WEST COAST ESTUARIES  (ORANGE TO GREAT BERG)
 
Orange River   

 
The border between Namibia and South Africa    

Holgat (Legend):    
The estuary is approximately 45 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 1500 km2.    
Kamma River    
The estuary is approximately 82 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 1000 km2.    
Buffels River     
The estuary is approximately 120 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 9400 km2.    
  Information available (Legend):    
Swartlintjies River     
The estuary is approximately 190 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 1680 km2. 

(Legend):

     
Spoeg River      
The estuary is approximately 230 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 1370 km2.      
  Information available (Legend):      
Bitter River       
The estuary is approximately 245 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 750 km2.

 (Legend):

     
Groen River      
The estuary is approximately 270 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 4500 km2.      
  (Legend):      
Brak River      
The estuary is approximately 300 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 310 km2.      
Salt River      
The estuary is approximately 330 km south of Alexander Bay. The catchment area is approximately 1375 km2.      
Olifants River       
The estuary is approximately 250 km north of Cape Town. The catchment area is approximately 45625 sq.km. The origin is in the Kouebokkeveld Mountains, south of Citrusdal.      
Jakkals River    
The "estuary" (not reaching the sea) is approximately 50 km south of the Olifants River mouth. The catchment area is approximately 750 sq.km.    
Langvlei River    
The estuary is approximately 60 km south of the Olifants River mouth. The catchment area is approximately 750 sq.km. This river ends in the Wadrif Salt Pan.    
Verlorevlei River    
The estuary is approximately 70 km south of the Olifants River mouth. The catchment area is approximately 2000 sq.km. This river ends in the Verlorevlei Wetland, an important ecological system of the West Coast.      
  Information available (Legend):    
Papkuils River    
This small river, approximately 20 km north of the Berg River estuary, is the feeder for the Rocher Pan Nature Reserve (also referred to as The Vlei)    
Berg River      
The major supply of potable water for the Cape Peninsula. The catchment area is approximately 7700 sq.km. and the origin is in the Drakenstein Mountains at Franschhoek.    

References:
1. Catchment areas: Estuaries of the Cape (Part 1). A.E.F.Heydorn & K.L.Tinley. 1980.

2. South African Estuaries. Catchment land-cover. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. http://www.environment.gov.za/soer/estuary/tables.html
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Map
Overview and location
Catchment characteristics
Land-uses
Ecology
Water quality
Hydrodynamics & Mouth dynamics
Physical features
Climate
Threats
Photos

 

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