Wilge River

The Wilge River (Afrikaans: Wilgerivier, meaning "willow river") is a tributary of the Vaal River in central South Africa. This river is important as part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Transfer Scheme where water is transferred from the Tugela River basin to the Vaal River basin.[2]

This article is about the tributary of the Vaal River. For the river of the Olifants River (Lepelle) system, see Wilge River (Olifants).
Wilge River
The river near Harrismith
Location of the Wilge River mouth
EtymologyFrom wilg, the word for 'willow' in Afrikaans[1]
Location
CountrySouth Africa
RegionFree State
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationDrakensberg
 • elevation2,040 m (6,690 ft)
MouthVaal River
 • location
Vaal Dam
 • coordinates
27°8′30″S 28°23′6″E
 • elevation
1,499 m (4,918 ft)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftNuwejaarspruit, Elands River, Liebenbergsvlei
 • rightMeul River, Cornelis River

The largemouth yellowfish is present in the waters of the Wilge River, reaching quite a large size.[3]

Course

Its sources are about 50 km northeast of Harrismith, at the border with KwaZulu-Natal. In its upper course the river flows roughly southwestwards from its source, then westwards while bending northwards towards Harrismith, skirting the southern end of the Platberg where there is the confluence with the Nuwejaarspruit from the left.

Further north the Elands River joins its left bank. Then the Meul River and the Cornelis River join its right bank. It continues flowing in a NNW direction, being joined by the Liebenbergsvlei River from the left, while passing near Frankfort and flowing northwestwards until it finally meets the Vaal at the Vaal Dam further downstream.[4]

Dams in its basin
  • The Wilge River and its tributaries on a map of 1887
  • A horse train fording the river during the Second Boer War

See also

References
  1. Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  2. Tugela-Vaal Water Project
  3. 9.5kg Giant Largemouth Yellowfish caught in the Wilge River with a 5wt fly rod
  4. Upper Vaal WMA 8
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