Keiskamma River
Keiskamma River | |
Keiskammarivier | |
general view of Keiskammahoek where the sources of the Keiskamma River lie | |
Name origin: Meaning "sweet water" in the Khoekhoe language | |
Country | South Africa |
---|---|
Province | Eastern Cape Province |
Tributaries | |
- right | Tyhume |
Source | Near Keiskammahoek |
- location | Amatola Mountains |
- elevation | 1,500 m (4,921 ft) |
Mouth | Indian Ocean |
- location | Near Hamburg |
- elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
- coordinates | ZA 33°17′0″S 27°29′20″E / 33.28333°S 27.48889°ECoordinates: ZA 33°17′0″S 27°29′20″E / 33.28333°S 27.48889°E |
Length | 160 km (99 mi) |
Location of the Keiskamma River mouth |
The Keiskamma River (Afrikaans: Keiskammarivier) is a river in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The river flows into the Indian Ocean in the Keiskamma Estuary, located by Hamburg Nature Reserve, near Hamburg,[1] midway between East London and Port Alfred. The Keiskamma flows first in a southwestern and then in a southeastern direction after meeting its main tributary, the Tyhume River.[2]
The Keiskamma River marked the border between the Cape Province and former British Kaffraria, known also then as Queen Adelaide's Province, until 1847.[3]
Presently this river is part of the Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area.[4]
Ecology
There is a small population of the endangered Eastern Province rocky (Sandelia bainsii) in the Tyhume River, part of the Keiskamma river basin.[5]
Dams
See also
References
External links
- Keiskamma River Catchment (South Africa)
- Towns of historical interest in the 'kei
- Cape slavery heritage
- The carcass of Huberta, the Keiskamma River Hippopotamus (Apr 1931)