Hectorspruit is a small farming town situated on the N4 between Kaapmuiden and Komatipoort on a southern tributary of the Crocodile River in Mpumalanga. The farms in the region produce sugarcane, subtropical fruit and vegetables. The town and stream is named after a Pointer dog belonging to Servaas de Kock, chief surveyor of the Pretoria - Delagoa Bay railway line. A railway station was opened here in 1891. Hectorspruit is in the narrow corridor between Swaziland and the Kruger National Park. Just outside Hectospruit is the Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge Gate of the Kruger Park, giving easy access to either gate for wonderful game viewing and great birding. This area is called the Maputo - Nelspruit development corridor. The history of this region is echoed in its hills and valleys, where San rock engravings and painting can be seen in profusion. There are archaeological ruins, wagon trails and early gold diggings to be explored, and a wide variety of adventure sports across the area. In the mountains of the region can be found traces of Stromatolites, blue-green algae that formed 3½ billion years ago with the first oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.