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Orange (GARIEP the largest river)

or GARIEP, the largest river of South Africa, rises in the Kathlamba Mountains, in the E. of Basutoland, and flows W., with an inclination to the N., to the Atlantic ocean. It describes numerous wide curves in its course of 1,000 miles, and separates Cape Colony, on the S., from the Orange Free State, Griqualand W West, Bechuanaland, and Great Namaqualand, on the N.

Area of basin, 325,000 square miles. Its principal tributaries are the Caledon and the Vaal, both joining it from the right.

Its volume varies greatly between the dry season, when it is not navigable, and the rainy season, when it overflows its banks in the upper part of its course.

Its mouth is, moreover, obstructed by a bar.