The Umfolozi River (also uMfolozi, Imfolozi or Mfolozi) is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. It is formed by the confluence of the Black (Imfolozi emnyama) and White Umfolozi (Imfolozi emhlope) Rivers near the southeastern boundary of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The isiZulu name imFolozi is generally considered to describe the zigzag course followed by both tributaries, though other explanations have been given.[1]
The river flows in an easterly direction to the Indian Ocean at Maphelana, a coastal resort just south of the St Lucia River mouth. It originally meandered over the Monzi Flats, where it split into numerous slow-flowing channels before entering the St. Lucia Estuary at Honeymoon Bend. The slow-moving water and reed beds in channels operated as a natural filtering system that removed silt from the Umfolozi floodwaters and created a rich habitat for numerous species.
During the 1950s, the Umfolozi Landowners Association contained and artificially channeled the river through the Monzi Flats to develop sugarcane farms. The new Umfolozi canal resulted in the unfiltered water depositing its silt load after entering the slower moving St. Lucia Estuary. This caused the estuary mouth to rapidly silt up. There had only been one record of this occurring until that time, during the sustained drought during the 1930s. At 28°20′58″S31°58′46″E / 28.34944°S 31.97944°E / -28.34944; 31.97944 the Black Umfolozi River and the White Umfolozi River, join to form the Umfolozi.
Characteristics
It is a meandering river, with a catchment area of 11,068 km³. Near, its mouth it is 38 metre wide, with a slope gradient of 0.36 metre per kilometre. The average diameter of the bed material is 0.35 mm (sand).[2]
Sediment problems
The river transports carries annually 1.4 million tonnes of suspended sediment to the ocean.[2] The government started a costly dredging operation in the estuary mouth area, but it proved ineffective. After years of dredging, the next plan was to prevent the Umfolozi River from entering the St Lucia estuary. The Umfolozi River was canalized straight out to sea at Maphelana. The impact of this decision continues; the silt plume from the river is often blown by strong south winds as far north as Sodwana Bay, 100 km away. The changes threaten the coral reefs, which provide fish habitat and protect the shore. In addition, it jeopardizes the associated good snorkeling available at Cape Vidal, part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
Fish
The scaly yellowfish(Labeobarbus natalensis) is a fish found in the Umfolozi River System as well as in the Umzimkulu, Umkomazi, Tugela and the Mgeni. It is a common endemic species in KwaZulu-Natal Province and it lives in different habitats between the Drakensberg foothills and the coastal lowlands.[3]
^du Plessis, E.J. (1973). Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town. p. 273. ISBN0-624-00273-X.
^ abHanibal Lemma, and colleagues (2019). "Bedload transport measurements in the Gilgel Abay River, Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia". Journal of Hydrology. 577: 123968. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.123968.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
External links
Mfolozi River Mouth Location Map.
January 07, 2023
umfolozi, river, also, umfolozi, imfolozi, mfolozi, river, kwazulu, natal, province, south, africa, formed, confluence, black, imfolozi, emnyama, white, umfolozi, imfolozi, emhlope, rivers, near, southeastern, boundary, hluhluwe, umfolozi, game, reserve, isizu. The Umfolozi River also uMfolozi Imfolozi or Mfolozi is a river in KwaZulu Natal a province of South Africa It is formed by the confluence of the Black Imfolozi emnyama and White Umfolozi Imfolozi emhlope Rivers near the southeastern boundary of the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve The isiZulu name imFolozi is generally considered to describe the zigzag course followed by both tributaries though other explanations have been given 1 Umfolozi RiverThe Umfolozi on a map of northern KwaZulu NatalLocation of the Umfolozi River mouthNative nameimFolozi Zulu LocationCountrySouth AfricaProvinceKwaZulu NatalPhysical characteristicsMouth locationKwaZulu Natal South Africa coordinates28 23 32 S 32 25 27 E 28 39222 S 32 42417 E 28 39222 32 42417 Coordinates 28 23 32 S 32 25 27 E 28 39222 S 32 42417 E 28 39222 32 42417The river flows in an easterly direction to the Indian Ocean at Maphelana a coastal resort just south of the St Lucia River mouth It originally meandered over the Monzi Flats where it split into numerous slow flowing channels before entering the St Lucia Estuary at Honeymoon Bend The slow moving water and reed beds in channels operated as a natural filtering system that removed silt from the Umfolozi floodwaters and created a rich habitat for numerous species Contents 1 Ecology 1 1 Characteristics 1 2 Sediment problems 1 3 Fish 2 Aerial photos 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEcology EditDuring the 1950s the Umfolozi Landowners Association contained and artificially channeled the river through the Monzi Flats to develop sugarcane farms The new Umfolozi canal resulted in the unfiltered water depositing its silt load after entering the slower moving St Lucia Estuary This caused the estuary mouth to rapidly silt up There had only been one record of this occurring until that time during the sustained drought during the 1930s At 28 20 58 S 31 58 46 E 28 34944 S 31 97944 E 28 34944 31 97944 the Black Umfolozi River and the White Umfolozi River join to form the Umfolozi Characteristics Edit It is a meandering river with a catchment area of 11 068 km Near its mouth it is 38 metre wide with a slope gradient of 0 36 metre per kilometre The average diameter of the bed material is 0 35 mm sand 2 Sediment problems Edit The river transports carries annually 1 4 million tonnes of suspended sediment to the ocean 2 The government started a costly dredging operation in the estuary mouth area but it proved ineffective After years of dredging the next plan was to prevent the Umfolozi River from entering the St Lucia estuary The Umfolozi River was canalized straight out to sea at Maphelana The impact of this decision continues the silt plume from the river is often blown by strong south winds as far north as Sodwana Bay 100 km away The changes threaten the coral reefs which provide fish habitat and protect the shore In addition it jeopardizes the associated good snorkeling available at Cape Vidal part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site Fish Edit The scaly yellowfish Labeobarbus natalensis is a fish found in the Umfolozi River System as well as in the Umzimkulu Umkomazi Tugela and the Mgeni It is a common endemic species in KwaZulu Natal Province and it lives in different habitats between the Drakensberg foothills and the coastal lowlands 3 Aerial photos Edit The Mfolozi Rivers are seen converging on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park The old and new courses near the mouth with the Msunduzi converging from the left i e south enclosing a wetland Also mote the silt plume at sea See also EditList of rivers of South Africa List of estuaries of South Africa List of dams in South Africa List of drainage basins of South Africa Water Management AreasReferences Edit du Plessis E J 1973 Suid Afrikaanse berg en riviername Tafelberg uitgewers Cape Town p 273 ISBN 0 624 00273 X a b Hanibal Lemma and colleagues 2019 Bedload transport measurements in the Gilgel Abay River Lake Tana Basin Ethiopia Journal of Hydrology 577 123968 doi 10 1016 j jhydrol 2019 123968 Technical Report on the State of Yellowfishes in South Africa 2007 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2017 06 29 Retrieved 2012 03 29 External links EditA map of Major South African Rivers Mfolozi River Mouth Location Map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Umfolozi River amp oldid 1119357959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
