The Kowie River (Coyi in Xhosa) is a river in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It has its source in the hills of the "Grahamstown Heights" from where it flows in a south-easterly direction draining the major part of the Bathurst region, reaching the Indian Ocean through an estuary at Port Alfred.

Kowie River
The Kowie River near Bathurst
Map
Kowie River is located in South Africa
Kowie River
Location of the Kowie River mouth
Native nameCoyi (Xhosa)
Location
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
Physical characteristics
MouthIndian Ocean
 • location
Port Alfred
 • coordinates
33°36′06″S 26°53′58″E / 33.60167°S 26.89944°E / -33.60167; 26.89944
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length94 km (58 mi)
Basin size800 km2 (310 sq mi)

Its major tributaries are the Bloukrans River, the Bak River and the Lushington River (or Torrens). The Little Kowie River is a smaller tributary which enters the estuarine portion of the river 14 km from the mouth. There are also a number of smaller unnamed streams entering the river along its course. The Kowie river is part of the Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area.[1]

Ecology

edit

There is a small population of the endangered Eastern Province rocky (Sandelia bainsii) in the Bloukrans River section of the Blaauwkrantz Nature Reserve.[2]

See also

edit

References

edit