Orange River: One of Africa's Ten Longest Rivers

Orange River (Gariep) – Southern Africa's Longest River

The Orange River ranks among Africa's top ten longest rivers and is the longest river entirely within South Africa's borders (though its basin extends further).

Key Facts

• Length: 2,200 km (1,367 mi) – sources vary (1,860–2,200 km).
• Source: Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho (as the Senqu River).
• Mouth: Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay (South Africa/Namibia border).
• Countries traversed: Lesotho → South Africa → Namibia (border).
• Basin area: ~973,000 km².

Major Features

• Gariep Dam (largest in SA) & Vanderkloof Dam – hydropower, irrigation.
• Augrabies Falls – 56 m drop in Augrabies Falls National Park.
• Richtersveld – UNESCO desert landscape at lower reaches.
• Diamond mining – alluvial deposits at mouth (Alexander Bay, Oranjemund).

Ecological & Economic Role

• Irrigates vineyards (Northern Cape), citrus, lucerne.
• Supports Orange River mouth Ramsar wetland (birdlife).
• Critical water source for Kimberley, Upington, Springbok.
• Lesotho Highlands Water Project transfers water to Gauteng (Johannesburg/Pretoria).

Name Note

Named by Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon (1779) after the Dutch House of Orange. Indigenous name: !Gariep (Khoekhoe) or Senqu (Sesotho).