where does the orange river and vaal river meet

Full Answer

Where is the Orange River located in South Africa?

Orange River: Physiography. …to its confluence with the Vaal River. The Vaal, which rises in Eastern Transvaal province, flows west through the major population and industrial core of South Africa before turning south and joining the Orange near the town of Douglas.

Where is the Vaal River located?

he Vaal River, South Africa's longest river after the Orange, is a key water source for the country. Its source is at Klipkapstel in Mpumalanga from where it flows to Douglas in the Northern Cape.

Where does the Orange River empty?

The Orange empties into the Atlantic Ocean between the small towns of Oranjemund (meaning "Orange mouth") in Namibia and Alexander Bay in South Africa, about equidistant between Walvis Bay and Cape Town.

Where does the Watervals River begin and end?

The Watervals River begins in Secunda, Mpumalanga. The Wilge River used to meet the Vaal River before the Vaal Dam was built in 1938; now the water flows straight into the dam. Since the Vaal River's surface runoff is erratic, large dams have been built along its course to collect the water.

Where do Vaal and Orange rivers meet?

DouglasThe Vaal, which rises in Eastern Transvaal province, flows west through the major population and industrial core of South Africa before turning south and joining the Orange near the town of Douglas.

Where does the Orange River begin and end?

The Orange River, South Africa's major river, rises in the Drakensberg in Lesotho, where it is known as the Senqu. From where the river leaves Lesotho, it flows westward for some 2200km to where it finally flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.

Where does the Orange River begin?

LesothoDrakensbe...Orange River/Sources

Where does the Orange River meet the sea?

Alexander BaySouth Africa's longest and major river, rising in the Drakensberg in Lesotho (where it is known as the Senqu) it flows westward for 2200 km, where it finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.

Why is there no crocodiles in the Orange River?

Crocodiles do not occur in the Orange River, most likely because the water and local climate are too cold. Nile crocodiles are capable of limited oceanic movements thus the prevailing currents and water temperatures make marine sightings in Namibia highly unlikely.

Where does Vaal River start and end?

Orange RiverVaal River / MouthVaal River, northern tributary of the Orange River, South Africa. Rising at Sterkfontein Beacon near Breyten, in Mpumalanga province, it flows 750 miles (1,210 km) southwest to its confluence with the Orange near Douglas; the Vaal's middle section forms most of the Free State's northern provincial boundary.

Which two countries does the mouth of the Orange River border?

The Orange River spills out on the border of South Africa and Namibia. Although it passes through no major cities it plays a major role in the South African economy by providing irrigation to the vital farmlands.

What is the other name for Orange River?

Gariep RiverThe Orange River plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The river was named by Robert Jacob Gordon after the Dutch Royal House. Other names include Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River.

Which rivers flow into the Orange River?

The river flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape. The Vaal and Caledon rivers are two main tributaries of the Orange River.

Are there diamonds in the Orange River?

The Orange River marks the boundary between South Africa to the south and Namibia to the north. This is an area of active mining for diamonds, which were washed downstream from the famous Kimberley Diamond Area, millions of years ago when the river was much larger.

Which one is the biggest river in South Africa?

The Orange RiverThe Orange River is the largest river in South Africa, and the seventh-largest river in all of Africa. It begins in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho, flowing west through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean.

Who owns the Orange River?

OrangeCountriesLesotho, South Africa, NamibiaLength2,200 km (1,367 miles)Watershed973,000 km² (375,677 miles²)SourceSenqu8 more rows

Where does the Orange River flow through?

South AfricaThe Orange River flows from east to west across South Africa. It flows through the Eastern Cape, Free State, and Northern Cape provinces. The river flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape. The Vaal and Caledon rivers are two main tributaries of the Orange River.

Does the Orange River have crocodiles?

The Orange River has no large animals. It lies outside the range of the Nile crocodile, and although hippopotami were once abundant, they were hunted to extermination in the 19th century.

How long is the Orange River?

1,511 miOrange River / Length

Are there diamonds in the Orange River?

The Orange River marks the boundary between South Africa to the south and Namibia to the north. This is an area of active mining for diamonds, which were washed downstream from the famous Kimberley Diamond Area, millions of years ago when the river was much larger.

Why was the Vaal River named after the orange river?

Gordon named the river in honor of William V of Orange. A popular but incorrect belief is that the river was named after the supposedly orange color of its water, as opposed to the color its tributary, the Vaal River, itself derived from the name ǀHaiǃarib "pale river" ( vaal being Afrikaans for pale or grey).

What direction does the Orange River increase in evaporation?

The factors that support evaporation, though, tend to increase in a westerly direction . In the wet season (summer), the Orange river becomes an impetuous, brown torrent. The huge mass of sediment carried constitutes a long-term threat to all engineering projects on the river.

What is the name of the river in South Africa?

The Orange River (from Afrikaans / Dutch: Oranjerivier) is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. The Orange River Basin extends extensively from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. The river forms part of the international borders between South Africa and Lesotho and between South Africa and Namibia, as well as several provincial borders within South Africa. Except for Upington, it does not pass through any major cities. The Orange River plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The river was named the Orange River in honour of the Dutch ruling family, the House of Orange, by the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon. Other names include simply the word for river, in Khoekhoegowab orthography written as !Garib, which is rendered in Afrikaans as Gariep River with the intrusion of a velar fricative in place of the alveolar click, Groote River (derived from Kai !Garib) or Senqu River (used in Lesotho), derived from ǂNū "Black".

What is the name of the river that runs through the Free State?

At the western point of the Free State, southwest of Kimberley, the Orange meets with its main tributary, the Vaal River, which itself forms much of the northern border of the province.

How long is the Orange River rafting trip?

The most popular trips are four-day and six-day river trips that take place either along the gorge below the Augrabies Falls or along the Richtersveld area.

Why is the Orange River used for canoeing?

Finally, because of the lack of dangerous animals and high water levels during summer , the river is used for recreational canoeing and rafting.

What river is rich in diamonds?

This image shows only the last 100 km or so of the Orange River, in which the gravel deposits in the river bed and along the banks are rich with diamonds, and several diamond mines operate along this stretch.

Abstract

The Khoi (Hottentots) knew the Orange River as the “Gariep”, or Great River. In 1779 it was named Orange River by Colonel Robert J. Gordon, in honour of the Dutch Prince of Orange.

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Where is the Vaal River?

Vaal River, northern tributary of the Orange River, South Africa. Rising at Sterkfontein Beacon near Breyten, in Mpumalanga province, it flows 750 miles (1,210 km) southwest to its confluence with the Orange near Douglas; the Vaal’s middle section forms most of the Free State’s northern provincial boundary. It is basically a plateau river and ...

Where is the Vaalhartz irrigation scheme?

Near Warrenton, water is diverted into the Vaalhartz irrigation scheme. The river’s major tributaries—the Klip, Wilge, Vals, Vet, and Riet rivers—enter on its left bank. The Vaal is fully developed economically, its waters used for the domestic and industrial needs of the Witwatersrand. The Vaal River near Parys, Free State province, South Africa.

Where does the Orange River flow?

Here it meets the mighty Orange River, which flows west into the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.

What is the Middle Vaal?

The Middle Vaal, mainly an agricultural region, covers parts of the Free State and North West provinces, and the Lower Vaal comprises the area between the Bloemhof Dam and the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers at Douglas in the Northern Cape.

When is the best time to visit the Vaal?

The Vaal is a year-round destination. White water rapids are best from November through January.

Where is the Orange River?

Orange River, river in southern Africa, one of the longest rivers on the continent and one of the longest south of the Tropic of Capricorn. After rising in the Lesotho Highlands, less than 125 miles (200 kilometres) from the Indian Ocean, the river flows to the Atlantic Ocean in a generally westerly direction for some 1,300 miles.

Where is the headwater of the Orange River?

The headwaters of the Orange River rise at an altitude of about 10,800 feet (3,300 metres) above sea level on a dissected plateau formed by the Lesotho Highlands that extends from the Drakensberg escarpment in the east to the Maloti (Maluti) Mountains in the west. The main source of the Orange River is officially recognized as the Sinqu (Senqu) River, which rises near the plateau’s eastern edge. The Seati (Khubedu) headwater rises near Mont-aux-Sources to the north. Still farther north is the lesser-known Malibamatso headwater, one site of the Lesotho Highland Project. The Lesotho headwaters flow over the turf soil that covers Drakensberg lava and cut through the lava to expose underlying sedimentary rocks; material eroded from these rocks contributes to heavy silt deposits farther down the river’s course.

Where does the Vaal flow?

The Vaal, which rises in Eastern Transvaal province, flows west through the major population and industrial core of South Africa before turning south and joining the Orange near the town of Douglas. The Orange then turns southwest and flows over calcrete and tillite (glacial clayey deposit).

Why is the Orange River important?

The river itself is of vital economic importance to the region through which it flows. Two projects—the Orange River Project and the Lesotho Highland Project, both in various stages of construction—have been designed to meet the water demand for irrigation, urbanization, and economic development in the central industrial areas of South Africa.

Overview

History

River Basin

Industry and agriculture

Current uses

Tourism

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Overview

Course

History

Economy

Wildlife

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Further reading

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