Shire River

Shire River Shiré, Chire
The Shire near Nsanje, Malawi
Etymology	Chewa chiri, "steep banks"[1][2]
Location
Country	Malawi, Mozambique
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Malawi
• coordinates	14°25′25″S 35°14′10″E / 14.42361°S 35.23611°E / -14.42361; 35.23611
• elevation	474 m (1,555 ft)
Mouth	Zambezi
• coordinates	17°41′36″S 35°18′55″E / 17.69333°S 35.31528°E / -17.69333; 35.31528
Length	402 km (250 mi)
Discharge
• average	486 m3/s

The Shire /ˈʃiːreɪ/ is the largest river in Malawi.^[3] It is the only outlet of Lake Malawi and flows into the Zambezi River in Mozambique. Its length is 402 kilometres (250 mi). The upper Shire River issues from Lake Malawi and runs approximately 19 km (12 mi) before it enters shallow Lake Malombe. It then drains Lake Malombe and flows south through Liwonde National Park where large concentrations of hippopotamus are common along its shores. Between the towns of Matope and Chikwawa, the middle river drops approximately 400 m (1,300 ft) through a series of falls and gorges, including Kapachira Falls. Two hydroelectric dams have been built along the Shire northwest of Blantyre.

Beyond

In 1859, David Livingstone's Second Zambezi expedition traveled up the Shire river.^[4]

The river's valley is part of the East African Rift system.^[5]