Ruvuma River
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Ruvuma Rovuma | |
---|---|
second Zambesi expedition | |
Location | |
Country | Tanzania, Mozambique |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Ruvuma Region, Tanzania |
• coordinates | 10°45′00″S 35°40′00″E / 10.75000°S 35.66667°E |
• elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
Mouth | |
• location | Indian Ocean |
• coordinates | 10°28′28″S 40°26′13″E / 10.47444°S 40.43694°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 998 km (620 mi) |
Basin size | 154,727.4 km2 (59,740.6 sq mi)[1] to 155,316.4 km2 (59,968.0 sq mi)[2] |
Discharge | |
• location | Near mouth |
• average | (Period: 1979–2015)55.94 km3/a (1,773 m3/s)[3]
(Period: 1971–2000)2,286.3 m3/s (80,740 cu ft/s)[2] (Period: 1982–2013)890.8 m3/s (31,460 cu ft/s)[1] |
Basin features | |
River system | Rovuma River |
Tributaries | |
• left | Mlongasi, Likonde, Muhawesi, Lumesule, Mbangala |
• right | Messinge, Lucheringo, Chinlezi, Lugenda |
Ruvuma River, formerly also known as the Rovuma River, is a river in the African Great Lakes region. During the greater part of its course, it forms the border between Tanzania and Mozambique (in Mozambique known as Rio Rovuma). The river is 998 km (620 mi) long, with a drainage basin of ~155,000 km2 (60,000 sq mi) in size. Its mean annual discharge is 475 m3/s (16,800 cu ft/s) to 2,286 m3/s (80,700 cu ft/s) at its mouth.[4][2]
Discharge
Average and maximum discharge of the Rovuma River (11°9′53.9532″S 39°15′37.8072″E / 11.164987000°S 39.260502000°E):[5]
VIC modeled (1999–2008) | MFR estimated flows (1999–2008) | UNH-GRDC historical period (1957–1999) |
---|---|---|
Average discharge | ||
1,864 m3/s (65,800 cu ft/s) | 1,866 m3/s (65,900 cu ft/s) | 1,838 m3/s (64,900 cu ft/s) |
Maximum discharge | ||
22,365 m3/s (789,800 cu ft/s) | 22,630 m3/s (799,000 cu ft/s) | 22,053 m3/s (778,800 cu ft/s) |
Average monthly discharge of the Rovuma River (11°9′53.9532″S 39°15′37.8072″E / 11.164987000°S 39.260502000°E), UNH-GRDC historical period (1957–1999):[5]
Month | Discharge
(m3/s) |
---|---|
JAN | 3,340 |
FEB | 4,040 |
MAR | 5,390 |
APR | 3,880 |
MAY | 1,780 |
JUN | 780 |
JUL | 350 |
AUG | 160 |
SEP | 50 |
OCT | 80 |
NOV | 270 |
DEC | 1,940 |
Tributaries
The largest tributaries of the Rovuma River:[2]
Left
tributary |
Right
tributary |
Length
(km) |
Basin size
(km2) |
Average discharge
(m3/s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rovuma | 760 | 155,316.4 | 1,773 | |
Kitama | 70 | 1,065.8 | 12.3 | |
Matiu | 100 | 1,920.1 | 26.1 | |
Mwiti | 80 | 994.2 | 14 | |
Ninga | 100 | 1,572.8 | 19.8 | |
Miesi | 80 | 946.7 | 12.5 | |
Mbangala | 160 | 3 598.2 | 44.4 | |
Lugenda | 650 | 60,990.4 | 752.1 | |
Lukwika | 100 | 1,331.5 | 16.3 | |
Manjesi | 90 | 1,084.2 | 16.3 | |
Lumesule | 180 | 2,342.8 | 28.9 | |
Muhuwesi | 240 | 10,319.6 | 137.3 | |
Mzinieva | 100 | 1,285.4 | 22.5 | |
Chimovero | 638.3 | 11.2 | ||
Licombe | 60 | 975.7 | 16 | |
Lukembule | 1,234.6 | 21.6 | ||
Chiluezi | 3,544.9 | 55.1 | ||
Lopele | 763.1 | 13.3 | ||
Luvingo | 80 | 592.4 | 10.3 | |
Ludimilé | 1,129.4 | 20.7 | ||
Sasawara | 90 | 2,322.8 | 37.3 | |
Msangesi | 120 | 1,614.1 | 23.8 | |
Lipapa | 753.5 | 14.2 | ||
Lussanhando | 2,863.2 | 51.9 | ||
Lucheringo | 250 | 9,288.1 | 200.5 | |
Lualece | 60 | 611.9 | 11 | |
Miongosi | 50 | 964.3 | 11.6 | |
Likonde | 150 | 5,914.8 | 61.2 | |
Mlongasi | 100 | 960.8 | 11.9 | |
Messinge | 238 | 7,525.4 | 174.8 | |
Lunyere | 190 | 6,210.1 | 78.7 |
Overview
The lower Ruvuma river is formed by the junction at 11° 25′ S, 38° 31′ E of two branches of nearly equal importance, the longer of which, the
In its eastward course, the Ruvuma flows near the base of the escarpment of an arid sandstone plateau to the north, from which direction the streams, which have cut themselves deep channels in the plateau edge, have almost all short courses.
On the opposite bank the Ruvuma receives, besides the Lujenda, the Msinje River and Luchulingo River, flowing in broad valleys running from south to north. The Lujenda rises in proximity to Lake Chilwa, in the small Lake Chiuta (520 m, 1,700 ft), the swamps to the south of this being separated from Chilwa only by a narrow wooded ridge. The stream which issues from Chiuta passes by a swampy valley into the narrow Lake Amaramba, from which the Lujenda River finally issues as a stream 80 yards (73 m) wide.
Lower down it varies greatly in breadth, containing in many parts long wooded islands which rise above the flood level, and are often inhabited. The river is fordable in many places in the dry season. At its mouth it is about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
The lower Ruvuma, which is often 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) wide but generally shallow, flows through a swampy valley flanked by plateau escarpments containing several small backwaters of the river. The mouth is near 10° 28′ S, 40° 30′ E, the boundary near the coast being formed by the parallel of 10° 40′ S. The length of the Ruvuma is about 500 miles (800 km).
Bridge
A bridge called
A smaller bridge called Unity Two was also completed in 2007 on the upper Rovuma close to Matchedge in Niassa Province.
Notes
- ^ a b Development of Master Plan for Water Resources Management in Mozambique (PDF; 10,0 MB)
- ^ a b c d "Central East Coast".
- ^ "GEF TWAP - Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme — GEF TWAP".
- ISBN 92-808-1077-4.; online at Google Books
- ^ .
- ISBN 978-0753823491
References
public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Rovuma". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 782.
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