Kat River
Katrivier
Kat River is located in Eastern Cape
Kat River
Location of the Kat River in the Eastern Cape
Location
CountrySouth Africa
RegionEastern Cape
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationWinterberg, Eastern Cape
  coordinates32°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; 26.78472
Length150 km (93 mi)

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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