Basin area 29,970 km² | ||
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Countries South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland | ||
The Maputo River (Portuguese Rio Maputo), 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, but were attacked and displaced by Swazis. It is also said to mean 'dark brown', a description of the river's muddy water.
Contents
Map of Maputo River
Course
The river rises near Amsterdam, Mpumalanga, South Africa, and flows easterly through Swaziland, where it enters the Lebombo Mountains. The 13 km gorge forms the boundary between Swaziland and South Africa. For approximately 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 is called the Great Usutu or Lusutfu and flows through the towns of Bhunya, Luyengo, Siphofaneni, and Big Bend. The town of Big Bend is near a point in which the river meanders abruptly. The Great Usutu is the largest river in Swaziland, is the site of Swaziland's lowest point (21 m above sea level), and is known for whitewater rafting. No large towns have been able to form along its banks because of deep narrow valleys and dense forests. It is, however, home to some golf courses, hotels, and nature reserves.
Tributaries
From the origin to its mouth, in order, tributaries are the: Seganagana, Bonnie Brook, Mpuluzi, Buhlungu, Umvenvane, Lusushwana, Sidvokodvo,Mkhondvo River Mhlamani, Mzimneni, Mzimphofu, Mhlathuzane, Mtsindzekwa, Mhlatuze, Nyetane, Funuane, and the Pongola Rivers.