Crocodile River (Limpopo)


The Crocodile River is a river in South Africa. After its confluence with the Marico River, both rivers form the Limpopo River.

Course

The Crocodile River has its source in the Witwatersrand mountain range, originating in Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort, Gauteng province. The first dam it fills is the Lake Heritage Dam just west of the Lanseria Airport. Just north of this airport is its confluence with the Jukskei River. Further downstream into the North West two large dams are located in the river, namely Hartbeespoort Dam and Roodekoppies Dam. Beyond the Hartbeespoort Dam, it passes the town of Brits. The Elands River joins downstream from the Vaalkop Dam, about 20 km further the Pienaars River joins its right bank, shortly after exiting the Klipvoor Dam.
In the Limpopo Province, about 35 km further, the Crocodile River passes the town of Thabazimbi and meanders for many miles 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.

Tributaries

The tributaries 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.

Pollution

The Crocodile River is one of the most pressured river systems in South Africa. The effects of pollution from two of South Africa's metropolitan areas, Johannesburg and Tshwane, has been detrimental to the ecology of the system. Untreated industrial, mining, agricultural and household waste has deteriorated the water quality throughout most of its course and led to massive algal blooms in the Hartbeespoort Dam and Roodekoppies Dam. Invasive plant species have negatively affected the integrity of the system. Unsustainable farming practices have led to sediment overloads and erosion further harming the river.

Dams

The Crocodile River is part of the Crocodile and Marico Water Management Area. Dams in the river basin are: