Kat River

Kat River
Katrivier
River
Country South Africa
Region Eastern Cape
Source
 - location Winterberg, Eastern Cape
 - coordinates 32°34′17″S 26°45′34″E / 32.57139°S 26.75944°E / -32.57139; 26.75944
Mouth
 - location Great Fish River, Eastern Cape
 - coordinates 32°59′44″S 26°47′5″E / 32.99556°S 26.78472°E / -32.99556; 26.78472Coordinates: 32°59′44″S 26°47′5″E / 32.99556°S 26.78472°E / -32.99556; 26.78472
Length 150 km (93 mi)
Location of the Kat River in South Africa

The Kat River (Afrikaans: Katrivier) is a tributary of the Great Fish River, that drains the southern slopes of the Winterberg in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Etymology

Kat, meaning "cat", is a translation of the Khoekhoen word "huncu", that apparently referred to the wildcats of the area.[1] It lent its name to Katberg, the Katberg Pass and the Kat River Settlement.

Course and utilization

The 150 kilometres (93 mi) long Kat River rises 30 km north of Fort Beaufort[1] in the Katberg escarpment of the Winterberg. At 32°59′44″S 26°47′5″E / 32.99556°S 26.78472°E / -32.99556; 26.78472 it forms a northern tributary of the Great Fish River, northeast of Fort Brown[1] and south of Hamburg, Eastern Cape.

It supplies the Kat River Valley with irrigation water for large citrus orchards, and supplies Seymour and Fort Beaufort with domestic water.

Dams

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 242.
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