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| Ruvuma Rovuma | |
|---|---|
 Ruvuma seen duringLivingstone'ssecond Zambesi expedition | |
 Map of the Ruvuma River drainage basin. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Tanzania,Mozambique |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Ruvuma Region,Tanzania |
| • coordinates | 10°45′00″S35°40′00″E / 10.75000°S 35.66667°E /-10.75000; 35.66667 |
| • elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Indian Ocean |
• coordinates | 10°28′28″S40°26′13″E / 10.47444°S 40.43694°E /-10.47444; 40.43694 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 998 km (620 mi) |
| Basin size | 154,727.4 km2 (59,740.6 sq mi)[1] to 155,316.4 km2 (59,968.0 sq mi)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Near mouth |
| • average | (Period: 1979–2015)55.94 km3/a (1,773 m3/s)[3] (Period: 1971–2000)2,286.3 m3/s (80,740 cu ft/s)[2] (Period: 1982–2013)890.8 m3/s (31,460 cu ft/s)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Rovuma River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mlongasi, Likonde, Muhawesi, Lumesule, Mbangala |
| • right | Messinge, Lucheringo, Chinlezi,Lugenda |
Ruvuma River, formerly also known as theRovuma River, is a river in theAfrican Great Lakes region. During the greater part of its course, it forms the border betweenTanzania andMozambique. The river is 998 km (620 mi) long, with adrainage basin of ~155,000 km2 (60,000 sq mi) in size. Its mean annualdischarge is 475 m3/s (16,800 cu ft/s) to 2,286 m3/s (80,700 cu ft/s) at its mouth.[4][2]
Average and maximum discharge of the Rovuma River (11°9′53.9532″S39°15′37.8072″E / 11.164987000°S 39.260502000°E /-11.164987000; 39.260502000):[5]
| VIC modeled (1999–2008) | MFR estimated flows (1999–2008) | UNH-GRDC historical period (1957–1999) |
|---|---|---|
| Average discharge | ||
| 1,864 m3/s (65,800 cu ft/s) | 1,866 m3/s (65,900 cu ft/s) | 1,838 m3/s (64,900 cu ft/s) |
| Maximum discharge | ||
| 22,365 m3/s (789,800 cu ft/s) | 22,630 m3/s (799,000 cu ft/s) | 22,053 m3/s (778,800 cu ft/s) |
Average monthly discharge of the Rovuma River (11°9′53.9532″S39°15′37.8072″E / 11.164987000°S 39.260502000°E /-11.164987000; 39.260502000), UNH-GRDC historical period (1957–1999):[5]
| Month | Discharge (m3/s) |
|---|---|
| JAN | 3,340 |
| FEB | 4,040 |
| MAR | 5,390 |
| APR | 3,880 |
| MAY | 1,780 |
| JUN | 780 |
| JUL | 350 |
| AUG | 160 |
| SEP | 50 |
| OCT | 80 |
| NOV | 270 |
| DEC | 1,940 |
The largest tributaries of the Rovuma River:[2]
| Left tributary | Right tributary | Length (km) | Basin size (km2) | Average discharge (m3/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rovuma | 760 | 155,316.4 | 1,773 | |
| Kitama | 70 | 1,065.8 | 12.3 | |
| Matiu | 100 | 1,920.1 | 26.1 | |
| Mwiti | 80 | 994.2 | 14 | |
| Ninga | 100 | 1,572.8 | 19.8 | |
| Miesi | 80 | 946.7 | 12.5 | |
| Mbangala | 160 | 3 598.2 | 44.4 | |
| Lugenda | 650 | 60,990.4 | 752.1 | |
| Lukwika | 100 | 1,331.5 | 16.3 | |
| Manjesi | 90 | 1,084.2 | 16.3 | |
| Lumesule | 180 | 2,342.8 | 28.9 | |
| Muhuwesi | 240 | 10,319.6 | 137.3 | |
| Mzinieva | 100 | 1,285.4 | 22.5 | |
| Chimovero | 638.3 | 11.2 | ||
| Licombe | 60 | 975.7 | 16 | |
| Lukembule | 1,234.6 | 21.6 | ||
| Chiluezi | 3,544.9 | 55.1 | ||
| Lopele | 763.1 | 13.3 | ||
| Luvingo | 80 | 592.4 | 10.3 | |
| Ludimilé | 1,129.4 | 20.7 | ||
| Sasawara | 90 | 2,322.8 | 37.3 | |
| Msangesi | 120 | 1,614.1 | 23.8 | |
| Lipapa | 753.5 | 14.2 | ||
| Lussanhando | 2,863.2 | 51.9 | ||
| Lucheringo | 250 | 9,288.1 | 200.5 | |
| Lualece | 60 | 611.9 | 11 | |
| Miongosi | 50 | 964.3 | 11.6 | |
| Likonde | 150 | 5,914.8 | 61.2 | |
| Mlongasi | 100 | 960.8 | 11.9 | |
| Messinge | 238 | 7,525.4 | 174.8 | |
| Lunyere | 190 | 6,210.1 | 78.7 | |
The lower Ruvuma river is formed by the junction at11° 25′ S, 38° 31′ E of two branches of nearly equal importance, the longer of which, theLujenda, comes from the south-west, the other, which still bears the name Ruvuma, from the west. Its source lies on an undulating plateau, 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high, immediately to the east ofLake Nyasa, at10° 45′ S, 35° 40′ E, the head-stream flowing first due west before turning south and east.
In its eastward course, the Ruvuma flows near the base of the escarpment of an aridsandstoneplateau to the north, from which direction the streams, which have cut themselves deep channels in the plateau edge, have almost all short courses.
On the opposite bank the Ruvuma receives, besides the Lujenda, theMsinje River andLuchulingo River, flowing in broad valleys running from south to north. The Lujenda rises in proximity toLake Chilwa, in the smallLake Chiuta (520 m, 1,700 ft), theswamps to the south of this being separated from Chilwa only by a narrow wooded ridge. The stream which issues from Chiuta passes by a swampy valley into the narrow Lake Amaramba, from which the Lujenda River finally issues as a stream 80 yards (73 m) wide.
Lower down it varies greatly in breadth, containing in many parts long woodedislands which rise above the flood level, and are often inhabited. The river is fordable in many places in thedry season. At its mouth it is about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
The lower Ruvuma, which is often1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) wide but generally shallow, flows through a swampy valley flanked by plateau escarpments containing several smallbackwaters of the river. The mouth is near10° 28′ S, 40° 30′ E, the boundary near the coast being formed by the parallel of10° 40′ S. The length of the Ruvuma is about 500 miles (800 km).
A bridge calledUnity Bridge across the river between Mozambique and Tanzania was proposed as early as 1975, and although construction was started, the project was abandoned due to lack of funds. In 2002 the two national governments made a formal agreement to build a new 600 metre bridge across the river, and this was finally opened in a ceremony on 25 May 2010. The bridge is located at Negomano, 200 km (120 mi) inland and 100 km (62 mi) from the nearest surfaced road in Mozambique. The site was agreed between PresidentsMachel andNyerere because this was the site of the first entry into Mozambique byFrelimo forces in theMozambican War of Independence on 25 September 1964. Negomano was also the location where the German forces crossed the Rovuma river on 25 November 1917.[6] First foundation stones were laid on the Tanzanian and Mozambique sides on October 10, 2005. Construction was completed early 2010 and cost US$28 million. It used to be possible to cross the river with rafts (located at the Tanzanian side) that could carry 3 jeeps. The ferry sank in 2008 and has not been replaced. At low water the river is sometimes fordable with a good 4-wheel drive.
A smaller bridge called Unity Two was also completed in 2007 on the upper Rovuma close to Matchedge inNiassa Province.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Rovuma".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 782.