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Zambezi River: Difference between revisions
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The '''Zambezi''' (also spelled '''Zambeze''' and '''Zambesi''') is the [[List of rivers by length|fourth-longest]] | The '''Zambezi''' (also spelled '''Zambeze''' and '''Zambesi''') is the [[List of rivers by length|fourth-longest]] river in Africa, the longest east flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the [[Indian Ocean]] from Africa. The area of its basin is {{convert|1390000|km2}}, slightly less than half that of the [[Nile]]. The {{convert|2574|km|mi|adj=mid|-long river}} rises in [[Zambia]] and flows through eastern [[Angola]], along the eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of [[Botswana]], then along the border between [[Zambia]] and Zimbabwe to [[Mozambique]], where it crosses the country to empty into the Indian Ocean. | ||
The Zambezi's most noted feature is [[Victoria Falls]]. Other notable falls include the [[Chavuma Falls]] at the border between Zambia and Angola, and [[Ngonye Falls]], near [[Sioma]] in Western Zambia. | The Zambezi's most noted feature is [[Victoria Falls]]. Other notable falls include the [[Chavuma Falls]] at the border between Zambia and Angola, and [[Ngonye Falls]], near [[Sioma]] in Western Zambia. | ||
There are two main sources of | There are two main sources of hydroelectric power on the river, the [[Kariba Dam]], which provides power to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique, which provides power to Mozambique and South Africa. There is also a smaller power station at Victoria Falls. | ||
==Course of the river== | ==Course of the river== | ||
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Eastward of the source, the [[drainage basin|watershed]] between the [[Congo River|Congo]] and Zambezi basins is a well-marked belt of high ground, running nearly east-west and falling abruptly to the north and south. This distinctly cuts off the basin of the [[Lualaba River|Lualaba]] (the main branch of the upper Congo) from that of the Zambezi. In the neighborhood of the source the watershed is not as clearly defined, but the two river systems do not connect.<ref name=Dorling>Dorling Kindersley, pp. 84–85</ref> | Eastward of the source, the [[drainage basin|watershed]] between the [[Congo River|Congo]] and Zambezi basins is a well-marked belt of high ground, running nearly east-west and falling abruptly to the north and south. This distinctly cuts off the basin of the [[Lualaba River|Lualaba]] (the main branch of the upper Congo) from that of the Zambezi. In the neighborhood of the source the watershed is not as clearly defined, but the two river systems do not connect.<ref name=Dorling>Dorling Kindersley, pp. 84–85</ref> | ||
The region drained by the Zambezi is a vast broken-edged plateau 900–1200 m high, composed in the remote interior of [[metamorphic rock|metamorphic]] beds and fringed with the [[igneous]] rocks of the Victoria Falls. At [[Shupanga]], on the lower Zambezi, thin strata of grey and yellow | The region drained by the Zambezi is a vast broken-edged plateau 900–1200 m high, composed in the remote interior of [[metamorphic rock|metamorphic]] beds and fringed with the [[igneous]] rocks of the Victoria Falls. At [[Shupanga]], on the lower Zambezi, thin strata of grey and yellow sandstones, with an occasional band of [[limestone]], crop out on the bed of the river in the dry season, and these persist beyond Tete, where they are associated with extensive seams of [[coal]]. Coal is also found in the district just below Victoria Falls. [[Gold]]-bearing rocks occur in several places. | ||
===Upper Zambezi=== | ===Upper Zambezi=== | ||
