Swartkops River

{{short description|Eastern Cape, South Africa watercourse}}

{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox river|name=Swartkops River|native_name=|name_other=|name_etymology=|nickname=|image=File:ISS018-E-7074 - View of South Africa.jpg|image_size=|image_caption=View of South Africa taken during ISS Expedition 18, 2008|image_alt=|map=|map_size=|map_caption=|map_alt=|pushpin_map=|pushpin_map_size=|pushpin_map_caption=|pushpin_map_alt=|subdivision_type1=|subdivision_name1=|subdivision_type2=|subdivision_name2=|subdivision_type3=|subdivision_name3=|subdivision_type4=|subdivision_name4=|subdivision_type5=|subdivision_name5=|length=|width_min=|width_avg=|width_max=|depth_min=|depth_avg=|depth_max=|discharge1_location=|discharge1_min=|discharge1_avg=|discharge1_max=|source1=|source1_location=|source1_coordinates=|source1_elevation=|mouth=|mouth_location=|mouth_coordinates={{coord|-33.8633|25.6294|type:landmark_globe:earth|display=title,inline}}|mouth_elevation=|progression=|river_system=|basin_size=|basin_landmarks=|basin_population=|tributaries_left=|tributaries_right=|waterbodies=|waterfalls=|bridges=|ports=|custom_label=|custom_data=|extra=}}

Swartkops River, also Zwartskop River, (Afrikaans: black hills) is a watercourse in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.{{cite thesis |last=Maclear |first=Limont Gordon Alexander |title=The Geohydrology of the Swartkops River Basin - Uitenhage Region, Eastern Cape |url=https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/26081/Maclear_geohydrology_1996_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |date=March 1996 |degree=Master of Science |publisher=University of Cape Town}} The source of the Swartkops is near Cockscombe Mountain,{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Protecting Our Estuary |url=https://www.zwartkopsconservancy.org/phone/about.html |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Zwartkops Conservancy}} and it flows east into the Algoa Bay of the Indian Ocean in Bluewater Bay, just outside Gqeberha. Its two main tributaries are the northern Kwa-Zunga River and the southern Elands River. The river is also fed by Motherwell Canal, Markman Canal, and Chatty River, which are also sources of water pollution. The river's Groendal Dam was constructed in 1933. The Swartzkops watershed lies with the Uitenhage Artesian Basin. The river suffers from sewage pollution, litter, and algae blooms.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-30 |title= Behind the Herald Headlines with Daron Mann: Swartkops Estuary pollution reaches crisis level |url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/amp/multimedia/2022-03-30-listen-swartkops-estuary-pollution-reaches-crisis-level/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |work=The Herald (South Africa) |language=en-ZA}}