Orange River
The Orange River is a principal river in southern Africa, running from the Lesotho Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean.
Also known as: Gariep River, Senqu River
How big is it?
2,100 km · approximate main-channel length
Also 1,305 mi
Approximate main-channel length · approximate
Typical recorded range: 2,050 km to 2,150 km.
A little perspective
Orange River vs Pluto: length comparison
The mean diameter of Pluto is about 1.13 times the main-channel length of the Orange River.
The Orange River is a principal river in southern Africa, running from the Lesotho Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean.
Pluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, composed of rock and ice and orbiting the Sun.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Orange River
Approximate main-channel length: 2,100 km; approximate; range 2,050 km–2,150 km.
The Orange River is described by the cited source as approximately 1,300 miles, or 2,100 km, from the Lesotho Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean. Headwater naming and channel-centreline conventions affect the total.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Orange River
The marked approximate main-channel length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Pluto
Mean diameter: 2,377 km; approximate.
Mean-radius spherical model for Pluto; actual shape is not perfectly spherical.
NASA JPL — planetary physical parameters
The marked mean diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 2,100 km
We compare the main-channel length of the Orange River. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty. The recorded range is 2,050 km to 2,150 km.
The Orange River is described by the cited source as approximately 1,300 miles, or 2,100 km, from the Lesotho Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean. Headwater naming and channel-centreline conventions affect the total.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,100 km | 2,050 km to 2,150 km | approximate |
Around this scale
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Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceRhea1,528 kmMean-equivalent diameterRhea is an icy moon of Saturn with a heavily cratered surface and bright fractures.Around the same scalePlaces and natural featuresVolga3,530 kmApproximate main-channel lengthThe Volga is a river in central Russia, running from the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea.Nearest higher valuePlaces and natural featuresMurray River2,530 kmApproximate main-channel lengthThe Murray River is a major river in southeastern Australia, flowing from the Snowy Mountains to the Southern Ocean.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Orange RiverApproximately 1,300 miles, rounded to 2,100 km, from the Lesotho Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Follow your curiosity.
PlacesMurray River2,530 kmThe Murray River is a major river in southeastern Australia, flowing from the Snowy Mountains to the Southern Ocean.PlacesVolga3,530 kmThe Volga is a river in central Russia, running from the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea.
SpacePluto2,377 kmPluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, composed of rock and ice and orbiting the Sun.
SpaceTriton2,705 kmTriton is a natural satellite of Neptune, with a retrograde orbit and a surface of frozen nitrogen.
SpaceEris2,326 kmEris is a dwarf planet in the scattered disc region beyond Neptune, composed of rock and ice.
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SpaceMoon3,475 kmThe Moon is Earth’s natural satellite and the brightest large object in Earth’s night sky.