The Orange River 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, Groote River or Senqu River, derived from ǂNū "Black". It is known in isiZulu as isAngqu.
Potchefstroom, colloquially known as Potch, is an academic city in the North West Province of South Africa. It hosts the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Potchefstroom is on the Mooirivier, roughly 120 km (75 mi) west-southwest of Johannesburg and 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Klerksdorp.
The Olifants River is a river in the northwestern area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The upper and main catchment area of the Olifants river is around Ceres and the Cederberg mountains. The Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams are located on the river and provide water for the towns and farms along the watercourse. The river is approximately 285 km long with a catchment area of 46,220 km2. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Papendorp, 250 km north of Cape Town.
The Clanwilliam yellowfish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It has long been placed in Barbus, the "wastebin genus" for barbs, by default; however, the species is increasingly being restored to related yellowfish genus Labeobarbus which seems a much more appropriate placement. It is hexaploid like the other yellowfish, among which it is more closely related to the smallscale yellowfish than to the largescale yellowfish.
The largemouth yellowfish or Vaal-Orange largemouth yellowfish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. This large freshwater barb is found in southern Africa.
Enteromius litamba is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It has long been placed in Barbus, the "wastebin genus" for barbs, by default, and this is still being done by the IUCN. However, the species is increasingly being restored by some taxonomists to the related yellowfish genus Labeobarbus, others place it in the genus Enteromius. It is presumably hexaploid like the other yellowfish.
Upper Vaal WMA, or Upper Vaal Water Management Area , is a Water Management Area that includes the following major rivers: the Wilge River, Liebenbergsvlei River, Mooi River and Vaal River, and covers the following Dams:
Boskop Dam is an earth-fill type dam on the Mooi River, near Potchefstroom, North West Province, South Africa. It was constructed in 1959. The main purpose of the dam is for irrigation and domestic usage. Its hazard potential is ranked as high, due to poor maintenance and the development of sink holes.
Klerkskraal Dam is a combined gravity and arch type dam located on the Mooi River, near Ventersdorp, North West, South Africa. It was established in 1969 and its main purpose is to serve for irrigation. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high (3). The dam is also a well known bass fishing destination in the region.
Klipdrif Dam is an earth-fill type dam located on the Loopspruit and Enselspruit near Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa. The river flowing out the dam is the Loopspruit. It was established in 1990 and its primary purpose is to serve for irrigation. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked significant (2).
The Motlatse River, Blyde River, or Umdhlazi River is a river in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. It has a northwards course in steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, before it enters the lowveld region of the Limpopo province. It has its ultimate origins at around 2,000 m altitude in the Hartebeesvlakte conservation area, to the north of Long Tom Pass. It runs through the Blyde River Canyon.
The smallmouth yellowfish is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Labeobarbus. It has become an invasive species in rivers of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, such as the Mbhashe River.
Tlokwe Local Municipality was a local municipality in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa. The seat was Potchefstroom. After the municipal elections on 3 August 2016 it was merged into the larger JB Marks Local Municipality.
The Wilge River is a tributary of the Vaal River in central South Africa. This river is important as part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Transfer Scheme where water is transferred from the Tugela River basin to the Vaal River basin.
The R501 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Carletonville with Viljoenskroon via Potchefstroom.
Donaldson Dam is a dam next to the township Bekkersdal along the Wonderfonteinspruit. It comprises 2 reservoirs - the Top lake and the Bottom lake. Its water has been heavily polluted by acid mine runoff on the upper Wonderfonteinspruit and sewage from nearby Bekkersdal.
The Wonderfonteinspruit is a small river situated in the Highveld region of South Africa. Its source has been disputed in the past, although it is now accepted that the river originates in the West Rand of Gauteng between Krugersdorp and Randfontein, at the Tudor Dam, which was initially used as a storage dam for the Luiperdsvlei Gold Plant. In the past the river received a majority of its water from karst springs along its course. The river flows through one of the richest gold-producing areas in the world, which led to the dolomitic compartments which fed the river being dewatered to make way for mining activities. This led to the drying up of the karst springs that fed the river.
Kromelmboogspruit is a tributary of the Vaal River in the Free State, which is part of the Orange River drainage basin. It is found near Heilbron and flows upwards in a north-westerly direction to drain into the Vaal between Parys and Sasolburg.
