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SWARTLINTJIES RIVER ESTUARY: Physical Features |
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Topography |
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In the lower reached the riverbed forms two extended meanders before widening out into a floodplain approximately 1,8 km long by 400 m wide. The riverbed then narrows into a channel, widening slightly towards the mouth which opens northwards into a small bay. An extensive network of braided flood channels are evident on the floodplain. The flat riverbed is flanked by low-lying, sparsely vegetated dunes. (Ref 1) |
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Bathymetry |
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At the time of the ECRU survey there was no water in the riverbed, but two small excavated trenches next to the main river course contained water to a depth of 20cm. The water level in these hollows was approximately 1,25m below the level of the dry riverbed, indicating a relatively high water table. (Ref 1) |
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Obstructions |
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A solid embankment, approximately 2 m high crosses the dry river bed 1 km from the mouth and another two embankments cross the river 2 and 2,2 km from the mouth respectively. None of these embankments have any culverts to allow for the passage of floodwaters and the middle embankment carries a major road which is used to transport gravel from the open cast excavations in the southern side of the river to the Koingnaas mine. (Ref 1) |
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