Breede River

Breede
Breë
River
The Breede River about 5km inland from its mouth.
Name origin: Dutch for "wide" or "broad".
Country	South Africa
Region	Western Cape Province
Source	North of the Swartberg
Mouth	Witsand
- location	Indian Ocean
- coordinates	34°24′S 20°50′E / 34.400°S 20.833°E / -34.400; 20.833Coordinates: 34°24′S 20°50′E / 34.400°S 20.833°E / -34.400; 20.833
Length	337 km (209 mi)
Basin	12,384 km2 (4,781 sq mi)
Location of the Breede River mouth

The Breede River (Afrikaans: Breederivier), also known as Breë River, is a river in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Travelling inland north from Cape Town, the river runs in a west to east direction. The surrounding western mountains formed the first continental divide experienced by European settlers in the 18th century. The Titus River and Dwars River become the Breë River.

The first catchment area of the river is in the Skurweberg mountain range close to Ceres. The head waters then runs through the modern day Mitchells Pass before plaining out on its middle course in the Worcester area. The river mouth is in an estuary at Port Beaufort on the Indian Ocean.

On its course through the Breede River Valley, it is joined by the Holsloot and Smalblaar Rivers, from their catchment areas, the Du Toitskloof and Stettyn mountain ranges. The Hex River with its catchment area in the Hex River Mountains also joins the Breede River from the north-east. Further downstream the Slang River and Buffeljags River drain the southern slopes of the Langeberg mountains before depositing their water in the Breede River. Near Swellendam the river is joined by the Riviersonderend, with its catchment area in the mountains surrounding the Theewaterskloof Dam near Villiersdorp.

The Greater Brandvlei Dam, completed in 1936 and fully extended by 1987, provides water to various irrigation schemes throughout the agricultural sector of the region. (also known as the Brandvlei Dam and the Kwaggaskloof Dam. In the catchment area are a few more dams: