The Breede River
The Breede River or Breë River’s source is in the Swartberg Mountains running in a west-to-east direction. The rivers named by the early settlers as the Titus River and Dwars River were renamed the Breë River.
The catchment area of 12,384 km2 (4,781 feeds the 337 km length of the river. It passes through the towns of Worcester, Robertson, and Swellendam, before reaching the Indian Ocean at Witsand
The Brandvlei Dam on the river which was completed in 1936 and extended by 1987, provides water to several irrigation schemes in the region.:
Bull Sharks often enter the estuary of the Breede River. Sometimes they are even seen as far as 5 km upriver. They have a habit of stealing fishermen’s catches, They then feed and gain weight without expending much energy. This habit leaves the sharks well-fed and most likely is the reason that shark attacks on humans are not found in this area.
The Breede River is navigable by small boats, it is a popular location for river rafting tours, cruises and other water sports.
