TheChari River, orShari River, is a 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) long river, flowing inCentral Africa. It is the main source of water ofLake Chad, which is located at the junction of four countries:Nigeria,Niger,Chad, andCameroon.[2]
It provides 90 percent of the water flowing into Lake Chad. Thewatershed of the river covers 548,747 square kilometres (211,872 mi2). The principal tributary is the Logone River, while minor tributaries include theBahr Salamat,Bahr Sah,Bahr Aouk andBahr Kéita.
Much of Chad's population, includingSarh and the capital N'Djamena, is concentrated around it.
As of 2016, Chad remains one of four countries whereGuinea worm disease remains endemic. The majority of remaining cases are concentrated around the Chari River.
The river supports an important local fishing industry. One of the most highly prized local fish is theNile perch.
Since the 1960s, there have been proposals to divert water from theUbangi River to the Chari to revitalize Lake Chad, which would constitute a reversal ofthe capture of the upper Ubangi from the Chari by theCongo River that is believed to have occurred in the early Pleistocene.[3]
