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]

Riet
Gmaap
Aerial view of the river in 2018.
Location of the Riet River mouth
EtymologyNative name Gama-!ab meaning 'muddy' in !Kora language
Native nameGama-!ab
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]

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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