Touws River (river)


The Touws River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a tributary of the Groot River, part of the Gourits River basin.

Name

The name "Touws" originates from a Khoi word for ash, which also referred to the local "Ash-bushes". It is uncertain whether the name originally referred to the bushes, or to the colour of the river.
It also gave its name to the town of Touws River, which lies on the upper reaches of this river.

Course

It sources are in the Matroosberg, Hex River Mountains, near the town of De Doorns. In its upper course it is known as the Smalblaar and the.
Flowing in a southeastern direction, it flows past Touws River town, meeting the right bank of the Groot River after briefly turning southwards. Its tributaries include the Brand, Kalee, Brak, Slang and the Kruis; all are minor rivers.
The Touws is part of the Gouritz Water Management Area and falls within the Drainage system J.

Dams