Komati River

The Komati River, also known as the Inkomati River or Incomati River (in Mozambique, from Portuguese Rio Incomati), is a river in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Originating in north-western Eswatini, it is joined by the Crocodile River in the Lebombo Mountains, enters far south-western Mozambique below the border town of Komatipoort, and enters the Indian Ocean around 24 km (15 mi) north-east of Maputo.

Komati River
Komatirivier, Incomati River, Inkomati River
The gorge near Carolina in the upper Komati River
EtymologyFrom the Swazi language word for "cow", meaning hippos
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
SourceSteenkampsberg
  locationNear Ermelo, Mpumalanga
  elevation1,800 m (5,900 ft)
MouthIndian Ocean
  location
Maputo Bay
  coordinates
25°48′57.46″S 32°43′38.89″E
Length480 km (300 mi)
Basin size50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average111 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s)

It is 480 kilometres (298 mi) long, with a drainage basin 50,000 square kilometres (19,300 sq mi) in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m3/s (3,920 cfs) at its mouth.

The name Komati is derived from inkomati, meaning "cow" in siSwati, as its perennial nature is compared to a cow that always has milk.

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