Rufiji River
| Rufiji | |
|---|---|
 Rufiji river in Selous | |
 Map of the Rufiji River drainage basin. The separate, endorheic Lake Sulunga basin is shown in green. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Tanzania |
| Region | Pwani Region |
| Region | Morogoro Region |
| Region | Iringa Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Great Ruaha River |
| • location | Tanzania |
| 2nd source | Kilombero River |
| • location | Morogoro Region |
| 3rd source | Luwegu River |
| • location | Morogoro Region |
| Mouth | Indian Ocean |
• location | Pwani Region |
• coordinates | 7°46′26″S 39°21′50″E / 7.77389°S 39.36389°E |
| Length | 600 km (370 mi) |
| Basin size | 177,429 square kilometres (68,506 sq mi) |
The Rufiji River lies entirely within
Kilombero and Luwegu rivers. It is approximately 600 kilometres (370 mi) long, with its source in southwestern Tanzania and its mouth on the Indian Ocean opposite Mafia Island across the Mafia Channel, in Pwani Region. Its principal tributary is the Great Ruaha River
. It is navigable for approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi).
The Rufiji river is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of Dar es Salaam. The river's delta contains the largest mangrove forest in eastern Africa.[1]
History
A branch of ancient
sea routes led down the East African coast called "Azania" by the Greeks and Romans in the 1st century CE as described in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (and, very probably, Chinese: 澤散 in the 3rd century by the Chinese),[2] at least as far as the port known to the Romans as Rhapta, which was probably located in the delta of the Rufiji River in modern Tanzania.[3]
During the
Konigsberg
.
Basin
The catchment basin for the Rufiji River complex is 177,429 square kilometres (68,506 sq mi).[4]
| River | Area km2 |
Percentage of area |
Percentage of run-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Ruaha | 83,970 | 47 | 15 |
| Kilombero | 39,990 | 23 | 62 |
| Luwegu | 26,300 | 15 | 18 |
| Rufiji (lower river) | 27,160 | 15 | 5 |
| Total | 177,429 | 100 | 100 |
Hydroelectric Project
Tanzania president John Magufuli has approved the construction of a controversial[5][6] new dam and power station on the river at Stiegler's Gorge.[7] The power station is expected to provide 2,100 megawatts of electricity, more than triple Tanzania's existing installed hydropower capacity which is only 562 megawatts.[8] Construction of the dam started on July 26, 2019, and it is expected be ready by 2022.[9]
References
- ^ ""Downstream and Coastal Impacts of Damming and Water Abstraction in Africa", Environmental Management, authored by Maria Snoussi, Johnson Kitheka, Yohanna Shaghude, Alioune Kane, Russell Arthurton, Martin Le Tissier, and Hassan Virji, 2007, volume 39, page 589" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- ^ "The Peoples of the West". from the Weilue 魏略 by Yu Huan 魚豢. Translated by Hill, John E. University of Washington. September 2004. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
- ISBN 1-84171-622-7.
- ^ Arvidson, Anders; et al. (May 2009). "Initial Assessment of Socioeconomic and Environmental Risks and Opportunities of Large-scale Biofuels Production in the Rufiji District" (PDF). SEKAB BioEnergy (T) Ltd. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- S2CID 27222691.
- S2CID 234340454.
- ^ "Tanzania to Construct Hydropower Plant on National Reserve". Voice of America. July 26, 2019.
- ^ Tairo, Apolinari (July 26, 2019). "Tanzania launches Rufiji power plant". The EastAfrican.
- ^ Takouleu, Jean Marie (24 July 2019). "Stiegler's Gorge dam construction begins on July 26". Afrik 21. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019.
Further reading
- Chami, F. A. 1999. "The Early Iron Age on Mafia island and its relationship with the mainland." Azania Vol. XXXIV 1999, pp. 1–10.
- Chami, Felix A. 2002. "The Egypto-Graeco-Romans and Panchea/Azania: sailing in the Erythraean Sea." In: Society for Arabian Studies Monographs 2 Trade and Travel in the Red Sea Region. Proceedings of Red Sea Project I held in the British Museum October 2002, pp. 93–104. Edited by Paul Lunde and Alexandra Porter. ISBN 1-84171-622-7.
- Miller, J. Innes. 1969. Chapter 8: "The Cinnamon Route". In: The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire. Oxford: University Press. ISBN 0-19-814264-1
- Ray, Himanshu Prabha, ed. 1999. Archaeology of Seafaring: The Indian Ocean in the Ancient Period. Pragati Publications, Delhi.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
