River Zambezi - origin and its course

Where is Zambezi river?

Zambezi river which is also called as Zambesi river is located at southern Africa and it sorigin is from Near Mwinilunga, Zambia.This river is very popular as it is the fourth longest river of the African continent.The length of the river is 2,650 km and it drains an area of about some 1,300,000 sq km.The image below shows the awesome view of Zambezi river.

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Origin of the river

The river rises in northwestern Zambia and it flows in a double S curve South East to the Indian Ocean. From its headwaters of about 1524 m above sea level, Zambezi flows through eastern Angola, and it traverses western Zambia, and it forms the border of northeastern Botswana.Apart from this it also forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and it flows through Lake Kariba, created by the hydroelectric Kariba Dam, and after that it crosses central Mozambique, and it is this place where it forms a lake behind the Cabora Bassa Dam, and finally empties into the Mozambique Channel through many mouths.The image below shows the map of this river.

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Course of the river

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i)Upper course

In the upper course of the Zambezi river, totaling about 800 km , the river falls only about 180 m .The river forms the great cataract known as Victoria Falls,at about an 100 km below its confluence with the Kwando River, it rushes through a narrow gorge 122 m deep,and for the next 72 km.

ii)Middle course

After that it then enters its middle course and from here it flows through hilly country for about 1300 km to Quebrabasa Rapids,which is the last great natural barrier to navigation, in Mozambique.

iii)Lower course

When it comes to the lower course, it flows through a broad valley to the sea. The chief tributaries of the upper river , besides the Kwando River, includes the Kabompo and the Lungwebungu.In middle course the Zambezi, it receives no important tributaries, i.e the chief affluent of the lower river is the Shire.

Written by Raaghavan Krishnamurthy.
In category General Reference.
15 years ago.

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