Orange River

Basin of the Orange River

Sunset over the ǂNūǃarib near Upington in the Northern Cape.

The Orange River (officially called Oranje) is a river in Southern Africa. It is 2,160 kilometres (1,340 mi) long. It starts in Lesotho, and is the longest river there. For large parts of its course, it forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.

Geography

The Orange river basin extends into South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. The river starts in the Drakensberg mountains. It passes only through the city of Upington: it does not run through other major cities.

Economic usage

The river is important for the South African economy. Its water is used for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The river was named the Orange River in honor of the Dutch ruling family, the House of Orange, by the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon.

Orange River Media

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  Orange River south of Rosh Pinah

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  Senqu River Near Ha Potomane (Cutting Camp) in Quthing, Lesotho

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  Orange River near Hopetown

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  This image shows the last 100 km (62 mi) 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.

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  The Augrabies Falls in full flow

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  Panorama taken from a fluorspar-rich hill overlooking a bend in the River, which was in flood due to above-normal rains

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  The General Hertzog Bridge over the Orange River at Aliwal North on the southwestern border with the Free State: Note the remains of the Frere Bridge on the left.

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  The Gariep Dam on the Orange River is the largest dam in South Africa, and was a key part of the Orange River Project.

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  View over the eastern part of the dam, with the water intake at Oviston

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  A vineyard on the Orange River