Mthatha River

Mthatha River
Umtata River
close to where the Mthatha River meets the Indian Ocean
Mthatha River is located in South Africa
Mthatha River
Location of the Mthatha River mouth
EtymologySneeze-wood trees (Ptaeroxylon obliquum) growing on the banks of the river[1]
Native name'mtathe Bawo (Xhosa)
Location
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape Province
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBaziya Range, Eastern Cape, South Africa
 • elevation1,500 m (4,900 ft)
MouthIndian 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)
Length250 km (160 mi)
Basin size2,600 km2 (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 km2. Mthatha Town (Umtata) is named after it.[2][3]

Its main tributaries are the Ngqungqu River and the Cicira River.[4]

The Mthatha River marks the southern limit of the Pondoland region.[5]

  1. ^ Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  2. ^ Mthatha River System - 2008 Archived 2016-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Mzimbuvu to Keiskamma WMA 12
  5. ^ Contributions to the ecology of Maputaland, Southern Africa