Drainage basins of South Africa - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

A drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain and melting snow or ice drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean. The drainage basin includes both the streams and rivers that convey the water as well as the land surfaces from which water drains into those channels, and is separated from adjacent basins by a drainage divide.[1]

The drainage basin acts like a funnel, collecting all the water within the area covered by the basin and channelling it into a waterway. Each drainage basin is separated topographically from adjacent basins by a geographical barrier such as a ridge, hill or mountain, which is known as a water divide.

Other terms that are used to describe a drainage basin are catchment, catchment area, catchment basin, drainage area, river basin, water basin and watershed.

The drainage basins in South Africa, do not correspond with the Water Management Areas

Water Management Areas

Water Management Areas are parts of South Africa that are managed by the Water Boards.The list should be complete, and in accordance with the definitions of the Department of Water Affairs...

, and have the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, and X. Where the Area A comes close to the same area that the Limpopo WMA

Limpopo WMA

Limpopo WMA, or Limpopo Water Management Area ', Include the following major rivers : the Limpopo River, Matlabas River, Mokolo River, Lephalala River, Mogalakwena River, Sand River and Nzhelele River, and covers the following dams....

seems to cover. Apart from these letters they seem to have no name referring to them. What seems to be the case though is that each area refers to some major river systems and their tributaries (a region for each major river system).

List of drainage basins

	Gross Capacity x10³m³	Nr. Regions	Major Rivers	Drains to
A Drainage basin A Drainage Basin A, main river in this system is the Limpopo River, but is subdivided into 9 sub-drainage basins.* A1 is situated along the Botswana border, and is again divided into 3 river basins...	1,284	9	Limpopo River Limpopo River The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...	Limpopo River Limpopo River The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
B	1,502	9	Olifants River
C	7,941	9	Vaal River Vaal River The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. The river has its source in the Drakensberg mountains in Mpumalanga, east of Johannesburg and about 30 km north of Ermelo and only about 240 km from the Indian Ocean. It then flows westwards to its conjunction...	Orange River Orange River The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
D	11,105	8	Orange River Orange River The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean... (below Gariep Dam Gariep Dam Gariep Dam is a dam in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, Free State, province South Africa.-Overview:The Gariep Dam was originally called the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd on its commission in 1971... ), Kraai River Kraai River Kraai River is a tributary of the Orange River which flows near Barkly East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The river originates to the south of Lesotho and flows westward, where it joins the Orange near Aliwal North.- See also :...	South Atlantic
E	128	4	Olifants River Olifants River (Southern Cape) Olifants River has its origins in the Traka and Kalkwal Rivers north of the Swartberg, and becoming the Olifants River after flowing through the Toorwaterpoort, flowing west through Oudtshoorn and joining the Gourits River, then heading south to its mouth at Gouritsmond.The northern tributaries of... (above confluence with the Doring River Doring River Doring River, The Doring River originates northeast of Ceres and joins the Olifants River near the towns of Klawer and Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa... ), Groot River Groot River Groot River may refer to any of the following rivers in South Africa:* Groot River * Groot River * Groot River * Orange River...	South Atlantic
F		6	Buffels River	South Atlantic
G	445	5	Berg River Berg River The Berg River is a river located just north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is approximately 294 km long with a catchment area of 7,715 km² and outlets into the Atlantic Ocean. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture... , Diep River Diep River Diep River, drains the area between the Kasteel Mountain and the northern slopes of the Durbanville Hills, in Western Cape, province South Africa.... , Eerste River Eerste River Eerste River, located in the Western Cape, South Africa, rises on Dwarsberg 60 km east of Cape Town at the head of Jonkershoek. The Eerste River catchment covers the eastern part of the Cape Flats lying to the west of the Hottentots Holland Mountains and south of the Tygerberg where the Kuils River... , Verlorevlei River Verlorevlei River Verlorevlei River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Elands Bay. Its tributaries include the Hol River, Kruismans River and the Krom Antonies River. It falls within the Drainage system G and the Management Area- See also :* List of rivers of South... , Bot River Bot River Bot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Fischerhaven. Its tributaries include the Swart River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa... , Klein River Klein River Klein River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Hermanus. Its tributaries include the Karringmelk River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa... , Uilkraal River Uilkraal River Uilkraal River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Gans Bay.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa* List of Water Drainage Area's of South Africa* Water Management Areas...	South Atlantic
H	1,024	9	Hex River, Kingna River, Breede River Breede River The Breede River , is a river in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Travelling inland north from Cape Town, the river runs in a west to east direction, the surrounding western mountains thus forming the first continental divide experienced by European settlers in the 18th century... (below Brandvlei Dam Brandvlei Dam Brandvlei Dam is dam on the Lower Brandvlei River in Western Cape, South Africa.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Tributaries of the Sonderend River Riviersonderend River The Sonderend River, also known as the Riviersonderend , is a main tributary of the Breede River, located in the Western Cape, province South Africa.... above theewaterskloof Dam Teewaterskloof Dam Theewaterskloof Dam is a dam on the Sonderend River near Villiersdorp, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1978 and forms a major component of the Western Cape Water Supply System.- References :...	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
J	200	4	Touws River, Gamka River Gamka River Gamka River, located in Western Cape, South Africa, the name 'Gamka' means 'Lion' and was probably named this by the San . The river originates north of Beaufort West, generally flowing southwest towards the Gamkapoort Dam.... , Olifants River, Langtou River, Weyers River
K	183	9	Little Brak River Little Brak River Little Brak River or Klein Brak River, is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its tributaries include the Moordkuil River. It falls within the Drainage system K.- See also :... , Great Brak River, Karatara River, Knysna River, Keurbooms River, Bloukrans River Bloukrans River The Bloukrans River is a tributary of the Kowie River, and is situated near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.-See also:* List of rivers of South Africa... , Lottering River, Storms River Storms River Storms River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park.- See also :* Tsitsikamma National Park* Paul Sauer Bridge* List of rivers of South Africa... , Sandrif River, Groot River Groot River Groot River may refer to any of the following rivers in South Africa:* Groot River * Groot River * Groot River * Orange River... , Tsitsikamma River, Klippedrift River, Kromme River, Seekoei River, Kabelkous River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
L	219	9	Baviaanskloof River Baviaanskloof River The Baviaanskloof River is a river flowing through the Cape Fold Mountains of the Western Cape and eventually Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The river's origin is in the eastern extremity of the Little Karoo, and follows a valley between these mountains eastwards... , Kouga River Kouga River Kouga River originates near Haarlem, Western Cape, South Africa, and flows eastward, where it joins the Gamtoos River just past the Kouga Dam. Tributaries include the Baviaanskloof River and the Nabooms River.- Also see :* List of rivers of South Africa... , Lower Gamtoos River
M	12	3	Swartkops River, Maitland River Maitland River The Maitland River is a river in southwestern Ontario, Canada, which empties into Lake Huron in the town of Goderich, Ontario. The river is 150 km in length.... , Van Stadens River Van Stadens River Van Stadens River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located about 30 km west of Port Elizabeth.The Van Stadens Bridge where the N2 national highway crosses the river is known as a suicide location....	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
N	227	4	Sundays River Sundays River The Sundays River is a river in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is said to be the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma because the river's banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs... (below Darlington Dam Darlington Dam Darlington Dam, also referred to as Lake Mentz. is a dam situated in the Sundays River, near Kirkwood, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1922. The dam has a capacity of , with a -high wall.... , and above Vanrynevelds Pass Dam), Skoenmakers River (below Skoenmakers Canal Outlet), Gats River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
P		4	Bushmans River, Kowie River Kowie River Kowie River, has its source in the hills of the "Grahamstown Heights" from where it flows in a south-easterly direction draining the major part of the Bathurst region. Its major tributaries are the Bloukrans River, the Bak River and the Lushington River . The Little Kowei River is a smaller... , Kariega River Kariega River - Origins of the name Kariega :The original inhabitants of much of the Cape were the Khoikhoi. Their descendants are still very much with us, but other than in parts of the Northern Cape their languages are no longer spoken. Nonetheless there are still plenty of Khoikhoi words in everyday use in...	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
Q	131	9	Great Fish River Great Fish River The Great Fish River is a river running through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it... , Little Fish River, Tarka River Tarka River The Tarka River is a river in South Africa. Along with the Baviaans River and Kat River it is a major eastern tributary of the Great Fish River.-References:... , Elands River, Vlekpoort River, Lake Arthur Lake Arthur Lake Arthur may refer to:United States* Lake Arthur, Louisiana, a town in Jefferson Davis Parish* Lake Arthur, New Mexico, a town in Chaves County* Lake Arthur, Pennsylvania, a lake in Butler County...	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
R	211	5	Buffels River, Kwenxura River, Kwelera River, Gonubie River, Nahoon River Nahoon River The Nahoon River is situated in the city East London on the East Coast of South Africa. It is to the east of the Buffalo river harbour, and is to the west of Gonubie River. The suburb of Nahoon is on its west bank and Beacon Bay is on the east bank. The Nahoon Dam supplies some of the water for...
S	610	7	White Kei River (above Xonxa Dam Xonxa Dam Xonxa Dam, is a dam situated in the White Kei River in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1974. The dam has a capacity of , and the wall is high.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Indwe River (above Lubisi Dam Lubisi Dam Lubisi Dam is a dam on the Indwe River, near Qamata, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1968.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Swart Kei River (above Klipplaat River confluence), Klipplaat River (above Waterdown Dam Waterdown Dam Waterdown Dam is a dam on the Klipplaat River near Whittlesea, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1958.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Oxkraal River (above Oxkraal Dam), Thorn River, Thomas River Thomas River The Thomas River is a river in the Gascoyne of Western Australia.The headwaters of the Landor rise South of Double Peak and flows West until it merges with the Gascoyne River of which it is a tributary... , Tsomo River, Kwa-Qokwama River, Mbokotwa River, Kubisi River (above Wriggleswade Dam Wriggleswade Dam Wriggleswade Dam is dam on the Kubusi River near Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1991.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Toise River, Xilinxa River (above Xilinxa Dam)
T	248	9	Slang River, Xuka River, Mtata River (above Mtata Dam Mtata Dam Mtata Dam is a dam on the Mtata River, near Umtata, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1977.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry... ), Tsitsa River, Pot River, Mooi River, Inxu River, Wildebees River, Gatberg River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
U	806	8	Mgeni River, Mvoti River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
V	1,110	7	Tugela River Tugela River The Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls... , Mooi River Mooi River (river) The Mooi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It rises in the Mkomazi Nature Reserve in the Drakensberg Mountains, and empties into the Tugela River near Muden. The town of Mooi River lies on the river.-Name:... , Sundays River, Bushmans River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
W	3,283	7	Mhlatuze River Mhlatuze River Mhlathuze River, catchment has a surface area of 4,209 km2. Located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It rises in the west at an altitude of 1,519m and flows over 100km eastwards to the sea. The deep-sea port of Richards Bay is situated at the mouth of the Mhlathuze River and all industrial... , White Mfolozi River (above Klipfontein Dam), Hluhluwe River Hluhluwe River The Hluhluwe River originates in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It runs northeast to the Hluhluwe Dam, beyond which it converges with the Nyalazi River to become the St Lucia River at Lake St Lucia.... , Mkuzi River	Indian Ocean Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
X	1,049	4	Nkomati River

A Drainage basin code assigned by the Department of Water Affairs (South Africa) see http://www.dwa.gov.za/iwqs/gis_apps/drain2/catch_primary.html for details.
B The Limpopo River Basin is not wholly located within South Africa, it straddles four countries, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...

, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

.
C The Tugela and Vaal drainage basins are linked with the Tugela-Vaal Water Project, an interbasin transfer
Interbasin transfer
Interbasin transfer or transbasin diversion are terms used to describe man-made conveyance schemes which move water from one river basin where it is available, to another basin where water is less available or could be utilized better for human development...

scheme across the Drakensberg
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...

watershed that supplies additional water to the Vaal River
Vaal River
The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. The river has its source in the Drakensberg mountains in Mpumalanga, east of Johannesburg and about 30 km north of Ermelo and only about 240 km from the Indian Ocean. It then flows westwards to its conjunction...

when required.. The Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme
Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme
Construction on the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme started in 1974 and was completed by 1981.Four dams are involved in the scheme; the Driekloof Dam , the Kilburn Dam, the Woodstock Dam and the Driel Barrage. Electricity generation equipment is located between Driekloof Dam and Kilburn Dam...

forms an integral part of this scheme.
D The Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam is a dam in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, Free State, province South Africa.-Overview:The Gariep Dam was originally called the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd on its commission in 1971...

on the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...

basin is linked via the Great Fish River
Great Fish River
The Great Fish River is a river running through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it...

basin to the Sundays River
Sundays River
The Sundays River is a river in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is said to be the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma because the river's banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs...

basin by the Fish-Sundays Transfer Scheme.

List of drainage basins

See also