| Crocodile River Afrikaans:Krokodilrivier | |
|---|---|
 Crocodile River atPelindaba,North West | |
  Location of the Crocodile River's mouth | |
 | |
| Native name | Tswana:Oodi |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng,North West andLimpopo |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Witwatersrand |
| • location | Witpoortjie,Gauteng |
| • coordinates | 26°07′23″S27°49′48″E / 26.123°S 27.830°E /-26.123; 27.830 |
| • elevation | 1,710 m (5,610 ft) |
| Mouth | Limpopo River |
• location | Dwaalboom,Limpopo |
• coordinates | 24°11′27″S26°52′22″E / 24.19083°S 26.87278°E /-24.19083; 26.87278 |
• elevation | 872 m (2,861 ft) |
| Length | 423 km (263 mi) |
| Basin size | 29,572 km2 (11,418 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Limpopo River →Indian Ocean |
TheCrocodile River (Tswana:Oodi,[1]Afrikaans:Krokodilrivier) is a river inSouth Africa. At its confluence with theMarico River, theLimpopo River is formed.[2]
The Crocodile River has itssource in theWitwatersrand ridge, originating inConstantia Kloof,Roodepoort,Gauteng province. The first dam on the river is the Lake Heritage Dam just west ofLanseria International Airport. Just north of this airport is its confluence with theJukskei River. Further downstream into theNorth West province are theHartbeespoort Dam[3] and theRoodekoppies Dam. Beyond the Hartbeespoort Dam, the stream passes the town ofBrits. TheElands River joins downstream from theVaalkop Dam, about 20 km further thePienaars River joins its right bank, shortly after exiting theKlipvoor Dam.
InLimpopo province, about 35 km further, the river passes the town ofThabazimbi and meanders for many kilometres through a sparsely inhabited area before joining the Marico River just west of Rooibokkraal at the limit of North West province to form the start of the Limpopo River.[4]
Thetributaries of the Crocodile River include the Bloubankspruit,Hennops River,Jukskei River, Magalies River, Sterkstroom River, Rosespruit, Skeerpoort River, Kareespruit,Elands River, Bierspruit River and Sundays River.[5]
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The Crocodile River is one of the most polluted river systems inSouth Africa. The effects of pollution from two of South Africa's metropolitan areas,Johannesburg andTshwane, has been detrimental to the ecology of the system. Untreatedindustrial,mining,agricultural andhousehold waste has deteriorated the water quality throughout most of its course and led to massivealgal blooms in the Hartbeespoort Dam and Roodekoppies Dam. Invasive plant species have negatively affected the integrity of the system. Unsustainable farming practices have led tosediment overloads and erosion further harming the river.
The Crocodile River is part of the Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Area. Dams in the river basin are:
