Orange River

The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: Oranjerivier) is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of 2,432 km (1,511 mi), the Orange River Basin extends 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,[6] Groote River (derived from Kai !Garib) or Senqu River (used in Lesotho), derived from ǂNū "Black".[7] It is known in isiZulu as isAngqu.[8]

Quick facts: Orange River Kai Garib (Groote Rivier), Garie... ▼

Orange River Kai Garib (Groote Rivier), Gariep, Senqu, Oranje
Sunset over the Orange River near Upington in the Northern Cape
The course and watershed of the Orange River, Caledon River and Vaal River (ǀHaiǃarib). This map shows a conservative border for the watershed. Specifically, the Kalahari basin is excluded, as some sources say it is endorheic.[1] Some other sources using computational methods show a basin which includes parts of Botswana (and hence of the Kalahari).[2]
Location
Country	Lesotho, South Africa, Namibia
District	Mokhotlong
District	Thaba Tseka
District	Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Mohale's Hoek
Physical characteristics
Source	Mont-aux-Sources[3]
• location	Maloti Mountains (Drakensberg), Lesotho
• elevation	3,350 m (10,990 ft)
Mouth	Alexander Bay
• location	Atlantic Ocean
Length	2,432 km (1,511 mi)
Basin size	973,000 km2 (376,000 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	365 m3/s (12,900 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	Caledon River, Vaal River, Fish River (Namibia)