| Harts River Hartsrivier | |
|---|---|
,_crop.jpg) Harts River on a map of 1887 | |
  Location of the Harts River mouth | |
| Etymology | Translated into Afrikaans from its Khoekhoe name ǂGaoblgarib, meaning 'heart river'; possibly named after a chief or a tribal group[1] |
| Native name | ǂGaoblgarib (Khoekhoe) |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | North West Province, Northern Cape |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Witwatersrand |
| • location | Near Lichtenburg |
| • elevation | 1,520 m (4,990 ft) |
| Mouth | Vaal River |
• location | Delportshoop |
• coordinates | 28°24′4″S 24°16′38″E / 28.40111°S 24.27722°E |
• elevation | 1,017 m (3,337 ft) |
| Length | 320 km (200 mi) |
The Harts River (Afrikaans: Hartsrivier) is a northern tributary of the Vaal River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Orange River (also known as the Gariep River, the largest river in South Africa). Its source is in the North West Province, but the greater part of its basin is located in the Northern Cape Province, which it enters a few kilometers downstream from the Taung Dam.[2]
The Harts forms a natural boundary for the Ghaap Plateau, located between the Harts River and the Kuruman Hills.