Orange River, Major river in Southern Africa
The Orange River is a major waterway in southern Africa that flows 2432 kilometers (1511 miles) from the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay. Along the way it passes through grassland, desert and gorges, forming sections of the border between South Africa and Namibia.
Explorer Robert Jacob Gordon named the waterway after the Dutch House of Orange in the late 18th century. Indigenous peoples had known it for centuries under names like Gariep or Senqu.
Local communities along its banks continue to call it by traditional names like Gariep and Senqu, reflecting the deep connections between people and this waterway. Fishermen and rafters share the waters where ancient rock art sites mark the presence of the San people who lived beside these banks for thousands of years.
The water flows through two large reservoirs, Gariep and Vanderkloof, which generate hydroelectric power and irrigate dry land for farming. Visitors can find boat trips, fishing and whitewater rafting in different sections of the river.
Rainfall changes dramatically along its course: 2000 millimeters (79 inches) fall annually at the source in Lesotho, less than 50 millimeters (2 inches) at the mouth. This huge shift creates completely different environments from one end of the river to the other.
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