Maputo River
Encyclopedia
The Maputo River also called Great Usutu River, Lusutfu River or Suthu River, is a river in South Africa
, Swaziland
and Mozambique
. The name Suthu refers to Basotho
people who lived near the source of the river, who were attacked and displaced by Swazis. It is also said to mean 'dark brown', a description of the river's muddy water.
The river rises near Amsterdam, Mpumalanga
, South Africa, and flows through Swaziland in an easterly direction, where it enters the Lubumbo Mountains. The 13-kilometre gorge forms the boundary between Swaziland and South Africa. For about twenty kilometres, it forms the border between South Africa (province of KwaZulu-Natal
) and Mozambique. There, in the Ndumo Game Reserve
, it absorbs its largest tributary, the Pongola River
. It then meanders through the Mozambican coastal plain and empties into southern Maputo Bay
, some 85 kilometres downstream.
In Swaziland, the river, there called the Great Usutu or Lusutfu, flows through the towns of Bhunya, Loyengo
, Siphofaneni
, and Big Bend
. The town of Big Bend is located near a point in the river where it meander
s abruptly. The Great Usutu is the largest river
in Swaziland
and the site of Swaziland's lowest point (21 meters above sea level). It is known for whitewater rafting. No large towns have been able to form along its banks due to deep narrow valleys and dense forests. However, it is home to some golf course
s, hotel
s, and nature reserve
s.
, Nyetane River, Funuane River and Phongolo River.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. The name Suthu refers to Basotho
Basotho
The ancestors of the Sotho people have lived in southern Africa since around the fifth century. The Sotho nation emerged from the accomplished diplomacy of Moshoeshoe I who gathered together disparate clans of Sotho–Tswana origin that had dispersed across southern Africa in the early 19th century...
people who lived near the source of the river, who were attacked and displaced by Swazis. It is also said to mean 'dark brown', a description of the river's muddy water.
The river rises near Amsterdam, Mpumalanga
Amsterdam, Mpumalanga
Amsterdam is a small sheep farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Other than large sheep farms, there are large plantations of gum, pine and wattle trees in the area. The town also lies close to the border with Swaziland.- History :...
, South Africa, and flows through Swaziland in an easterly direction, where it enters the Lubumbo Mountains. The 13-kilometre gorge forms the boundary between Swaziland and South Africa. For about twenty kilometres, it forms the border between South Africa (province of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
) and Mozambique. There, in the Ndumo Game Reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve is a game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on the border with Mozambique where the Pongola River joins the Great Usutu River...
, it absorbs its largest tributary, the Pongola River
Pongola River
The Pongola River is a river in South Africa. It is a tributary of the Maputo River. It rises near Utrecht in northern KwaZulu-Natal, flows east through Pongola, is dammed at Jozini, and crosses the Ubombo Mountains; then it flows north towards Mozambique, joining the Maputo River....
. It then meanders through the Mozambican coastal plain and empties into southern Maputo Bay
Maputo Bay
Maputo Bay , formerly Delagoa Bay, Baía da Lagoa is an inlet of the Indian Ocean on the coast of Mozambique, between 25° 40' and 26° 20' S, with a length from north to south of over 90 km long and 32 km wide....
, some 85 kilometres downstream.
In Swaziland, the river, there called the Great Usutu or Lusutfu, flows through the towns of Bhunya, Loyengo
Loyengo
Loyengo is a town in western Swaziland. It is located 35 kilometres south of the capital, Mbabane, on the MR18 highway, at the junction of the road south to Mankayane and Mgazini....
, Siphofaneni
Siphofaneni
Siphofaneni is a town in the Lubombo Region of central Swaziland 45 kilometres from Manzini and 20 kilometres from Big Bend, a major sugarcane-producing town on the main highway leading to Durban. It has a tropical climate, very hot during summer and cold in winter. Malaria is endemic in Lubombo....
, and Big Bend
Big Bend, Swaziland
Big Bend is a town in eastern Swaziland, lying on the Lusutfu River. Its main industry is based on sugar plantations.- Schools :The Edu-care Centre is a preschool which caters to Swazi and expatriate children....
. The town of Big Bend is located near a point in the river where it meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s abruptly. The Great Usutu is the largest river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and the site of Swaziland's lowest point (21 meters above sea level). It is known for whitewater rafting. No large towns have been able to form along its banks due to deep narrow valleys and dense forests. However, it is home to some golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s, hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, and nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
s.
Tributaries
from origin to mouth order are: Seganagana River, Bonnie Brook River, Mpuluzi River, Buhlungu River, Umvenvane River, Lusushwana River, Sidvokodvo River, Mhlamani River, Mzimneni River, Mzimphofu River, Mhlathuzane River, Mtsindzekwa River, Mhlatuze RiverMhlatuze River
Mhlathuze River, catchment has a surface area of 4,209 km2. Located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It rises in the west at an altitude of 1,519m and flows over 100km eastwards to the sea. The deep-sea port of Richards Bay is situated at the mouth of the Mhlathuze River and all industrial...
, Nyetane River, Funuane River and Phongolo River.