Great Fish River

Great Fish River
River
The Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape from Dubbeldrift Nature Reserve.
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
Mouth	Indian Ocean
- location	Near Seafield
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	33°29′34″S 27°07′52″E / 33.49278°S 27.13111°E / -33.49278; 27.13111Coordinates: 33°29′34″S 27°07′52″E / 33.49278°S 27.13111°E / -33.49278; 27.13111
Length	730 km (454 mi)
Basin	30,366 km2 (11,724 sq mi)
Location of the Great Fish River mouth

The Great Fish River (called great to distinguish it from the Namibian Fish River) (Afrikaans: Groot-Visrivier) is a river running 644 kilometres (400 mi) through the South African province of the Eastern Cape. The coastal area between Port Elizabeth and the Fish River mouth is known as the Sunshine Coast. The Great Fish River was originally named Rio do Infante, after João Infante, the captain of one of the caravels of Bartolomeu Dias. Infante visited the river in the late 1480s.

The Great Fish River originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock. Further south the Tarka River joins its left bank. Thence it makes a zig-zag turn to Cookhouse, from where it meanders down the escarpment east of Grahamstown before its final near-straight run to its estuary 8 km northeast of Seafield, into the Indian Ocean.

The river is generally permanent, having water all year round, although its headwaters rise in an arid region, and the natural flow can be sluggish in the dry season beyond the ebb and flow of the tidal reaches; now, water from the Orange River system can be used to keep up its flow in dry periods. The river is tidal for approximately 20 km.

Its main tributaries are the Groot Brak River, the Tarka River and the Kap River on the left side, and the Little Fish River (Afrikaans: Klein-Visrivier) on the right side. The Great Fish River is part of the Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area.