The Orange River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. Although the river does not pass through any major cities, it plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation, as well as hydroelectric power. The red sand found in the coastal dunes along Namibia’s coastline, is brought by the Orange River all the way from the Drakensberg and deposited out at sea. Northerly moving ocean currents, carry the sand north. Winds blowing inland moves some sand inland to create the dunes we see today. This sand has come a long way.
