Mngeni River
Encyclopedia
The Umgeni River, occasionally the Mgeni River , is a river in KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
. It rises in the "Dargle" in the KZN midlands
, and its mouth is at Durban
, some distance north of Durban's natural harbour. The name is meant to mean place of the Acacia
trees in Zulu
, though other meanings have been proposed.
The river is approximately 232 km long with a catchment area of 4,432 km². There are 4 large dams on the Umgeni, they are the Midmar Dam
, Albert Falls Dam
, Nagle Dam
and Inanda Dam
.
It is assumed that Vasco da Gama
replenished his fleet's water supply at the Umgeni mouth on Christmas Day, 1497, and so named the region Natal
, Portuguese
for Christmas. The river then acquired the name "River of Natal".
130 years later the Umgeni was crossed by Nathaniel Isaacs
on his way to visit Shaka
.
, which joins it between Nagle and Inanda dams. Higher up its course the Msunduzi (or 'Dusi' for short) passes through the KwaZulu-Natal capital Pietermaritzburg
. A famous downriver race, the Dusi Canoe Marathon
takes place between the capital and Durban, attracting thousands of canoeists for the three-day event held in January every year.
Dams on the Mngeni
Waterfalls on the Mngeni
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....
, 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...
. It rises in the "Dargle" in the KZN midlands
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that lies outside of Pietermaritzburg but before the Drakensberg mountain range....
, and its mouth is at Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, some distance north of Durban's natural harbour. The name is meant to mean place of the Acacia
Acacia karroo
Acacia karroo also known as the Sweet Thorn, is a species of Acacia, native to southern Africa from southern Angola east to Mozambique, and south to South Africa....
trees in Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
, though other meanings have been proposed.
The river is approximately 232 km long with a catchment area of 4,432 km². There are 4 large dams on the Umgeni, they are the Midmar Dam
Midmar Dam
Midmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg , South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event"....
, Albert Falls Dam
Albert Falls Dam
Albert Falls Dam is dam in the Umgeni River, just outside Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, province, South Africa. It was established in 1976. It has a gross capacity of , and a surface area of , the dam wall is high.- References :...
, Nagle Dam
Nagle Dam
Nagle Dam is a dam on the Umgeni River, near Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.It was established in 1950.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
and Inanda Dam
Inanda Dam
Inanda Dam is a dam on the Umgeni River, near Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established in 1989.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
.
It is assumed that Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
replenished his fleet's water supply at the Umgeni mouth on Christmas Day, 1497, and so named the region Natal
Natal, South Africa
Natal is a region in South Africa. It stretches between the Indian Ocean in the south and east, the Drakensberg in the west, and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The main cities are Pietermaritzburg and Durban...
, Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for Christmas. The river then acquired the name "River of Natal".
130 years later the Umgeni was crossed by Nathaniel Isaacs
Nathaniel Isaacs
Nathaniel Isaacs was an English adventurer who played a part in the history of Natal, South Africa. He wrote a book spread over two volumes called "Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa"...
on his way to visit Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
.
Msunduzi tributary
A noteworthy tributary is the Msunduzi RiverMsunduzi River
The Msunduzi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is also known by its anglicised name, the Dusi River. The original name, Msunduzi, is isiZulu.The Msunduzi is a tributary of the Mngeni River.-In Pietermaritzburg:...
, which joins it between Nagle and Inanda dams. Higher up its course the Msunduzi (or 'Dusi' for short) passes through the KwaZulu-Natal capital Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
. A famous downriver race, the Dusi Canoe Marathon
Dusi Canoe Marathon
The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon is a canoe race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, South Africa. It is run along the Msunduzi River, which is more commonly referred to as the Dusi river. The 2006 race attracted roughly 2000 paddlers and two to three thousand seconders, helpers and supporters...
takes place between the capital and Durban, attracting thousands of canoeists for the three-day event held in January every year.
See also
Dams on the Mngeni
- Albert Falls DamAlbert Falls DamAlbert Falls Dam is dam in the Umgeni River, just outside Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, province, South Africa. It was established in 1976. It has a gross capacity of , and a surface area of , the dam wall is high.- References :...
- Inanda DamInanda DamInanda Dam is a dam on the Umgeni River, near Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established in 1989.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
- Midmar DamMidmar DamMidmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg , South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event"....
- Nagle DamNagle DamNagle Dam is a dam on the Umgeni River, near Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.It was established in 1950.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
Waterfalls on the Mngeni
- Howick FallsHowick FallsHowick Falls is a waterfall in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The waterfall is approximately 95 meters in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The Zulu people called the falls KwaNogqaza, which means "Place of the Tall One"....