ZAMBEZI RIVER

The Zambezi River basin and its drainage network. also spelled Zambesi, river draining a large portion of south-central Africa. Together with its tributaries, it forms the fourth largest river basin of the continent. The river flows eastward for about 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometres) from its source on the Central African Plateau to empty into the Indian Ocean. With its tributaries, it drains an area of more than 500,000 square miles (1,300,000 square kilometres). The Zambezi (meaning Great River in the language of the Tonga people) includes along its course the Victoria Falls, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, and the Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams, two of Africa's largest hydroelectric projects. The river either crosses or forms the boundaries of six countriesAngola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambiqueand the use of its waters has been the subject of a series of international agreements. also spelled Zambesi, river in south-central and southeastern Africa, flowing from its source on the Central African Plateau eastward to the Indian Ocean. The Zambezi River follows an S-shaped double arc from its source about 4,800 feet (1,460 m) above sea level near Kalene Hill, Zambia, south across eastern Angola and western Zambia, then northeastward forming the Zambia-Zimbabwe boundary, and, finally, southeastward across Mozambique to its delta on the Indian Ocean. Among its major tributaries are the Kabompo, Lungu-Bungo (Lungwebungu), Cuando (Kwando), Kafue, and Shire. The Zambezi basin drains the entire south-central region of the continent. In its upper course through Zambia and Angola, the river drops about 1,000 feet (300 m) in elevation and is met by more than a dozen tributaries of varying sizes. At Kazungula, Zambia, at an elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m), the river reaches its greatest width (4,550 feet ) and its waters plunge over Victoria Falls. For about 450 miles (720 km), the river forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, about 175 miles (280 km) of this portion of its course being Lake Kariba, the reservoir impounded by Kariba Dam. In its middle course near the Mozambique border the river enters Lake Cahora Bassa, about 200 miles (320 km) in length, impounded by Cahora Bassa Dam. In its lower course, the Zambezi enters the Tete basin, passes through Lupata Gorge, and emerges onto the Mozambique Plain, where it occupies a broad valley that spreads out in places to a width of three to five miles. Near Vila Fontes, the river receives its last great tributary, the Shire River. At its mouth, the Zambezi splits into a wide, flat, and marshy delta that is obstructed by sandbars. There are two main channels, each again divided into two. The wider, eastern channel splits into the Muselo River to the north and the main mouth of the Zambezi to the south. The western channel forms both the Inhamissengo River and the smaller Melambe River. The Victoria Falls Bridge across the Zambezi River, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambezi has the same types of natural barriers encountered on other African riverssandbars at the mouth, shallowness, and rapids and cataracts. About 1,620 miles (2,600 km) of its length, however, are navigable by shallow-draft steamers. The river has four major crossing points, the Victoria Falls Bridge, the dam wall at Kariba, Zimb., a bridge at Chirundu, Zimb., and a bridge between Mutarara (Dona Ana) and Vila de Sena, Mozambique. The Kariba Dam harnesses the Zambezi at Kariba, producing hydroelectric power. Lake Kariba stretches for 175 miles (280 km) from the dam to Devil's Gorge and is 20 miles (32 km) across at its widest point. The many peoples who live along the Zambezi River include the Lozi (Barotse), Tonga, Shona, Chewa, and Nsenga. Length 2,200 miles (3,500 km); drainage basin 500,000 square miles (1,300,000 square km); average annual discharge 247,000 cubic feet per second (7,000 cubic m/sec). Additional reading Little is written in English specifically on the Zambezi River. Information can be found in B.M. Fagin (ed.), The Victoria Falls Handbook, 2nd ed. (1963); R. Mansell Prothero (ed.), People and Land in Africa South of the Sahara: Readings in Social Geography (1972); and N.J. Money, The Geology of Western Zambia (1972). Nic J. Money Study and exploration The first non-Africans to reach the Zambezi were Arab traders, who utilized the river's lower reaches from the 10th century onward. They were followed in the 16th century by the Portuguese, who hoped to use the river to develop a trade in ivory, gold, and slaves. Until the 19th century, the river, then called the Zanbere, was believed to flow south from a vast inland sea that was also thought to be the origin of the Nile River. Accurate mapping of the Zambezi did not take place until the Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone charted most of the river's course in the 1850s. Searching for a trade route to the East African coast, he traveled from Sesheke, 150 miles above Victoria Falls, to the Indian Ocean. His map of the river remained the most accurate until the 20th century, when further surveys finally traced the Zambezi to its source. Arthur N.L. Wina Nic J. Money The economy Navigation Given its numerous natural barrierssandbars at the mouth, shallowness, and rapids and cataractsthe Zambezi is of little economic significance as a trade route. About 1,620 miles of the river, however, are navigable by shallow-draft steamers. The longest stretch of unbroken water runs from the river delta about 400 miles upstream to the Cahora Bassa Dam. Above the dam Lake Cahora Bassa is navigable to its confluence with the Luangwa River, where navigation is interrupted again to the Kariba Dam. Lake Kariba is navigable, but the river again becomes impassable from the end of the lake to the Ngonye Falls, some 250 miles upstream. It is again navigable by shallow-draft boats for the 300 miles between the Ngonye and Chavuma falls and then for another 120 miles above Chavuma. The Victoria Falls Bridge across the Zambezi River, connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe. The river has four major crossing points. The Victoria Falls Bridge, the first from the head of the river, carries rail, road, and foot traffic between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam wall at Kariba is heavily used by road traffic, and a road bridge at Chirundu, Zimb., also connects the two countries. The fourth major crossing is the rail and road bridge between Mutarara (Dona Ana) and Vila de Sena, Mozambique. There are also a number of motor ferries crossing the river at various points. Kariba and Cahora Bassa schemes The Kariba Dam harnesses the Zambezi at Kariba, Zimb., 300 miles below Victoria Falls. A concrete-arch dam with a maximum height of 420 feet and a crest length of 1,900 feet carries a road connecting the Zambian and Zimbabwean banks of the gorge. Six floodgates permit a discharge of some 335,000 cubic feet of water per second. Both Zambia and Zimbabwe obtain most of their electricity from the Kariba Dam. Lake Kariba covers an area of about 2,000 square miles. The flooded land was previously inhabited by about 51,000 Tonga agriculturalists, who had to be resettled. The lake stretches for 175 miles from the dam to Devil's Gorge and is 20 miles across at its widest point. Three townships have been built around lakeshore harbours at Kariba and at Siavonga and Sinazongwe, Zambia. Tourist resorts have also been developed along the lakeshore. Lake Cahora Bassa was formed by a dam across the Zambezi at the head of Cahora Bassa Gorge, about 80 miles northwest of Tete, Mozambique. The dam, 560 feet high and 1,050 feet wide at its crest, impounds the river for 150 miles to the MozambiqueZambia border, providing hydroelectric power and water for crop irrigation. The people The Lozi (Barotse), who dominate much of the upper Zambezi, have taken advantage of the seasonal flooding of the Barotse Plain for centuries and have an agricultural economy that is supplemented by animal husbandry, fishing, and trade. The main groups of the middle Zambezi include the Tonga, Shona, Chewa, and Nsenga peoples, all of whom largely practice subsistence agriculture. In Mozambique the riverine population is varied; many engage in commercial agriculturethe growing of sugarcane and cotton in particularwhich was established by the Portuguese.