Black River (Cape Town)

Black River
Swartrivier
An aerial view of the Black River with the M5 highway running alongside it.
Map
EtymologyFrom swart, the word for "black" in the Afrikaans language
Location
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape Province
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationCape Flats, City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The Black River (Swartrivier) is a river in Cape Town, South Africa. It is a tributary of the Salt River together with the Liesbeeck River and the Elsieskraal River.[1] It rises in Arderne Gardens and flows underground initially beneath Main Road and the railway line, before continuing as a canal through Claremont and Rondebosch, then uncanalised through Mowbray, Observatory and Maitland after which it joins the Salt River. Its catchment is part of the Central Management Area of the City of Cape Town and the city has canalised 58% of the river.[1]