Caledon River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mohokare |
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 Location of the Caledon River mouth
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| Country | Lesotho, South Africa |
| State | Free State |
| City | Maputsoe |
| City | Maseru |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mont-aux-Sources SW of Phuthaditjhaba, Drakensberg 2,100 m (6,900 ft) |
| River mouth | Orange River Near Bethulie 1,267 m (4,157 ft) 30°31′21″S 26°4′21″E / 30.52250°S 26.07250°E |
| Length | 480 km (300 mi) |
The Caledon River is an important river in central South Africa. It starts in the Drakensberg Mountains, right on the border with Lesotho. The river flows southwest and then west. It eventually joins the Orange River near Bethulie in the southern Free State.
About the Caledon River
The Caledon River begins in an area called QwaQwa, close to the Lesotho border. It flows southwest, passing by Maseru, which is the capital city of Lesotho. For a long stretch, the river acts as the natural border between South Africa and Lesotho.
After forming the border, the Caledon River enters South Africa's Free State province. It then flows west until it meets the Orange River near Bethulie. This meeting point is just before the Orange River flows into the Gariep Dam. The Caledon River is about 480 kilometers (300 miles) long. Its valley can have big changes in temperature, from very hot to very cold.
Life Along the River
The Caledon River is the main water source for Maseru, Lesotho's capital. Sometimes, when there isn't much rain, the city can face water shortages. To help with this, several reservoirs have been built. These include the Muela Dam and the Meulspruit Dam. For example, in 2003, water was released from these dams to help during a drought.
The Caledon Valley is very important to the history of the Basotho people. The land here was very fertile, meaning crops could grow well without needing extra watering. This made the area very desirable. Because of this, there were conflicts between the Basotho and the Boers over the land. Today, a lot of maize (corn) is grown in the Caledon Valley.
Dams on the Caledon River
Several dams have been built on the Caledon River and its smaller rivers (tributaries). These dams help manage water for different uses, like drinking water and farming.
- Armenia Dam, on the Leeu River
- Egmont Dam, on the Witspruit River
- Knellpoort Dam, on the Riet Spruit
- Koppieskraal Dam
- Meulspruit Dam
- Moperri Dam
- Welbedacht Dam, which provides a lot of water for Bloemfontein and nearby areas. This dam is located inside the Caledon Nature Reserve.
See also
In Spanish: Río Caledon para niños
