| Semliki River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Rivers of south west Uganda with the Semliki (center left). | |
| Location | |
| Countries | DR Congo (DRC) Uganda |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Edward |
| • location | Ishango, DRC,North Kivu Province |
| • coordinates | 00°08′25″S29°36′04″E / 0.14028°S 29.60111°E /-0.14028; 29.60111[1] |
| • elevation | 997 m (3,271 ft)[2] |
| Mouth | Lake Albert |
• location | southeast ofBunia, DRC,Ituri Province |
• coordinates | 01°15′45″N30°27′46″E / 1.26250°N 30.46278°E /1.26250; 30.46278[1] |
• elevation | 619 m (2,031 ft)[2] |
| Length | 140 km (87 mi)[3] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | River Lamia, River Ndugutu, River Nyahuka, River Kirumia |
Semliki River (French:Rivière Semliki) is a major river, 140 kilometres (87 mi) long,[3] in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) andUganda inCentral andEast Africa. It flows north fromLake Edward inBeni Territory, Nord-Kivu, D.R.C avoiding theRwenzori Mountains on its Right (East), emptying intoLake Albert in theAlbertine Rift,Irumu Territory,Ituri Province, D.R.C overlooking theBlue Mountains to its left in the west. Its mouth is near the Village of Katolingo in Kanara subcounty,Ntoroko district,Uganda.[4] Along its lower reaches, it meanders extensively forming part of the international border between the DRC and the western Ugandan districts ofBundibugyo and Ntoroko, near theSemuliki National Park.[4]
Increasing snow melt from the Rwenzoris,overgrazing, and other alterations to the watershed have caused bank erosion and frequent changes to the course of the meandering lower reaches of the river.[5] In some places, Uganda is losing up to 10 metres (33 ft) of land per year on its side of the river to erosion and silt from the Semliki is gradually filling in the southern end of Lake Albert.[5] In other places, it is the DRC that is losing territory as the changingriver course alters the apparent location of the border.[6]
The Semliki begins nearIshango, DRC, at the northern end of Lake Edward and soon entersVirunga National Park, through which it flows over much of its upper course. The A-109 road betweenMpondwe, Uganda, andBeni, DRC, is on theright, sometimes nearby and sometimes at a distance, as the river meanders through the park. Slightly southeast of Beni, the river passes under the A-109 road and continues north. At this point, the stream is west ofMount Baker (Kiyanja) inRwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda.[4]
Before leaving the park, the river passes under another road linking the DRC settlement of Oicha to settlements in the Semliki Valley west of the DRC–Uganda border and the Uganda town ofBundibugyo. Downstream of the road crossing, the river leaves the Virunga Park and runs along the west edge ofSemuliki National Park, which is in Uganda. Here the river becomes the border between the DRC and Uganda, and it remains the border for most of the rest of the river's course. As the river leaves Semuliki Park, it nearsSempaya National Park and theToro Game Reserve, both in Uganda. Over its last reach, the river flows west of the international border and enters the southern end of Lake Albert at a point southeast ofBunia, DRC.[4]
The two main ethnic groups in the region are theAmba people (Baamba, Bwamba) and theBakonjo (Konjo).[7] People in the Semliki Valley include Batuku,pastoral cattle keepers whose herds graze on grasslands along the river.[5][8] Small populations ofBatwa (pygmies), who have traditionally been foresthunter-gatherers, also live in the valley.[7]
In Semuliki National Park, the forest resembles that of theCongo River basin.Cynometra alexandri, a tropical tree species, dominates but is interspersed with other trees and swamp flora. Annual rainfall in this tropical forest averages 1,500 millimetres (59 in).[7]
More than 400 bird species, including theforest ground-thrush,Sassi's olive greenbul, and nine species ofhornbill frequent the park, as do over 490 species of butterflies.[9] Among the mammals in the park are elephants,leopard,African golden cat, buffalo,hippopotami,duikers, andpygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels.[7]
Along its course, the Semliki falls about 300 m (1,000 ft) through a series of rapids, and this isolatesLake Edward's fish species, many of them found no-where else, from those found downriver inLake Albert (and consequently theNile).[10]
| Congo left bank (south) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Kasai basin | ||
| Congo right bank (north) | ||
| Lualaba and tributaries | ||
| Other | ||
Capital:Bundibugyo | ||
| Towns and villages |  | |
| Banking | ||
| Energy | ||
| Notable landmarks | ||
| Transport | ||
| Health | ||
| Notable people | ||
