The Green Ribbon
Listen to this lesson
The Orange River is South Africa's longest river, at roughly 2,200 kilometres. In the Northern Cape it flows through dry country, and its water is used to irrigate vineyards, orchards and fields along the banks.
Towns such as Upington, Keimoes and Kakamas are the wine and farming centres, and the contrast between the green vineyards and the dry land around them is striking.
💧
Irrigation
River water turns desert into farmland.
🍇
Vines and raisins
Grapes are also dried into raisins.
🏜️
Edge of the Kalahari
The landscape is hot, dry and wide-open.
🇿🇦 Cape spotlight
Augrabies Falls, where the Orange River drops into a gorge, is not far from the wine area.
🧠 Quick check: tap to reveal
🤔 How long is the Orange River?
About 2,200 kilometres.
🤔 Which town is the main centre?
Upington.
Lesson 2: Orange River fun facts