title=International Waters in Southern Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ittv1oAJ37sC|year=2003|publisher=United Nations University Press|isbn=978-92-808-1077-6|page=9 }}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref>

The name Komati is derived from ''inkomati'', meaning "cow" in siSwati, as its perennial nature is compared to a cow that always has milk.<ref>{{cite book|last = du Plessis|first = E.J.|title = Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername|publisher = Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town|year = 1973|isbn = 0-624-00273-X|page = 251}}</ref>

== Geography == left|thumb|Location of the Komati River and its tributaries with the respective country border The river originates west of Carolina, rising at an elevation of about {{convert|5,906|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} near Breyten in the Ermelo district of the Mpumalanga province.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9045967/Komati-River "Komati River"] Online Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> It flows in a general northeasterly direction and reaches the Indian Ocean at Maputo Bay, after a course of some {{convert|800|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911 |wstitle=Komati |volume=15 |page=892 |inline=1}}</ref>

The Komati Gorge is situated in the upper reaches of the Komati River and is the habitat of some endangered species such as the southern bald ibis.<ref>[http://www.luminatechnologies.org/luminawws.html C. Michael Hogan and Amy Gregory, ''Ecology of Komati Gorge'', July 22, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528121347/http://www.luminatechnologies.org/luminawws.html |date=May 28, 2010 }}</ref> In 2001 the 115 m high wall of the Maguga Dam was completed south of Piggs Peak, Eswatini, <small>{{coord|26|4|51.57|S|31|15|25.84|E|type:river}}</small>

In its upper valley near Steynsdorp are goldfields, but the reefs consist almost entirely of low grade ore. The river descends the Drakensberg by a pass {{convert|30|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} south of Barberton, and is deflected northward at the eastern border of Eswatini, keeping a course parallel to the Lebombo mountains. Just west of 32° E and 25° 25′ S, near the town of Komatipoort, it is joined by the Crocodile River. The Crocodile tributary rises, as the Elands River, in the Bergendal (1,961 m) near the upper waters of the Komati, and flows eastwards across the highveld, being turned northward as it reaches the Drakensberg escarpment. The fall to the lowveld is over 600 metres in {{convert|30|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}, and across the {{convert|100|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} wide country between the Drakensberg and the Lebombo there is a further fall of 900 metres.<ref name="EB1911" />thumb|right|255px|The Uitkoms Waterfall in the Bank Spruit, a tributary in the upper reaches of the Komati, MpumalangaJust over a kilometre below the junction of the Crocodile, the united stream, which from this point is also known as the Manhissa, passes to the coastal plain through a 190 m high cleft, high in the Lebombo known as Komatipoort, featuring some picturesque falls. At Komatipoort, which marks the border between South Africa and Mozambique, the river is less than {{convert|60|mi|km|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}} from its mouth in a direct line, but in crossing the plain it makes a wide sweep of {{convert|200|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}, first northwards before turning southwards, forming lagoon-like expanses and backwaters and receiving from the north several tributaries. In flood time there is a connection northward through the swamps with the basin of the Limpopo. The Komati enters the sea {{convert|15|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} north of Maputo. It is navigable from its mouth, where the water is up to 5m deep, to the foot of the Lebombo.<ref name="EB1911" />

== History == {{more citations needed section|date=August 2022}} The Portuguese named the river's lower reaches the Rio des Reijs, either "river of rice" or "river of kings".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revistamilitar.pt/artigo/344 |title=O Enigma de uma colónia virtual - África Oriental Portuguesa (vulgo Moçambique) |author=João José de Sousa Cruz |date=November 2008 |publisher=Revista Militar |language=pt |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, Jan van Riebeeck's journal mentions a Rio de Reijs, when he dispatched a ship up the east coast in search of rice supplies.<ref>{{cite book|last = Thom|first = H.B.|title = Journal of Jan van Riebeeck|publisher = A.A. Balkema, Cape Town|year = 1952|page = 243 }}</ref> In voortrekker Louis Tregardt's journal it is referred to as the Manhissa,<ref>{{cite book|last = Preller|first = G.S.|title = Dagboek van Louis Trichardt|publisher = Nas. Pers Bpk., Cape Town|year = 1938|page = 334, footnote }}</ref> a name still extant, while to the British it was known as the King George River.<ref>{{cite book|last = Robertson|first = J.W.|title = Traveller's Guide for South Africa|publisher = The Standard Printing Co., East London|page = VIII }}</ref>

In 1725 a Dutch expedition led by Francois de Kuiper explored the region of the lower Komati and travelled 30 km into the current Mpumalanga province, before they were attacked by local tribes and had to return to Delagoa Bay.

On the September 23, 1900 during the Second Boer War, 3,000 Boers crossed the frontier at the small town of Komatipoort, and surrendered to the Portuguese authorities.<ref name=EB1911/>

On November 7, 1900, the banks of the Komati became the site of a battle between the British Empire and the Boers. The Battle of Leliefontein was a retreat by the British, harassed by the Boers, who were threatening to capture the British Artillery. The British guns were saved by the Royal Canadian Dragoons who charged the Boers, whereby they placed the guns out of their reach.

== Railway == {{Further|Pretoria–Maputo railway}} The railway from Maputo to Pretoria traverses the plain in a direct line, and at seventy-two kilometres, reaches the Komati. It follows the south bank of the river and enters the high country at Komati Poort. From the Poort westward the railway skirts the south bank of the Crocodile River throughout its length.<ref name=EB1911/> This railway was originally constructed by the Netherlands-South African Railway Company (NZASM) and was officially inaugurated in 1895.

== See also == * Komatiite * Komatipoort * List of rivers of South Africa

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120208110143/http://www.ecs.co.sz/magugadam/maguga_dam.htm The Maguga Dam Project] *[https://archive.today/20120710162812/http://myfundi.co.za/e/Key_rivers_of_South_Africa Key rivers of South Africa] * [http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/state_of_rivers/Komati_River_Report_2014_Final.pdf ECOSTATUS OF THE KOMATI RIVER CATCHMENT, INKOMATI RIVER SYSTEM]

Category:Komati River Category:Rivers of Eswatini Category:Rivers of Mozambique Category:International rivers of Africa Category:Geography of Maputo Province Category:Rivers of Mpumalanga