 In its upper valley near Steynsdorp are goldfields, but the reefs consist almost entirely of low grade ore.The river descends the Drakensberg by a pass south of Barberton, and is deflected northward at the eastern border of Eswatinid, keeping a course parallel to the Lebombo mountains.Just west of 32° E and 25° 25′ S, near the town of Komatipoort, it is joined by the Crocodile River.