Riet River

{{About|the tributary of the Vaal River|the river of the Olifants/Doring basin|Riet River (Doring)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox river | name = Riet | native_name = {{native name|kqz|Gama-!ab}} | name_other = Gmaap | name_etymology = Native name Gama-!ab meaning 'muddy' in !Kora language  | image = Wikimania by Rehman - 2018-07-17 - A006 - Precon.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Aerial view of the river in 2018. | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = South Africa | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Riet River mouth  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = South Africa | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Free State, Northern Cape | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = | source1_location = Near Smithfield | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | mouth = Vaal River | mouth_location = Confluence | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|28|59|58|S|23|53|17|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|1001|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = Modder River | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} 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 {{nowrap|!Kora}} name meaning 'muddy'. Its main tributary is the Modder River and after the confluence the Riet River flows westwards to meet the Vaal.<ref>[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/eco/FROC/WMA13UpperOrange.jpg Upper Orange WMA 13]</ref>

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.<ref>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</ref> It flows through the Kalkfontein Dam. Water from the Orange River at Vanderkloof Dam is fed into the Riet River at Jacobsdal to provide water for irrigation. This has the combined effect of adding water to the river and lowering the salinity. When Vanderkloof Dam is spilling excess water from Vanderkloof Dam is transferred to the Kalkfontein Dam.

thumb|left|250px|The Riet River on a map of 1887. The lower Modder has since become the lower Riet. {{Clear}}

== References == <references/>

==External links== *[https://www.sahumanities.org/index.php/sah/article/view/357 A Riet River Retrospective]

Category:Tributaries of the Orange River Category:Karoo Category:Rivers of the Northern Cape Category:Rivers of the Free State (province)