Inkomati
Encyclopedia
Inkomati WMA, or Inkomati Water Management Area (coded: 5), The Inkomati water management area is situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa in the Mpumalanga
Province, with a small area in the Limpopo
Province. It borders on Mozambique
in the east and on Swaziland
in the south-east. The water management area extends over several parallel river catchments which all drain in a general easterly direction, and flow together at the border with Mozambique
or within Mozambique, to form the Incomati River which discharges into the Indian Ocean
immediately north of Maputo
. A special situation is presented by the Komati River
, the most southern tributary of the Incomati River, which rises in South Africa
and flows into Swaziland
, then re-enters South Africa
where it is joined by the Crocodile River
at the border with Mozambique
, before flowing into Mozambique as the Incomati River. The Sabie River is the other main river in the water management area and flows into Corumuna Dam in Mozambique
just downstream of the border with South Africa
, and upstream of its confluence with the Inkomati River.
, which divides the water management area into the Plateau area in the west (elevation of more than 2 000 m above sea level) and the Lowveld in the east. Largely attributable to the topography, distinct differences in climate occur, from temperate Highveld
in the west to sub-tropical in the eastern Lowveld. Rainfall is strongly seasonal and occurs mainly in summer. Light snow occasionally falls in the vicinity of the southwestern divide in winter. The mean annual rainfall is in the range from 400 mm to 1 000 mm over most of the water management area, reaching close to 1 500 mm in the mountainous areas along the escarpment.
The north-eastern part of the water management area falls within the world-renowned Kruger National Park
. The Sabie River
which flows through the park, is one of the ecologically most important rivers in the country, whilst the Crocodile River
forms the southern border to the park. Several private game reserves adjoin the Kruger National Park, with other conservation areas throughout in the water management area.
, Crocodile (East) River and Komati River
, and covers the following Dams:
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
Province, with a small area in the Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
Province. It borders on 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...
in the east and on 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...
in the south-east. The water management area extends over several parallel river catchments which all drain in a general easterly direction, and flow together at the border with 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...
or within Mozambique, to form the Incomati River which discharges into the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
immediately north of Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
. A special situation is presented by the Komati River
Komati River
The Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
, the most southern tributary of the Incomati River, which rises in South Africa
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...
and flows into 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...
, then re-enters South Africa
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...
where it is joined by the Crocodile River
Crocodile River
Crocodile River* Crocodile River , river in the north of South Africa, tributary of Limpopo River* Crocodile River , river in the northeast of South Africa, border river to the south of Kruger National Park...
at the border with 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...
, before flowing into Mozambique as the Incomati River. The Sabie River is the other main river in the water management area and flows into Corumuna Dam in 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...
just downstream of the border with South Africa
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...
, and upstream of its confluence with the Inkomati River.
Topographical features
The most important topographical feature in the Inkomati water management area is the Great EscarpmentGreat Escarpment
The Great Escarpment is a mountainous escarpment in southern Africa. While it lies predominantly within the borders of Lesotho and South Africa, it also extends into Angola, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe....
, which divides the water management area into the Plateau area in the west (elevation of more than 2 000 m above sea level) and the Lowveld in the east. Largely attributable to the topography, distinct differences in climate occur, from temperate Highveld
Highveld
The Highveld is a high plateau region of inland South Africa which is largely home to the largest metropolitan area in the country, the Gauteng City Region, which accounts for one-third of South Africa's population.-Location and description:...
in the west to sub-tropical in the eastern Lowveld. Rainfall is strongly seasonal and occurs mainly in summer. Light snow occasionally falls in the vicinity of the southwestern divide in winter. The mean annual rainfall is in the range from 400 mm to 1 000 mm over most of the water management area, reaching close to 1 500 mm in the mountainous areas along the escarpment.
The north-eastern part of the water management area falls within the world-renowned Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
. The Sabie River
Sabie River
The Sabie River is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in South Africa and runs eastwards through Mpumalanga, the Kruger National Park and on to Mozambique. Settlements on its banks include Sabie, Skukuza and Lower Sabie....
which flows through the park, is one of the ecologically most important rivers in the country, whilst the Crocodile River
Crocodile River
Crocodile River* Crocodile River , river in the north of South Africa, tributary of Limpopo River* Crocodile River , river in the northeast of South Africa, border river to the south of Kruger National Park...
forms the southern border to the park. Several private game reserves adjoin the Kruger National Park, with other conservation areas throughout in the water management area.
Sub-management areas
4 sub-management area are made, they are:- 1) The Komati West sub-management area (West of SwazilandSwazilandSwaziland, 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...
), comprising the portion of the Komati RiverKomati RiverThe Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
catchment to the west of Swaziland. - 2) The Komati North sub-management area (North of SwazilandSwazilandSwaziland, 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...
), which includes the portion of the Komati RiverKomati RiverThe Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
catchment north of Swaziland to the confluence of the Crocodile RiverCrocodile RiverCrocodile River* Crocodile River , river in the north of South Africa, tributary of Limpopo River* Crocodile River , river in the northeast of South Africa, border river to the south of Kruger National Park...
. - 3) The Crocodile sub-management area, which corresponds to the catchment of the Crocodile RiverCrocodile RiverCrocodile River* Crocodile River , river in the north of South Africa, tributary of Limpopo River* Crocodile River , river in the northeast of South Africa, border river to the south of Kruger National Park...
. - 4) The Sabie sub-management area, which includes the catchment of the Sabie RiverSabie RiverThe Sabie River is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in South Africa and runs eastwards through Mpumalanga, the Kruger National Park and on to Mozambique. Settlements on its banks include Sabie, Skukuza and Lower Sabie....
together with the Massintonto River and the Nwanetsi River catchments to the north.
Dams Included
The WMA Includes the following major rivers: the Nwanedzi River, Sabie RiverSabie River
The Sabie River is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in South Africa and runs eastwards through Mpumalanga, the Kruger National Park and on to Mozambique. Settlements on its banks include Sabie, Skukuza and Lower Sabie....
, Crocodile (East) River and Komati River
Komati River
The Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
, and covers the following Dams:
- Da Gama DamDa Gama DamDa Gama Dam, is a dam on the Witwaters River, near White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1971.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
White Waters River - Driekoppies DamDriekoppies DamDriekoppies Dam is a dam on the Komati River, near Malelane, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1998.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Lomati River - Inyaka DamInyaka Dam- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Marite River - Kwena DamKwena DamKwena Dam is a dam on the Crocodile River, near Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1987.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Krokodil River - Maguga DamMaguga DamThe Maguga Dam is a dam on the Komati River in Swaziland. It is 115 metre's high and is located 11 kilometres south of Piggs Peak. The dam is located at and was completed in 2001....
Komati RiverKomati RiverThe Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth... - Nooitgedacht DamNooitgedacht Dam- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Komati RiverKomati RiverThe Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth... - Vygeboom Dam Komati RiverKomati RiverThe Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
- Witklip DamWitklip DamWitklip Dam is dam on the Sand River near Sabie, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1969.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Sand RiverSand River- Streams :In Canada:* Sand River , a river in Ontario* Sand River , a tributary of the Beaver River in Alberta* Sand River , a tributary of Kennedy Lake in British Columbia* Sand River...
See also
- Water Management AreasWater Management AreasWater Management Areas are parts of South Africa that are managed by the Water Boards.The list should be complete, and in accordance with the definitions of the Department of Water Affairs...
- List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
- List of rivers of South Africa