Interesting facts about the Zambezi. Zambezi (river in Africa) where does it originate and where does it flow? Zambezi: source, length, location on the map and photo

The Zambezi is a river in Africa with many rapids and waterfalls.

Victoria Falls

The river is rapids, with temper. There are many dangerous places on it. And many waterfalls. The most beautiful of them is Victoria.

It was formed as a result of a tectonic fault, which created an abyss with steep walls. River water falls down from a height of 110 meters. The width of the waterfall is 1800 meters. Before falling from a height, the water accumulates in a small lake called the Devil's Font.
The abyss is a narrow chasm. There is only one exit from it in the form of a narrow channel, the width of which does not exceed 30 meters. Its length is 120 meters. The entire mass of river water rushes along it and ends up in a gorge with steep walls. Their height is more than 100 meters. In some places the gorge widens and reservoirs form. They are characterized by large, slow whirlpools. The length of the gorge is 80 km.
Victoria Falls itself is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe near the city of Livingstone. This is where it ends upstream Zambezi and the middle begins. The river flows east in a mountainous area and is replete with rapids and rapids. The channel then turns northeast and enters the Kariba Reservoir. It was created by the Kariba hydroelectric dam. It supplies electricity to two countries at once: Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam reaches a height of 126 meters and a width of 580 meters. It was built in 1959.

Reservoir

The area of the reservoir itself is 5.6 thousand square meters. km. The width reaches 40 km, and the length is 220 km. The reservoir is considered one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. After the reservoir, the river receives several tributaries. On the border of Zambia and Mozambique, the left tributary Luangwa flows into it, and then comes the turn of the second reservoir, called Cabora Bassa. It was created by the hydroelectric dam of the same name, which was put into operation in 1979.

Source of the river

The source is located at an altitude of 1543 meters above sea level in the dark swamps of Dumbo. According to the stories of the aborigines, this is where the most powerful sorcerers live. This place is considered one of the most creepy and mysterious on Earth.

River delta

The river delta begins near the town of Marromeu. In its delta, the Zambezi is divided into a huge number of branches and channels. The most famous of them are Inamisengo, Koama, Shinde, Muselo.

The most important tributaries: on the right - Lungwebungu, Luanginga, Linyanti (in the upper and middle reaches of Kwando), Umniati, Luenya; from the left - Kabompo, Luena, Kasrue, Luangwa, Shire.

The river branches are not navigable due to large deposits of sand.

It is noteworthy that the delta is narrowing every year. This is due to the construction of the Kariba and Cabora Bassa dams. They have smoothed out significantly seasonal changes water flow.

Animals, fish and birds

A huge number of animals and birds live on the shores of this African river.
Hippos, monitor lizards, crocodiles, pelicans, egrets, African eagles and many, many other inhabitants wildlife neighboring in the area of the Zambezi River.

Fortunately, severe water pollution has not yet affected a large number of different different types fish living in the Zambezi.

In the muddy wide waters of the river, sometimes even sharks are found.

River floods and droughts depend on the time of year.
See photos of the river on the website " Amazing world nature."

The role of nature in human life. The role of man in the life of the river.

Two large hydroelectric power stations have been built on the Zambezi.
Due to the rapids on the river, through navigation is impossible, but there are many short stretches used by people for transportation and interesting excursions to the picturesque places of Africa.

Ecology

The Zambezi River would be suitable for habitation by many people and animals. But colossal water pollution from industrial and household waste greatly worsens the environmental condition in the river area.

There is not a single treatment facility along the riverbed.

It is not surprising that dysentery and typhus are not rare diseases in those parts.

Plan:

1 River flow
- 1.1 Origin
- 1.2 Upper river
- 1.3 Middle Zambezi
- 1.4 Lower Zambezi
2 Tributaries
3 River exploration
4 Wildlife
5 Economics
6 Transport value
7 Ecology
8 Main settlements
9 Literature (links)

Introduction

Zambezi Basin

Zambezi- the fourth longest river in Africa. The basin area is 1,570,000 km², length is 2,574 km. The source of the river is in Zambia, the river flows through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. Name Zambezi was given to the river by its discoverer among Europeans, David Livingston, comes from a distorted Kasambo Wayzee- names in one of the local dialects. [ ]

Major attraction Zambezi- Victoria Falls, one of the greatest waterfalls in the world.

The Zambezi has many notable waterfalls: Chavuma on the border of Zambia and Angola and Ngambwe, in Western Zambia. Along the entire course of the river across the Zambezi there are five bridges in the cities of Chingwingi, Katima Mulilo, Victoria Falls, Chirundu and Tete.

Two large hydroelectric power stations were built on the river - the Kariba Hydroelectric Power Station, which supplies electricity to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Cabora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Station in Mozambique, which supplies electricity to Zimbabwe and South Africa. There is also a small power station in the city of Victoria Falls.

1. River flow

1.1. Source

The river originates in the black swamp area of northwestern Zambia, among forested hills approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. East of the source there is a watershed between the Congo and Zambezi river basins, which is a belt of hills with rather steep northern and southern slopes, lying between 11 and 12 degrees south latitude. It clearly separates the Luapala River basin (the main tributary of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. In the vicinity of the source, the watershed is not clearly expressed, but still two river systems not connected.

1.2. Upper river

After flowing southwest after approximately 240 km, the river turns south, where numerous tributaries flow into it. A few kilometers above Keiknji, the river widens from 100 to 350 meters; below Keiknji there are numerous rapids ending at Chavama Falls, where the river falls into a crack in the rocks. The first of the great tributaries Zambezi- Kabompo River - located in northern Zambia. And a little further south it flows even more large river- Langwebangu. The savannah through which the river flows gives way to bushland with palm trees. Borassas.

Zambezi River in North Western Zambia

From an altitude of 1500 m above sea level at the source, after 350 km in Keiknji the river drops to approximately 1100 m. From this city to Victoria Falls, the river level practically does not change, dropping only another 180 m. 30 km below the confluence with Langwebangu The area becomes flat and is highly prone to flooding during the rainy season. 80 kilometers (50 miles) further down, the Luanginga, which with its tributaries drains a large area to the west, joins the Zambezi. A few kilometers higher in the east the main stream joins the Luena River.

Below the confluence of Luanjinga is the city of Lilui, one of administrative centers the Lotsi people inhabiting the semi-autonomous region of Zambia - Barotseland . The head of Lozi has two compositions, the other is Limalanga. Limalanga is on a high base and serves as the main capital during the rainy season. The annual movement from Lilui to Limalanga is famous for the festivals of Zambia, Kuomboka.

After Lilui the river turns to the southeast. Numerous small tributaries continue to flow into it from the east, but in the west for 240 km it has no tributaries, right up to its confluence with the Kwando River. Before entering the Kwando, the river passes through a series of rapids and rapids and the Ngambwe Falls, making navigation in this section impossible. South of Ngambwe Falls, the river runs for a short distance along the border of Namibia, its so-called Caprivi Strip. This long, narrow strip of Namibian land extends from the mainland of Namibia all the way to the Zambezi River, cutting across the territories of Botswana and Angola. Its origin is due to the desire during colonial development to have access to the Zambezi River for what was then German South-West Africa.

Below the confluence of the Kwando and Zambezi, the river turns sharply to the east. At this point the wide and shallow Zambezi flows slowly, and on its way east to the edge of the great Central African plateau, the river reaches a rift into which it is plunged by Victoria Falls.

1.3. Middle Zambezi

Victoria Falls, the end of the upper Zambezi and the beginning of the middle Zambezi. View from above

Victoria Falls in 1915. Front view

Victoria Falls is considered the border of the upper and middle Zambezi. Below it, the river continues to flow east, approximately another 200 km between hills, 200-250 meters high, cutting through 20 - 60 meter perpendicular walls of basalt. The river flows rapidly through the gorge, overcoming numerous rapids and rapids that stretch at a distance of 240 km from Victoria Falls. In this section, the water edge drops by 250 meters.

Finally, the river flows into the Caribbean Reservoir (Lake Kariba), created in 1959 after the construction of a dam Kariba hydroelectric power station. This reservoir is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, and the Kariba hydroelectric station provides electricity most Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Luangwa and Kafue are the two main left tributaries of the Zambezi. Kafue joins main river in a quiet deep stream approximately 180 meters wide. From this point the northward bend of the Zambezi is checked and the flow continues due east. At the confluence of the Luangwa (15°37 and *8242; S), it enters Mozambique.

The Middle Zambezi ends at the confluence of the river into the reservoir (lake) Cahora Bassa ( Cabora Bassa ). Previously, at this place the river passed through dangerous rapids known as Kebrabassa. The lake was created in 1974 after the construction of the Cabora-Bassa hydroelectric dam.

1.4. Lower Zambezi

650 km of the lower reaches of the Zambezi from the Cabora Bassa hydroelectric station to the Indian Ocean are navigable, but during the dry season there are many shoals on the river. A similar situation occurs because the river enters a wide valley and floods large territory. Only in some places, such as the gorge Lupata, 320 km from the mouth of the river, the Zambezi flows in a canyon bordered by high hills. At this point, the width of the river is no more than 200 meters. In other places it ranges from 5 to 8 km, and its flow is extremely slow. The river bed is sandy. At certain periods, and especially during the rainy season, the various channels of the river combine into one wide and fast stream.

Zambezi Delta

About 160 km (100 mi) from the Zambezi Sea receives Lake Malawi drainage through the Shire. As the Indian Ocean approaches, the river splits into many branches and forms a wide delta. Each of the four main mouths, Milaimbe, Kongoun, Luabo and Timbw, obstructed by sand deposits. A more northern branch called Chaind, has a minimum depth in low water of 2 meters at the entrance of 4 meters, this branch is used for navigation. 100 kilometers (60 mi) further north is a river called Quelimane, after the city. This stream, which is the sealing, gets to flow beyond the Zambezi during the rainy season. The Zambezi Delta is today half as wide as it was before creation Kariba And Cahora Bassa Dam controlled seasonal changes in river flow.

The area drained by the Zambezi is a fractured vast-fringed plateau 900-1200 meters high, composed in a distant interior of metamorphic beds and frigid with the volcanic rocks of Victoria Falls. At Shapanga, on the lower Zambezi, thin strata of gray and yellow sandstone, with an occasional band of limestone, crop on the bed of the river in the dry season, and they persist beyond Tete, where they are connected by extensive seams of coal. Coal can be found in the area, but only below Victoria Falls. Gold-bearing rocks occur in several places.

2. Tributaries

The Zambezi has numerous tributaries. The most important are described below in order of confluence from source to mouth.

The Kabompo River begins its journey from the highlands that form the eastern divide between the Zambezi and Congo systems. It arises from the merger of Upper Kabompo and several larger river Lunga and flows into the Zambezi north of the city of Lakalu. The Langwebangu River, which flows into the Zambezi from the west slightly south of its confluence with Kabompo, in its upper reaches is 200 m wide and flows in the valley through an area of open forest and white sands. The river's floodplain, which is occasionally flooded during floods, is about 3 km wide.

The Kwando River, the largest of the river's western tributaries, has a ruined people's capital Makololo at its lower limits. It rises into Angola, and forms the border between Zambia and Angola for part of its course, before bending south, passing as it flows east into the Zambezi. In this stretch east to the Cuando streams through a vast piercing swamp, with alluvial islands 110 km (70 mi), at its southern bend joined Magwekwana. During floods, Magwekana receives some of the Okavango's excess water. This excess water, obtained after most of the Quando water flow, raises the level of the lake and keeps the Quando waters up to several miles above it.

The largest tributary of the middle Zambezi, the Kafue, rises in northern Zambia at an elevation of 1350 meters in thick forested country. The main headwaters are joined by the Langa or Luanga River. The Itezhi-Tezhi Dam is an important source of hydroelectric power from the Kafue River. The river also supports wildlife, which is protected by Zambia's largest national park, Kafue. National Park. The lower Kafue has a series of waterfalls and streams, dropping several hundred feet over 25 km (15 mi).

The next great tributary to the east is the Luangwa, which rises near the north-western corner of Lake Malawi, in its upper course running parallel to its western shores. The Luangwa flows into a level valley bounded by the steep slopes of the plateau. Its tributaries, the Lansemphwa River and the Lakazashi River, drain a large area of the western plateau of Zambia. Luangwa joins the Zambezi a little above the town of Zambo.

The Luangwa Valley is an important wildlife reserve. Contains North Luangwa National Park and South Luangwa National Park. Luangwa defines the border between Zambia and Mozambique for approximately 75 km before joining the Zambezi.

From the south, the middle Zambezi merges with the rivers Shangani, Sanyati, and Khanyani, in addition to minor streams. Maso that rises in Mashonaland, joins the Zambezi below Cahora Bassa Dam.

3. River exploration

Satellite image showing Victoria Falls and subsequent series of gorges

The Zambezi region was known to medieval geographers as Monomotapa Empire , and the course of the river, as well as the positions of Lakes Ngami and Nyasa, was given widely accurately in early maps. They were probably constructed from Arabic information.

The first European to visit the upper Zambezi was David Livingstone in his exploration from Bechuanaland between 1851 and 1853. Two or three years later he descended the Zambezi and during this trip discovered Victoria Falls. During 1858-1860, accompanied by John Kirk, Livingstone sailed up the river to Congoun Falls, and also traced the course of its tributary, the County, and discovered Lake Malawi.

Over the next 35 years there was a huge amount of research on the river. In 1889, the Chaind Canal, located north of the river's main mouths, was discovered. Two expeditions led by A. S Hill Gibbons in (1895-1896) continued the work of exploration begun by Livingston in the upper basin and central course of the river. Portuguese explorer Serpa Pinto explored some of the river's western tributaries and took measurements of Victoria Falls in 1878.

4. Wildlife

Zebra living in the Zambezi River basin

The Zambezi is a habitat large quantity wild animal populations. Hippos living in calm sections of the river, many crocodiles. Monitor lizards, special species of birds including heron, pelican, white heron and the African eagle. The coastal forests are inhabited by herds of large animals - buffalos, zebras, giraffes and elephants. However, the quantity large mammals is declining due to a decrease in the area of flooded pastures caused by the disruption of the river's flood regime by the dams of the Kariba and Cabora Bassa hydroelectric power stations.

The Zambezi is home to several hundred species of fish, some of which are endemic. The most important are cichlids, catfish, catfish, terapons and others. The river is home to the bull shark (bluntnose shark), also known as Zambezi Shark, although it also occurs in other countries. These sharks live not only in sea waters on the coast, but also in the Zambezi and its tributaries inland. The bull shark is an aggressive shark that is known for attacking people.

5. Economy

Zambezi near the Mongo River

The population of the Zambezi River Valley is estimated at approximately 32 million people. About 80% of the valley's population is employed agriculture, and the floodplains of the upper river provide them with fertile soil.

Fishing is very intensive, as local fishermen are supplemented by people from arid places who make quite long journeys to feed their families. In some towns in Zambia, unofficial fishing taxes are levied on roads leading to the river for people coming from another part of the country. As well as catching fish for food, sport fishing is a significant component of the economy in some sections of the river. Between Mongu and Livingstone there are several game drives that cater to fishing tourists. Fish are also caught for sale to aquarium enthusiasts.

The river valley is rich in mineral resources and fuel for the coal industry. Some sections of the river are popular tourist spots. Victoria Falls receives more than 1.5 million visitors a year, and Lake Kariba also receives a significant number of tourists.

6. Transport value

In its course, the river often passes through rapids and rapids and, thus, through navigation on it is impossible. However, for short distances it is much more convenient to move along the river by boat rather than driving along dirt roads regularly washed away by floods, and some villages can only be reached by water. .

Along its entire length, the river is crossed by only five bridges. The Victoria Falls bridge was the first, completed in April 1905. It was originally intended for Cecil Rhodes' planned railway line from Cape Town to Cairo.

The length of the bridge is 250 m, the length of the central span is 150 m, the height of the bridge above the water surface is 125 m.

Later bridges were built at Chirundu in Zambia, rebuilt in 2003), Tete in Mozambique (1960s) and Chingwingi in northern Zambia in the 1970s (pedestrian). In 2004, construction was completed between Seshek in Zambia and Katima Mulilo in Namibia, the last section of the Transcaprivi highway connecting Lusaka in Zambia with Walvis Bay on the Namibian coast.

The Zambezi is one of the four great rivers of Africa after the Nile, Congo (Zaire) and Niger. The source of the Zambezi is born in a swampy area in northern Zambia on the Lunda plateau at an altitude of 1500 m and rushes to the southwest, and after about 240 km it makes a smooth turn to the south, absorbing small rivers along the way and recharging groundwater. Her entire path in the upper reaches, like faithful guards, is accompanied by thick deciduous forests. Having left them on the territory of Angola, the Zambezi then flows among tall grass savannah and miombo dry light forest: the trees in it stand at a considerable distance from each other, low bushes and vines grow between them. At the Chavuma Falls, the Zambezi, after passing through the rapids, returns to Zambia. The height of the plateau here is already about 1100 m, and the width of the river is more than 350 m (during the rainy season). From Chavuma Falls to Ngwambe Falls, the Zambezi receives large tributaries Kabombo and Lungwebungd, and the Barotse floodplain begins, and after another 30 km the landscape of the Zambezi banks becomes flat, the flow here slows down and turns to the southeast. 80 km downstream, the Luanginga River flows into the Zambezi from the west. Barotse floods during the rainy season and then the Zambezi can reach 25 km in width. Below begins a series of rapids and rapids, ending with the Ngonye waterfall. This section of the Zambezi is suitable for navigation. After it, the full-flowing Kwando (Chobe) River flows into the Zambezi. In this area, it runs along the border between Angola and Zambia, then a short border with Namibia, the end of a narrow corridor of this country, wedged between Angola. Botswana and Zimbabwe back in 1891 under an agreement between the British Cape Colony and the German protectorate of German South-West Africa. Having merged with the Quando, the Zambezi flows already at an altitude of 920 m above sea level, turns east and slows down, as if preparing to collapse with Victoria Falls - the most famous natural asset, powerful and beautiful.
The waterfall, which the aborigines call Mosioatunya (“thundering smoke”), was the first European to see the famous African explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873). This happened on November 17, 1855 during his journey along the Zambezi.
He gave the waterfall the name of the British queen. And he wrote about it this way: “Angels in flight must have looked at places so beautiful.” The width of the waterfall is about 1800 m, the height of the water fall is from 80 to 108 m, during the rainy season it throws down 9100 m 3 of water per second. Spray and fog above the falling stream rise to 400 m and higher. The sound can be heard 30 km away, hence the “thundering smoke”. For the next 200 km, the Zambezi flows between hills 200-250 m high, basalt cliffs 20-60 m high, accelerating on rapids and rapids. Another attraction and the main hydraulic structure on the Zambezi is the Kariba dam and its reservoir, which arose in 1959 in the Caribbean Gorge. The Itezhi-Tezhi Dam on the Kafue River, the largest left tributary of the middle Zambezi, adds its share of energy. At the confluence of the next left tributary - the Luangwa - the Zambezi route across Mozambique begins - 650 km, and they are navigable. It is home to another major hydraulic structure, the Cahora Bassa Dam and Reservoir, built in 1974. The Zambezi in Mozambique is between 5 and 8 km wide during the rainy season. Only 320 km from the mouth of the Zambezi it falls into the gorge of the Lupata Canyon, no more than 200 m wide. The Shire River, flowing from Lake Nyasa (Malawi), flows into the Zambezi 160 km from the mouth. The largest branches of the delta, covered with mangrove forests, are Milaimbe, Congoun, Luabo and Timbw. But only one is navigable; Shende is also the location of the only Zambezi port of the same name.
The river valley in its upper and middle reaches is located in climatic zone, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge. After months of scorching heat, in mid-November the skies over the Zambezi are covered with heavy, thunderous sheets of clouds, from which a wall of rain falls, and the entire animal world rushes towards the water, which on the plains spreads in places over a distance of up to 25 km; only small islands of land protrude to the surface. From the deep regions of Central and South Africa large herds of black antelopes and wildebeests, buffalos, zebras, lion prides, families of elephants and rhinoceroses, countless flocks of spoonbills, herons, cranes of various species and pelicans. They are accompanied by hyenas and hyena-like dogs. Monkeys move through the trees, among which the most numerous species are baboons. The shallow waters created by the spill are teeming with juvenile fish, and herds of catfish flock here. Moving upstream from the Indian Ocean gray bull shark, capable of existing in both sea and fresh water. In some areas of the Zambezi, herds of hippopotamuses accumulate at this time.
In full compliance with the laws natural selection On the banks there are life-and-death fights, their progress being closely watched by phlegmatic-looking crocodiles.
And then drought sets in again: the grass dries up, small tributaries of the river dry up, there is almost no food for many species of animals, with the exception of some roots, dried fruits of trees and leaves of succulents. Animals migrate to other places on the continent. But even in this time of heat, the Zambezi will give water to everyone who remains.
Associated with the seasonal cycle is the colorful festival of the Lozi people who live in the Barotse floodplain, or Barotseland. The festival is called Kuomboka, which means “to get out of the river.” The Lozi, led by their leader (litunga), set off from the flooded places. On the front boat is the king, who is taller than the litunga, an elephant, or rather his statue, and next to it is a statue of his “wife” in the form of a crane. The action is accompanied by loud drumming and singing. The Lozi are one of the most ancient peoples of the Bantu group, who settled in the lands near the Zambezi (but not only here) several thousand years ago. Another people who have lived since ancient times near the Zambezi, in the area between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers and also belong to the Bantu, is the Shona. The empire of their ancestors Monomotapa (Mwene-Mutapa) arose in the 6th century and flourished in the 13th-15th centuries. and collapsed by the beginning of the 18th century. as a result of internecine conflicts and wars with the southern Ndebele people. It had an influence far beyond its borders, possessed such a rich oral folklore and such a high culture of agriculture, metallurgy, ceramics and jewelry making that some researchers of Africa are inclined to consider Monomotapa even a separate civilization. This empire had trade relations with the Arab world since the 10th century. The ruins of its capital, the walled city of Great Zimbabwe, close up modern city Masvingo in Zimbabwe is a monument of world significance. These are mainly the remains of gigantic towers, built from blocks of granite and surrounded by powerful walls.
Even in the Zambezi Valley, almost free from the technogenic pressure of modern civilization, there is no escape from environmental problems. The reservoirs made their own adjustments to the biological balance of the river: new species of aquatic plants and fish appeared. The Caribbean reservoir is located in a seismic zone, its water surface area is 5580 km 2, its depth is up to 97 m. Such a mass of water creates serious pressure on volcanic rocks, and it is believed that this was the cause of at least eight recent earthquakes in the south of the continent. There is also the problem of pollution of the Zambezi waters with chemical runoff.

general information

The fourth longest river in Africa and the longest African river flowing into the Indian Ocean.
Countries through which the river flows: Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
Feeding: rain, in the upper reaches - groundwater.

Source: A spring on the Lunda Plateau in northern Zambia, near the NDRK border.

Main tributaries: Lungwebungd, Kwando, Luangwinga, Kabombo, Kafue, Luangwa and Shire.

Largest rapids: Katima, Kebrabasa.

The largest waterfalls: Victoria, Chavuma, Ngonye.

Population of the Zambezi Basin: about 32 million people.

Large settlements along the banks: Mongu (Zambia), Katima Mulilo (Namibia), Seshek (Zambia), Livingstone (Zambia), Victoria Fole (Zimbabwe), Kariba (Zimbabwe), Chemba (Mozambique).
Largest reservoirs: Kariba, Cahora Bassa.
The largest lake in the Zambezi basin: Nyasa (Malawi).
Port: Xinde (Mozambique).

Bridges: in the towns of Chingwingi, Katima Mulilo, Victoria Falls, Chirundu and Tete.

Most important airport: in Livingston, connected by daily flights to international airport O.R. Tambo in Johannesburg (South Africa).

Numbers

Length: 2,574 km.

Pool area: 1,570,000 km2.

Maximum width: 1380 m (dry season) - in front of Victoria Falls.

Average water flow at the mouth: 7000 m 3 /s.
Average annual flow: 220 km 3

Climate and weather

Equatorial, mild Three seasons: cold and dry - from May to August (winter), hot and dry - from September to November (spring), warm and humid - from November to April (summer).

The national average temperature ranges: in cold months from +16°С to +27°С, in hot months - from +27°С to +38°С.

Average annual precipitation: from 1100 to 1400 mm.
Average annual evaporation rate: 1600-2300 mm.
Floods during the rainy season: November-April.

Most high level water: november.

Economy

Hydropower: Hydroelectric power stations Kariba and Cahora Bassa.
Agriculture: growing sorghum, maize, vegetables; cattle breeding.

Shipping.
Fishing and fish farming.

Services: tourism (to Victoria Falls, rafting and kayaking on the Zambezi and its tributaries).

Attractions

■ Waterfalls: Victoria, one of the world's greatest waterfalls (listed as a World Heritage Site) natural heritage UNESCO), Chavuma on the Zambia-Angolan border and Ngonye in Zambia.
■ Zambezi Delta.
■ Lake Kariba(Caribbean Reservoir) - as a recreation area.
■ Ruins of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
■ National parks in the Zambezi basin: Mana Pools (UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site), Zambezi, Mosioatunya, Victoria Rolle, Cameo, Liuwa Plains, Liuwa Sioma Nguezi, Chobe, Hwange, Lower Zambezi.
■ Crocodile Farm (Livingston).

Curious facts

■ The Zambezi has its own god. His name is Nyaminyami, he has the body of a snake and the head of a fish. The tribes who have long lived on the banks of the river pray to him so that it does not rage too much when the time of floods comes. In 1957, the elders of the Batonka tribe living on the lower Zambezi, dissatisfied with the construction of the Kariba dam, turned to Nyaminyami for help, whom they believed the dam would separate from his wife. And that same year, a severe flood on the Zambezi, caused by an earthquake, poured streams of water onto the dam. Oma survived, but many of its outbuildings were destroyed.
■ When David Livingstone found himself in the Victoria Falls area, he was accompanied by a detachment of local warriors of 300 people. But only two of them dared to approach the waterfall together with the “mad Englishman”.
■ In the Zambezi River valley, in the jungles of Zambia and Zimbabwe, in the Vadomo tribe, most people have only... two toes on their feet, and both are big. The owners of such feet are also called “ostrich people” (“sapadi”). There are two scientific opinions about this anatomical anomaly. The first is some kind of virus. The second is a consequence of consanguineous marriages. But in all other respects, these people are completely normal, and they move very deftly through trees and run quickly.
■ Kariba hydroelectric power station provides electricity to most of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Cahora Bassa hydroelectric power station - the rest of Zimbabwe and South Africa. There is also a small power station in the town of Victoria Falls.
■ In 1975, negotiations were held on the Victoria Bridge in a railway carriage between the two sides at war in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). For nine hours they argued, proving something to each other, but were distracted too often to admire the waterfall, and never agreed on anything.
■ The women of the Batonka tribe look, in the eyes of Europeans, very strange, but in the eyes of their fellow tribesmen, they are perfect: in the name of beauty, their six front teeth have been removed, this procedure is carried out by a special dentist of the tribe. In addition, to protect against mosquitoes, they smear red ocher on their faces and exposed parts of the body.

And 31st place among the most long rivers planets. The water flow originates in the north-west of Zambia. Flows through the countries: Zambia, Angola, Mozambique. Passes through state border, separating Zambia from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Thus, 6 states are directly connected to the river. The water flow ends its path in the Mozambique Strait of the Indian Ocean.

Source of the river is located at an altitude of 1543 meters above sea level in the terrible black swamps of Dumbo (wetlands). Sorcerers live here, using zombie labor. This place is one of the most creepy and mysterious on the planet. Not only Europeans, but also the indigenous inhabitants of the country are afraid to come here.

Zambezi River

From its source, the river moves north, and then turns southwest and crosses the border with Angola. Near the town of Kazombo, the river changes direction from southeast to south and flows through evergreen forests. The smooth topography of the riverbed ends after the city of Lumbala. Rapids and riffles appear. In this state, the water flow is approaching the border with Zambia.

Not far from the town of Karipande there is the steepest rapids area, which is called Chavuma Falls after the name of the city located in the border strip in Zambia. The waterfall is small. The water falls from a height of only a few meters.

Leaving behind the waterfall and the city of Chavuma, the Zambezi River again finds itself in Zambia. Here she takes in one of the largest tributaries Kabompo River. Then the Barotse floodplain begins. It is a flat, flat plateau at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level with a slight slope to the south. It ends near the city of Mongu. In these places, during the rainy season, the river spreads 25 km wide.

Next, the water flow takes in the Luanjinga River and gradually turns to the southeast. In an easterly direction, the river begins to flow at the border with Namibia. The riverbed in these places is wide and shallow, and the current is slow. The water is steadily moving towards the border of the Central African Plateau, on which the world famous Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls

The abyss is a narrow chasm. There is only one exit from it in the form of a narrow channel, the width of which does not exceed 30 meters. Its length is 120 meters. The entire mass of river water rushes along it and ends up in a gorge with steep walls. Their height is more than 100 meters. In some places the gorge widens and reservoirs form. They are characterized by large, slow whirlpools. The length of the gorge is 80 km.

Victoria Falls itself is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe near the city of Livingstone. At this point the upper reaches of the Zambezi end and the middle reaches begin. The river flows east in a mountainous area and is replete with rapids and rapids. The channel then turns northeast and enters the Kariba Reservoir. It was created by the Kariba hydroelectric dam. It supplies electricity to two countries at once: Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam reaches a height of 126 meters and a width of 580 meters. It was built in 1959.

Zambezi River on the map

Actually, when the river flows into Cabora Bassa, the middle course ends and the lower course of the Zambezi begins. After the dam, the channel turns southeast and rushes towards the Indian Ocean. The terrain is a wide valley, and the water flow spreads up to 7-8 km wide. But at the same time it is small and forms channels and sleeves. In some hilly areas, the riverbed shrinks to 500 and even 200 meters.

The Zambezi River is connected to Lake Nyasa through its Shire tributary. It flows out of the lake, is 402 km long, and flows into the main river stream 160 km from the ocean. According to legend, it was in the basin of this river that the foremother of the human race appeared 300 thousand years ago. From her came the first people who later populated the entire planet.

River delta starts after the town of Marromeu. The water flow breaks up into branches. All of them are not navigable due to large deposits of sand. Ships sail only on the left branch, which is called Shinde by analogy with the city of the same name, located on sea coast. The depth of the shipping arm is small and ranges from 2 to 4 meters. It is noteworthy that the delta is narrowing every year. This is due to the construction of the Kariba and Cabora Bassa dams. They significantly smoothed out seasonal changes in water flow.

On the banks of the Zambezi

The area of the African river basin is 1 million 390 thousand square meters. km. 35 million people live in this territory. The bulk of the population is engaged in agriculture. Fishing is very well developed. It is put on a commercial basis and brings in a lot of income. The main mode of transport is a boat, but large river vessels can only move along certain water areas due to rapids and waterfalls. 5 bridges were built across the river, facilitating communication between states and regions.

In short, the Zambezi River is habitable. The only sad thing is water pollution from industrial and household waste. There are no treatment facilities along the riverbed. Therefore, typhoid and dysentery are quite common diseases. This has no effect on the huge number of different species of fish. Sharks even swim into the muddy, wide waters and swim upstream. There are crocodiles, hippos, and the coastal forests are home to a wide variety of African animals. All this creates a certain atmosphere, characteristic only of this region.

Stanislav Lopatin

The Zambezi ranks second on the mainland in terms of annual flow. The water level on the Zambezi rises in the summer and drops sharply in winter. The river's source is in Zambia, among forested hills at an altitude of more than 1500 meters above sea level, the river flows through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, into Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. East of the leak, between 11° and 12°S. sh., there is a belt of hills with rather steep northern and southern slopes. The watershed between the Congo and Zambezi river basins runs along this belt. It clearly separates the Luapala River basin (the main tributary of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. At the source, the watershed is not clearly defined, but the two river systems are not connected.

From an altitude of 1500 m above sea level at the source, after 350 km, in Keiknji, the river decreases to approximately 1100 km. 30 km below the confluence with Langwebangu, the area becomes flat and is prone to floods in the rainy season. After Lilu the river turns southeast. Numerous small tributaries continue to flow into it from the east; along 240 km, until the confluence with the Kwando River, there is no western tributary. Before entering the Kwando, the river passes through a series of rapids and cliffs, as well as the Ngambwe Falls, making this section impossible to navigate.
After merging with Quando, the Zambezi turns sharply to the east. At this point the river is wide and shallow and flows slowly, and on its way to the edge of the great Central African plateau it reaches a rift into which it plunges at Victoria Falls. This is a huge stream of water 1800 m wide, falling from a height of 120 m in descending order, the water raises huge columns of spray. When the water level in the river rises, there is a mist of water mist over the gorge. In sunny weather, extremely bright rainbow ribbons hang over the waterfall, creating a kind of halo. The roar and roar of the waterfall can be heard for many kilometers, it is not surprising that local residents They call the waterfall “smoke that thunders.” The waterfall is included in national parks(states of Zimbabwe and Zambia). Below the waterfall in Zimbabwe, the powerful Kariba hydroelectric complex was built, above the dam of which a large reservoir was created. Another large hydroelectric complex, Cajor Bas, is located on the territory of the Republic of Mozambique.
650 km of the lower reaches of the Zambezi from the Cahor Basa hydroelectric station to the Indian Ocean are navigable, but during the dry season many shoals form on the river. This is due to the fact that the channel runs through a wide valley and the river overflows over a large area. Only in some places, such as the clap gap 320 km from the river mouth, the Zambezi flows in a canyon bordered by high hills. In this place, the width of the river is no more than 200 m. In other places it grows from 5 to 8 km and its flow is extremely slow.

About 160 km from the ocean, the Zambezi, via the Shire River, is replenished with water from Lake Malawi. Closer to the Indian Ocean, the river splits into many branches and forms a wide delta.

Information

Length: 2574 km
Pool: 1,570,000 km²
Height: 1500 m
Estuary: Indian Ocean

Source. worldofscience.ru

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