Baakens River
| Baakens River Baakensrivier | |
|---|---|
| Native name | |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Eastern Cape |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
• location | Algoa Bay |
• coordinates | 33°57′50″S 25°37′45″E / 33.96389°S 25.62917°E |
| Length | 23 km (14 mi) |
The Baakens River, also known as Gqeberha River (Xhosa: [ᶢǃʱɛ̀ɓéːxà]), is a river that empties at Port Elizabeth's city centre and harbour in Algoa Bay.
The river flows for about 23 km (14 mi) from its catchment area at Sherwood, Hunter's Retreat, and Rowallan Park through mainly urban area to its mouth. Mostly, it is a small quiet stream. Near its mouth, it runs into a gorge on the south side of the hill on which Fort Frederick lies.
Until the first VOC ships docked here in 1690, the creek was known by the Khoekhoe name from the Gonoqua tribe, Kragga Kamma (//Kraxa/kamma), 'the rocky creek (or //kara - meaning pebbles in the river and kamma being a corruption of the Khoe word //gami - meaning water)'.
In time, the last 2 km (1.2 mi) of the stream was canalised and the small lagoon filled up. Parks, sports grounds and hiking trails have been laid out in parts of the Baakens Valley.