Riet River

The Riet River is a westward-flowing tributary of the Vaal River in central South Africa. In precolonial times the Riet was known as the Gama-!ab (or Gmaap), a !Kora name meaning 'muddy'. Its main tributary is the Modder River and after the confluence the Riet River flows westwards to meet the Vaal.[1]

This article is about the tributary of the Vaal River. For the river of the Olifants/Doring basin, see Riet River (Doring).

Riet
Gmaap
Aerial view of the river in 2018.
Riet River is located in South Africa
Riet River
Location of the Riet River mouth
EtymologyNative name Gama-!ab meaning 'muddy' in !Kora language
Native nameGama-!ab (Korana)
Location
CountrySouth Africa
RegionFree State, Northern Cape
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationNear Smithfield
MouthVaal River
 • location
Confluence
 • coordinates
28°59′58″S 23°53′17″E
 • elevation
1,001 m (3,284 ft)
Length300 km (190 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightModder River

The Riet flows about 300 km from the vicinity of the eastern Free State town of Smithfield and has a confluence with the Vaal River upstream from the Northern Cape town of Douglas.[2] It flows through the Kalkfontein Dam. Water from the Orange River at Vanderkloof Dam is fed into the Riet River at Jacobsdal to provide water for irrigation. This has the combined effect of adding water to the river and lowering the salinity. When Vanderkloof Dam is spilling excess water from Vanderkloof Dam is transferred to the Kalkfontein Dam.

The Riet River on a map of 1887. The lower Modder has since become the lower Riet.

See also

References
  1. Upper Orange WMA 13
  2. Morris, D. 2002. Driekopseiland and 'the rain's magic power': landscape and history in a new interpretation of a Northern Cape rock engraving site. MA dissertation, Dept Anthropology and Sociology, University of the Western Cape


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