Caledon (Mohokare)
River
Countries	South Africa, Lesotho
State	Free State
City	Maseru
Source	Mont-aux-Sources
- location	SW of Phuthaditjhaba, Drakensberg
- elevation	2,100 m (6,890 ft)
Mouth	Orange River
- location	Near Bethulie
- elevation	1,267 m (4,157 ft)
- coordinates	30°31′21″S 26°4′21″E / 30.5225°S 26.0725°E / -30.5225; 26.0725
Length	200 km (124 mi)
Location of the Caledon River mouth

The Caledon River (Sotho: Mohokare) is located in south-east Africa, rising in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho. Origin in the former bantustan of QwaQwa, near the border with Lesotho, southwest of Witsieshoek. It then flows south-west, marking the border with South Africa and Lesotho before entering South Africa's Free State province (north of Wepener). It then flows West before meeting the Orange River near Bethulie in southern Free State, just before the Gariep Dam.

The river is the primary source of water for Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, which stands on the river. During periods of low rainfall water shortages can ensue. To combat this, reservoirs have been created with structures such as the Muela Dam and the Meulspruit Dam.^[1] In 2003 water was released from here to avert drought.^[2]

The Caledon valley is important in the history of the Basotho people. The area was exceptionally fertile and could be farmed without irrigation. This made it desirable and was one of the causes of the conflict between the Basotho and the Boers.

Dams in South Africa [link]

• Knellpoort Dam, on a tributary called Rietspruit
• Welbedacht Dam, a major water source for Bloemfontein and surroundings, situated inside the Caledon Nature Reserve

See also [link]

• History of Lesotho
• Basutoland

References [link]

External links [link]

• Free State Region River Systems

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