Umgeni River

Umgeni River
uMngeni (in Zulu)
The Umgeni River's Blue Lagoon at Durban North
Map of the Umgeni River watershed
Umgeni River is located in South Africa
Umgeni River
Location of the Umgeni River mouth
Location
CountrySouth Africa
RegionKwaZulu-Natal
Physical characteristics
SourceDrakensberg
 • elevation1,825 m (5,988 ft)
MouthIndian Ocean
 • location
Durban, South Africa
 • coordinates
29°48′36″S 31°02′08″E / 29.81000°S 31.03556°E / -29.81000; 31.03556
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length232 km (144 mi)
Basin size4,432 km2 (1,711 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftMsunduzi River
The Umgeni River just below Howick Falls in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, photographed during the dry season

The Umgeni River or Mgeni River (Zulu: uMngeni) is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It rises in the "Dargle" in the KZN Midlands, and its mouth is at Durban, some distance north of Durban's natural harbour. It is generally agreed its name means "the river of entrance" in Zulu, though other meanings have been suggested.[1][2]

The river is approximately 232 kilometres (144 mi) long with a catchment area of 4,432 square kilometres (1,711 sq mi). The Howick Falls are some famous waterfalls on the Mngeni.

  1. ^ du Plessis, E.J. (1973). Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town. pp. 277, 278. ISBN 0-624-00273-X.
  2. ^ Raper, P.E. (2004). South African Place Names. Jonathan Ball, Jhb & Cape Town. p. 245. ISBN 1-86842-190-2.