Swakop River

{{Short description|River in Namibia}} {{Infobox river | name = Swakop | native_name = {{native name|naq|Tsoaxaub}} | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = Swakop Valley.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The landscape of the Swakop River Valley near Richthofen | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption =  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Namibia]] | subdivision_type2 = Regions | subdivision_name2 = [[Khomas Region|Khomas]], [[Otjozondjupa Region|Otjozondjupa]], [[Erongo Region|Erongo]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length_km = 460 | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Eros Mountains]] near Otjozondjati | source1_location = | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = {{convert|1560|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = | mouth_location = [[Atlantic Ocean]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|22|40|S|14|32|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size_km2 = 30100 | tributaries_left = [[Otjiseva River]], [[Kaan River]], [[Tsaobis River]] | tributaries_right = [[Sney River]], [[Omusema River]], [[Gami Kaub River]], [[Khan River]] | waterbodies = [[Von Bach Dam]], [[Swakoppoort Dam]] | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

[[Image:Swakop 20 km before Swakopmund.jpg|thumb|right|The Swakop River flooding 20 km outside Swakopmund on 15 February 2008.]] [[Image:Muendung des Swakop.jpg|thumb|Where the Swakop meets the [[Atlantic Ocean]] (2017). Poles of the old railway bridge seen in the foreground.]] [[Image:Swakop Vogelperspektive.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Swakop River (2017).]]

The '''Swakop River''' ({{langx|naq|Tsoaxaub}})<ref name="Malan">{{cite book | last=Malan | first=Johan S | title=Die Völker Namibias | trans-title=The Tribes of Namibia | year=1998 | publisher=Klaus Hess | location=Windhoek, Göttingen | language=German | pages=134–135}}</ref> is a major river in western central [[Namibia]]. Its source is in the [[Khomas Highland]]. From there it flows westwards through the town of [[Okahandja]], the historic mission station at [[Gross Barmen]], and the settlement of [[Otjimbingwe]]. It then crosses the [[Namib]] desert and reaches the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at [[Swakopmund]] ('Mouth of the Swakop'). The Swakop is an [[ephemeral]] river; its run-off is roughly 40 million cubic metres per annum.<ref name=el2010>{{cite news | title=Elections 2010: Erongo regional profile | publisher=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | date=24 June 2005}}</ref> It has reached the [[Atlantic Ocean]] most recently in 2011, 2022,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.namibiansun.com/news/swakop-river-reaches-ocean-after-more-than-a-decade2022-02-17 | title = Swakop River reaches ocean after more than a decade | last = Cindy van Wyk, Ellanie Smit | date = 17 Feb 2022 | work = Namibian Sun | publisher = Namibia Media Holdings | accessdate = 2 Apr 2025 | language = en }}</ref> and 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.instagram.com/laura_braune/reel/DH6te0WtqeV/ | title = | last = Braune | first = Laura | date = 1 Apr 2025 | work = Instagram | publisher = | accessdate = 2 Apr 2025 }}</ref>

The Swakop River, along with its main [[tributary]] [[Khan River|Khan]], is one of the largest temporary water-bearing rivers in the dry western part of Namibia. It is {{Convert|460|km|abbr=on}} long and has a {{Convert|30,100|km2|abbr=on}} large [[catchment area]] (including its tributaries).<ref name=Jacobson>{{Cite book | last1=Jacobson | first1=Peter J. | last2=Jacobson | first2=Kathryn M. | last3=Seely | first3=Mary K. | title=Ephemeral rivers and their catchments: Sustaining people and development in western Namibia |url=http://www.the-eis.com/data/literature/Ephemeral%20rivers%20and%20their%20catchments_1995.pdf | publisher=Desert Research Foundation of Namibia | place=[[Windhoek]] | date=1995 | pages=138–139 |isbn=9991670947 | format=PDF 8.7MB}}</ref>

The area around the [[river mouth]] and the surrounding [[dunes]] are also known for rich bird life and some unusual plant species (like the [[Welwitschia]]) that use the regular fog drifting in from the sea to sustain themselves in the absence of other moisture.

Groundwater levels in the area have dropped about 0.3 m further due to the presence of two big dams built on the Swakop River.<ref name="Namibian"/>

Notwithstanding the river’s irregular flow, some agriculture is undertaken in the Swakop River valley. Thus, the region is well known for its fresh produce, especially [[tomato]]es, [[asparagus]] and [[olives]]. There are some fears of salt and uranium (possibly natural, possibly from the [[Rössing uranium mine]]) endangering this farming industry.<ref name="Namibian">''[http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=16477&no_cache=1 Uranium in groundwater 'not serious': Roessing]'' - The Namibian, Friday 24 June 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.rossing.com/erongo.htm |title = ''Rössing in the Erongo Region'' |publisher = Rössing Uranium Limited |access-date = 2007-01-06 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061230060907/http://www.rossing.com/erongo.htm |archive-date = 2006-12-30 }}</ref>

== Etymology == The name comes from the [[Khoekhoe language|Khoekhoe]] phrase {{lang|naq|Tsoa-xaub}}, from {{lang|naq|tsoa}} ("anus") and {{lang|naq|xaub}} ("excrement"). The name derives from the observation of the flow of large amounts of brownish sludge that discharge into the Atlantic Ocean with the rains.<ref>Raper, Peter (1987) ''Dictionary of Southern African Place Names''. Johannesburg: Lowry Publishers.</ref>

==Hydrology== The Swakop drains a catchment area of 30,100 km<sup>2</sup> extending from the mouth into the Atlantic Ocean at Swakopmund over [[Otjimbingwe]] and in the east to about 50 km from [[Okahandja]], and in the south to [[Khomas Region|Khomas Highlands]] outside [[Windhoek]]. The highest point of the watershed is located at 2,480 m. Annual rainfall varies from 0 mm in the lower reaches up to 475 mm in the eastern Khomas Highlands. Rainfall exceeds 300 mm per year in 39% of the catchment area, and up to 80% of the catchment experiences annual rainfall above 100 mm.<ref name=Jacobson/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Clifford|first=T. N.|date=2008-03-01|title=The geology of the Neoproterozoic Swakop-Otavi transition zone in the Outjo District, northern Damara Orogen, Namibia|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.111.1.117|journal=South African Journal of Geology|volume=111|issue=1|pages=117–140|doi=10.2113/gssajg.111.1.117|bibcode=2008SAJG..111..117C |issn=1012-0750|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The [[Von Bach Dam]] near Okahandja and [[Swakoppoort Dam]] west of [[Gross Barmen]] in the upper reaches of the Swakop are of great importance for the water supply of Central Namibia. Like all rivers, the Swakop also has a number of major sources and major wetlands in the lower reaches. Existing groundwater, however, is often salty due to [[soil salinity]].

On the lower reaches of the river, flooding has become ever more increasing, due to increased land use of the Swakop [[gallery forest]]s. This contributes to a stronger and more rapid runoff and increased [[erosion]] of the Swakop [[Marsh]]lands.

== Vegetation and fauna== Because of its size and scope, the Swakop has a very diverse catchment area. 29% of the area is in [[Veld|highveld]] [[savanna]], 28% in [[thornveld]] savanna, 34% in [[semidesert]] and savanna transition zone, and 9% in the central [[Namib Desert]].<ref name=Jacobson/> In the Highlands a more or less dense bush vegetation prevails. In the arid lower reaches there is a more limited flora in the Swakop River valley itself, with the typical gallery vegetation from ana trees (''[[Faidherbia albida]]''), tamarisk (''[[Tamarix]]''), camel thorn (''[[Acacia erioloba]]''), [[Salvadora (plant)|Salvadora]], various [[Ficus|fig]] species, [[Euclea]] and also tobacco (''[[Nicotiana]]'' spp.), Jimsonweed (''[[Datura]]'') and mesquite (''[[Prosopis]]'' spp.) as [[invasive species]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cowlishaw|first1=Guy|last2=Davies|first2=Jonathan G.|date=June 1997|title=Flora of the Pro-Namib Desert Swakop River Catchment, Namibia: community classification and implications for desert vegetation sampling|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jare.1996.0203|journal=Journal of Arid Environments|volume=36|issue=2|pages=271–290|doi=10.1006/jare.1996.0203|bibcode=1997JArEn..36..271C |issn=0140-1963|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Wildlife in the Swakop River valley is found practically only in the sparsely populated lower reaches and is limited to [[antelope]], smaller [[predator]]s and birds. Animals such as [[elephant]]s, [[rhino]]s, [[lion]]s and other [[big cat]]s are no longer to be found.

== Usage and colonisation== [[Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 105-DSWA0116, Deutsch-Süd-Westafrika, Farm Gonikontes.jpg|thumb|The farm of Goanikontes in Swakop River, circa 1906.]] Unlike the rest of the dry rivers in western Namibia, there are large human settlements in the basin of the Swakop River, such as the towns of [[Usakos]], [[Karibib]], [[Otjimbingwe]], [[Okahandja]] and Namibia's capital, [[Windhoek]], so that the population in the catchment area is more than 200,000 persons.<ref name=Jacobson/>

While in the upper reaches of the river the farms are often far from the river and extensive grazing is operated, the dams and the high groundwater level along the entire Swakop River valley make [[intensive farming]] and even gardening, such as the cultivation of asparagus in Swakopmund Goanikontes, possible.

The extensive use of the groundwater in agriculture and the high water consumption in cities result in the lowering of the [[water table]]. This leads, particularly in the lower reaches, to the drying up of many [[Spring (hydrology)|springs]] as well as to the death of the gallery vegetation. Due to agricultural practices, erosion has greatly increased, so that more and more valuable soil is lost and the intensity of the Swakop floods increases.<ref name=Jacobson/>

Uranium mines such as the [[Uranium mining in Namibia#Langer Heinrich|Langer Heinrich mine]], in the lower reaches of the Swakop, and [[Rössing uranium mine|the Rössing Mine]] at Khan use enormous quantities of water that further lower the water table. In addition, it is also often claimed that radioactive dust across the Khan gets into the Swakop, and therefore the vegetables cultivated there are contaminated by radioactive materials.

The [[Swakop Bridge]] in Swakopmund is a notable man-made sight near the place where the river empties into the ocean.

==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Literature=== * Klaus Hüser, Helga Besler, Wolf Dieter Blümel, Klaus Heine, Hartmut Leser, [[Uwe Rust]]: ''Namibia – Eine Landschaftskunde in Bildern''. Klaus Hess, Göttingen/Windhoek 2001, {{ISBN|978-3-933117-14-4}}

[[Category:Rivers of Namibia]] [[Category:Swakopmund]] [[Category:Geography of Erongo Region]] [[Category:Geography of Khomas Region]] [[Category:Geography of Otjozondjupa Region]]