Van Stadens River

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Van Stadens River
The Apple Express crossing the Van Stadens River, 6 April 2002
Location
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
Physical characteristics
Source	_
Mouth	Indian Ocean
• location	Eastern Cape, South Africa
• coordinates	33°58′S 25°13′E / 33.967°S 25.217°E / -33.967; 25.217
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)

Van Stadens River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located about 30 km west of Port Elizabeth.

The river was named after Marthinus van Staden, one of the area’s pioneering farmers. He was also among the first to plot a rudimentary track through the valley.^[1]

The geology of the Van Stadens catchments is primarily derived from rock of the mid-Palaeozoic Era that formed the Table Mountain Group of the Cape Supergroup.^[2] The upper to middle catchment areas are characterised by high gradients indicative of steep gorges. Along the river, nutrient concentrations are naturally low. This is a result of the steep topography that prevents human activity like farming which would disturb the natural processes. The Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve situated upstream and this nature conservancy has kept the level of nutrient input low. The Van Stadens River estuary is 0.52 km2 when the river mouth is closed and the water level is at maximum height.^[2]

The Van Stadens Bridge where the N2 national highway crosses the river is known as a suicide location.

Just upstream of the N2 bridge, the 60 cm (2 ft) gauge Avontuur Railway crosses the Van Stadens River over a 78 m (255 ft) high bridge.^[3]