Komati River
| Komati River Komatirivier, Incomati River, Inkomati River | |
|---|---|
| Etymology | From the Swazi language word for "cow", meaning hippos |
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Near Ermelo, Mpumalanga |
| • elevation | 1,800 m (5,900 ft) |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
• location | Maputo Bay |
• coordinates | 25°48′57.46″S 32°43′38.89″E / 25.8159611°S 32.7274694°E |
| Length | 480 km (300 mi) |
| Basin size | 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 111 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s) |
The Komati River, also known as the Inkomati River or Incomati River (in Mozambique, from Portuguese Rio Incomati), is a river in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Originating in north-western Eswatini, it is joined by the Crocodile River in the Lebombo Mountains, enters far south-western Mozambique below the border town of Komatipoort, and enters the Indian Ocean around 24 km (15 mi) north-east of Maputo.
It is 480 kilometres (298 mi) long, with a drainage basin 50,000 square kilometres (19,300 sq mi) in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m3/s (3,920 cfs) at its mouth.
The name Komati is derived from inkomati, meaning "cow" in siSwati, as its perennial nature is compared to a cow that always has milk.