Wilge River

This article is about the tributary of the Vaal River. For the river of the Olifants River (Lepelle) system, see Wilge River (Mpumalanga).
Wilge River
River
Name origin: From wilg, the word for 'willow' in Afrikaans[1]
Country South Africa
Region Free State
Tributaries
 - left Nuwejaarspruit, Elands River, Liebenbergsvlei
 - right Meul River, Cornelis River
Source
 - location Drakensberg
 - elevation 2,040 m (6,693 ft)
Mouth Vaal River
 - location Vaal Dam
 - elevation 1,499 m (4,918 ft)
 - coordinates 27°8′30″S 28°23′6″E / 27.14167°S 28.38500°E / -27.14167; 28.38500Coordinates: 27°8′30″S 28°23′6″E / 27.14167°S 28.38500°E / -27.14167; 28.38500
Location of the Wilge River mouth

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]

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 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

Horse train fording the Wilge River during the 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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