South Africa is home to some of the longest rivers in the African continent. These rivers play an important role in the country’s ecosystem. Most industries and farms depend on them as a source of water for industrial and irrigation processes.
On top of that, these rivers are rich sources of nutrients for most of the farms along the coastal zones and river banks. They also promote transportation and sports including rafting and canoeing.
In this article, we’ll be at some of the interesting facts about South Africa’s longest river: Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River originates from from the neighboring Lesotho in Drakensberg where it is called the Senqu River and flows into Atlantic Ocean through SA.
It forms part of the international boundary line between South Africa and Namibia, and between Lesotho and South Africa. The Orange River covers over 1 365 miles from its source to the Atlantic Ocean.
In the earliest days, inhabitants called the river Gariep but when the Dutch arrived, they named it Groote Rivier. In 1779 however, it was renamed Orange River by Colonel Robert Gordon in honor of William V of Orange.
The Orange River supports mining, agriculture, and industry through the creation of the Orange River Project. The river is also famous for rafting and canoeing, and a major source of hydroelectric power at the Vanderkloof and Gariep Dams.
