| Marico River | |
| Name Etymology: | From the Bahurutse Madikwa, meaning "there is blood".[1] |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Marico River's mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Africa, Botswana |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | North West Province, Limpopo Province |
| Source1: | Marico Oog |
| Source1 Location: | Ngaka Modiri, South Africa |
| Source1 Coordinates: | -25.7886°N 26.3658°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1482m (4,862feet) |
| Mouth: | Limpopo River |
| Mouth Location: | near Oliphants Drift, South Africa/Botswana border |
| Mouth Coordinates: | -24.1908°N 26.8728°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 872m (2,861feet) |
| Progression: | Limpopo River → Indian Ocean |
| Length: | 282km (175miles) |
| Basin Size: | 13208km2 |
| Extra: | [2] |
The Marico River or Madikwe is a river in Southern Africa. There are a number of dams in its basin.[3] Groot Marico town is named after the Marico River.[4] After it is joined on its right bank by the Crocodile River it is known as the Limpopo River.
The river starts off as the Groot Marico River in the Marico Oog (Eye of Marico in Afrikaans), near Rustenburg and Swartruggens in the North West Province of South Africa. The source of the river is a large dolomitic hole in the ground with clear water, which is also a spectacular scuba diving spot.[5] It flows northwards as the Great Marico (Groot Marico) and further downstream the smaller Klein Marico River joins forces.[6] For a stretch it is named Madikwene River, but after the Sehubyane River (Sandsloot) joins its left bank, it reverts to the name Marico.[7]
It continues flowing northwards, bending northeastwards and forming the border between South Africa and Botswana. Further downstream the Crocodile River joins the Marico River from the right and the name of the stream after the confluence becomes the Limpopo River. About 5 km short of the confluence the Notwane River joins the Limpopo from the southwest.[8]
The Marico River is part of the Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Area. Dams in the river basin are:
