geo.wikisort.org - River

The Caledon River (Sotho: Mohokare) is a major river located in central South Africa. Its total length is 642 km (399 mi), rising in the Drakensberg Mountains on the Lesotho border, flowing southwestward and then westward before joining the Orange River near Bethulie in the southern Free State.

Mohokare
Location of the Caledon River mouth
Location
Country	Lesotho, South Africa
State	Free State
City	Maputsoe
City	Maseru
Physical characteristics
Source	Mont-aux-Sources
• location	SW of Phuthaditjhaba, Drakensberg
• elevation	2,100 m (6,900 ft)
Mouth	Orange River
• location	Near Bethulie
• coordinates	30°31′21″S 26°4′21″E
• elevation	1,267 m (4,157 ft)
Length	642 km (399 mi)

Geography

The origin of the River Caledon is in the former bantustan of QwaQwa, near the border with Lesotho, southwest of Witsieshoek. It then flows south-west bordering Lesotho's capital city, Maseru. It forms the border between South Africa and Lesotho before entering South Africa's Free State province (north of Wepener). It then flows westward before joining the Orange River near Bethulie in southern Free State, just before flowing into the Gariep Dam. Its total length is about 300 mi (480 km), and its valley experiences great temperature swings.[1] The land in the wedge between these two rivers forms the 22,000-ha Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve.[2]

River

The river is the primary source of water for Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, which stands on the river. During periods of low rainfall, water shortages can ensue. To combat this, several reservoirs have been created with structures such as the Muela Dam and the Meulspruit Dam.[3] In 2003, water was released from here to avert drought.[4]

The Caledon Valley is important in the history of the Basotho people. The area was exceptionally fertile and could be farmed without irrigation. This made it desirable and was one of the causes of the conflict between the Basotho and the Boers.[5] Maize is grown on a large scale in the Caledon Valley.[1]

See also

• Basutoland

References

External links

• Free State Region River Systems

На других языках

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[de] Caledon (Fluss)

Der Caledon oder Mohokare, wie er in Lesotho auch genannt wird, ist ein rechter Nebenfluss des Oranje in Südafrika.

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- [en] Caledon River

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[it] Caledon (fiume)

Caledon è un fiume sudafricano, che attraversa la capitale del Lesotho (Maseru) e, per un tratto, delimita il confine con il Sudafrica, nel quale attraversa la città di Ficksburg. È ricco di sedimenti che tendono a depositarsi nel lago artificiale di Welbedacht, che alimenta, e in quello di Gariep, alimentato poco più a valle dall'Orange.

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[ru] Каледон (река)

Каледон (англ. Caledon, сесото Mohokare) — река в ЮАР и Лесото, составляет значительную часть границы между двумя странами. Длина — 480 км.[1]

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