The longest river in Africa. Brief description of the rivers of Africa. Nile and other major rivers in Africa Which river forms a large delta in Africa

On the vast, arid continent of Africa, rivers represent life and prosperity. The life-giving power of waterways penetrates mountains, plains, deserts, and goes out into the sea. Some African rivers are recognized as the deepest and longest on the planet.

general information

The river system belongs to the world waters of the Atlantic and Indian. The third factor is determined by the internal drain.

Watercourses of the Atlantic water area occupy half of the land in Africa. 30% of the territory falls on the reservoirs of internal flow. The Indian Ocean receives streams from a fifth of the mainland.

The characteristic of the current intensity is due to the undeveloped river channels. The upper reaches are marked by stormy, rushing streams. In the lower reaches there are rapids with waterfalls. Among them, the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi gained worldwide fame. The stepping of the surface affects the limitation of navigation along the entire length of the watercourses. It is carried out only in certain areas. However, this deficiency is being made up for by the development of hydropower, which makes up 20% of Africa's energy resources.

The state of the water area is influenced by climatic zones... Most reservoirs are filled with rain. Reserves from precipitation are available to a few reservoirs in the highlands. The equator is full of water throughout the year.

Another characteristic of water content in the subequatorial belt, where shallow water begins. In the tropics, river reserves are scarce. Moisture gets into dry channels sporadically. The African platform, with its slope, affects the geography of the rivers. A significant flow goes into the bowels of the Atlantic.

Nile - River of Africa

Nile is the most long river in Africa. She is welcomed on the lands of numerous countries in the north of the continent. On its way, the Nile is subject to a variety of weather and relief conditions. The river is recognized as the longest not only in Africa. On a planetary scale, it is the second after the Amazon.

Watercourse characteristics:

  • length - 6680 kilometers;
  • filling - 2.9 million km2;
  • flow rate - 2590 m3 / sec.

The Nile remains a mystery of geography to this day. Scientists cannot come to a consensus regarding the origin of the natural miracle. The ancient thinker Herodotus wrote that the Nile begins in southern Africa. The version of Ptolemy Claudius argued that the beginning is the Rwenzori ridge (in ancient times, the Lunar Mountains). The truth came with the discovery of Lake Victoria in the 19th century. Research has confirmed that the source is located in one of the tributaries of the Kagera River - Rukarara.

Throughout its entire length, the Nile bed changes its temper - calm and rapids, deep and shallow.

The current rushes to the north, rushing from above into the lowlands. Falls down in the strongest waterfalls. From a height of 40 meters, the Murchison Cascade flows into Lake Albert, from which the Albert Nile is born. The plain of Uganda soothes the swirling stream. The Nile reaches South Sudan, where it is dissected into many branches.

The further course of the watercourse intersects with Lake Net and reaches the capital of Sudan - Khartoum. At this point, the water changes color from yellow, due to clay impurities, to transparent color... For this reason, they begin to call him not the White, but the Blue Nile.

The next tributary, the Atraba, further fills the basin in front of the Sahara Desert. The great Nile flows in a wide strip along the Egyptian expanses to the Suez Canal, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The end of the path is characterized by creeping into separate branches, the formation of a huge estuary.

Congo

Congo, or Zaire, is one of the most significant rivers in Central Africa. It is the deepest on the continent.

Streams flow down from the 1580 m highlands of Zambia called Chambesi. Along the course of the course, it leaves behind cascades and stormy streams of the Central African territory. It reaches the shores of the Atlantic in a 12-kilometer deep channel.

Watercourse characteristics:

  • length - 4376 kilometers;
  • volume - 3675 km2;
  • maximum depth - 240 m.

The African River has many different tributaries.

Navigation is developed in many areas. Africans extract oil, clay, sand. The main source of food remains river wealth - fish, plants. There are many power plants in operation.

Niger

The third longest river in Africa has its main advantage - fresh water. The Niger River, which originates in Guinea, is an irreplaceable source of life-giving moisture in West Africa.

Watercourse characteristics:

  • length - 4155 kilometers;
  • volume - 2096;
  • annual flow - 270 km3

From mountain peaks 850 m, the watercourse moves north along the Malian plain, where it sharply changes direction to the south. It flows through the territory of Nigeria, Benin to the Gulf of Guinea - the mouth of the Niger. An intricate winding river path at all times instilled mystical moods in the aborigines. Local residents consider the source to be sacred, believe in ancient spirits and protect it from foreigners.

There is a vast delta at the mouth. The unique reservoir has an internal mouth called Masina. The swampy valley is flooded with rivers and lake floods for a length of 427 km.

One of the important tributaries - Benue, makes the watercourse deep and wide - up to 3.5 km. Heavy rainfall unites the tributary with Lake Chad.

Navigation depends on the topography and the fullness of the basin, therefore it is not present on the entire river.

Rivers of Africa on the Map

The water system of the continent is made up of lakes and rivers of Africa, marked on the map. The hydraulic system of antiquity has been modified for centuries, thanks to large bodies of water on the site of the present deserts. With climate change, the surface of the earth changed, becoming mountainous on the outskirts of the plateau. Their slopes were sources of new reservoirs. Today, modern maps of water areas, deserts and savannas are being drawn up.

The largest African rivers

Noting the largest rivers in Africa, one should characterize the fourth longest - Zamzebi, stretching for 2570 km. The Zambezi, overcoming the Angolan savannah, enters Mozambique. The long African river ends its journey in the waves of the Indian Ocean.

The Orange River is emerging in the mountains of South Africa. The 2190 km section washes the shores of South Africa, Namibia, ending in the waves of the Atlantic. Vessels on Orange do not go due to the shallowness of the watercourse. The name of the watercourse has nothing to do with the color scheme. The name is associated with the name of the Dutch nobleman William of Orange. Over the years, the name has transformed from Orange to Orange.

What is the most famous river in Africa in Russia? The river, glorified by the writer Kornei Chukovsky, is known by everyone as Limpopo. Along the entire 1590 km waterway, it feeds on numerous small and medium watercourses. It flows into the Indian Ocean.

Senegal is a large river in West Africa that creates a natural border between states. The filling capacity of the reservoir is more than 400 thousand km2.

List of important river arteries of Africa

  1. Atraba - plays the role of a right-hand tributary of the Nile at a distance of 1130 km. It is a geographical landmark of the Ethiopian and Sudanese settlements. In the dry season, the lower reaches dry up, in the monsoon season it fills and reaches the Nile.
  2. Juba is a watercourse of Ethiopian and Somali lands with a pool of 748 thousand sq. M. km. The deep river in Africa is of great economic importance due to navigation.
  3. Lualaba is the name of the upper reaches of the Congo, the length of which is 2100 km from the source to the Boyoma cascades.

Conclusion

River basins of the African continent give life to its inhabitants. Many rivers are not so significant in scale and not the largest, but they enliven the landscape, contribute to the development of animal husbandry and agriculture.

Given that most of the peoples of the continent live in poverty, water supply is of strategic importance. Hydroelectric power plants are being built on the rivers. They provide resources to the local population, contribute to the development of industrial facilities. Many reservoirs are taken under the protection not only of individual states, but also on a planetary scale.

Sahakyan Narek Apresovich

Armenian State Pedagogical University named after H. Abovyan, (Yerevan)

4th year student, Department of Geography and Teaching Methods

Email: [email protected]

Rivers of Africa

The rivers of Africa belong to three basins: Atlantic, Indian oceans and internal drainage basin. The largest area is occupied by the rivers of the basin Atlantic Ocean(about 1/2 of the mainland area). At the same time, 1/3 of the territory belongs to the internal drainage basin. Rivers from 1/5 of Africa's area flow into the Indian Ocean. The watersheds of the basins of the oceans are the highest points of the continent.

The rivers of Africa are different in the nature of the flow. In the upper reaches, they are predominantly mountainous, and in the middle and lower reaches, they have rapids and waterfalls. Therefore, most rivers are not navigable along their entire length.

River basins of Africa

Among African rivers, rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean: Congo (Zaire) - the deepest and second longest river in Africa, Niger, Senegal, Gambia and Orange. In the Mediterranean Sea - the Nile (the longest river in Africa). The flow into the Indian Ocean is carried out mainly by the Zambezi River.

The steppedness of the surface causes the rapids of many rivers and the formation of waterfalls. The largest and most beautiful waterfall in Africa - Victoria on the Zambezi River (border of Zambia and Zimbabwe).

About one third of Africa's area is an area of ​​internal flow, in the main temporary watercourses. Unique a natural phenomenon internal drain - Okavango Delta(in Botswana).

Almost all rivers in Africa are fed by rain. Only a few rivers starting in the mountains rising above the snow line (Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Ruwenzori) receive snow and glacier food. In the equatorial climate belt, rivers are full-flowing throughout the year. In the subequatorial climate belt, there is a pronounced seasonality of expenditures. The water content of rivers is sharply decreasing, as well as the density of the river network in tropical climatic zones. Rivers there are episodic and, as a rule, have dry channels, which are filled with water only for a short time every few years. Such dry beds in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula of Asia are called wadis or uedas. A significant part of these rivers belongs to the basins of internal flow. And finally in the belts subtropical climate the maximum expenditure falls on the winter rainy season of each hemisphere in the Mediterranean climatic areas and for the summer season on the southeastern monsoon edge of the mainland. In connection with climatic features Four hydrological types of rivers are distinguished in Africa: equatorial, monsoon, arid and Mediterranean. The equatorial hydrological type includes the Congo, Ubangi, Kasai, Ogove, etc .; monsoon - Niger, Senegal, Gambia, Shari, Nile, White Nile, Blue Nile, Webe Shabelle, Jubba, Zambezi, etc.; Aridnogo - Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Limpopo, etc.; Mediterranean - Muluya.

The four largest rivers in Africa are the Nile, Congo, Niger and Zambezi. These rivers are transit rivers, they cross several climatic zones and have a complex flow regime.

Name

Length / km /

Pool area / thous. km 2 /

Average annual flow / km 3 /

Nile is a river in northern and northeastern Africa, one of the two longest rivers in the world. The length of the Nile (with Kagera) is about 6,700 km (the most commonly used figure is 6,671 km), from Lake Victoria to Mediterranean Sea- about 5 600 km.
The basin area, according to various sources, is 2.8-3.4 million square kilometers (it fully or partially covers the territories of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt) .m The average discharge at Aswan is 2,600 m3 / sec, but in different years fluctuations from 500 m3 / s to 15,000 m3 / s are possible. The river originates in the East African Plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a delta. In the upper reaches, it receives large tributaries - Bahr el-Ghazal (left) and Aswa, Sobat, Blue Nile and Atbara (right). Below the mouth of the right tributary of the Atbara, the Nile flows through a semi-desert, having no tributaries for the last 3000 km.

Congo (Zaire) - big river in Central Africa, flows under the name Chambesi between lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika at an altitude of 1590 m above sea level, Lake Bangweolo flows and under the name Luapuda - Lake Moero, connects with Luadaba and Lukuga; both in the upper and lower reaches it forms many rapids and waterfalls (Stanley Falls and a number of Livingstone Falls); flows into the Atlantic Ocean in a wide (11 km) and deep channel.
The length of the Congo is 4374 km, it is navigable for 1600 km. The basin area is 3680 thousand sq. Km.
Tributaries on the right: Aruvimi, Rubi, Mongalla, Mobangi (Ouelle), Saaga-Mambere, Likuala Lekoli, Alima, Lefini; left: Lomami, Lulongo, Ikelemba, Ruki, Kassai with Sankuru and Kuango, Lualaba.

Niger is the most important river in West Africa. The length is 4160 km, the basin area is 2092 thousand square kilometers, the third in these parameters in Africa after the Nile and Congo.
The source is in Guinea, then the river flows through Mali, Niger, along the border of Benin, then flows through Nigeria and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
Main tributaries: Milo, Bani (right); Sokoto, Kaduna and Benue (left).

Zambezi- the fourth longest river in Africa. The basin area is 1,570,000 sq km, the length is 2,574 km. The source of the river is in Zambia, the river flows through Angola, along the border of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. The name Zambezi was given to the river by its discoverer among Europeans, David Livingstone, and comes from the distorted Kasambo Waisy, a name in one of the local dialects.
One of the most striking features of the Zambezi is Victoria Falls, one of the greatest waterfalls in the world.
There are many other notable waterfalls in the Zambezi: Chavuma on the border of Zambia and Angola and Ngambwe, in Western Zambia. On the entire course of the river across the Zambezi, there are only five bridges in the cities: Chinvingi, Katima Mulilo, Victoria Falls, Chirundu and Tete.
Two large hydroelectric power plants have been built on the river - Kariba HPP, which supplies electricity to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Kabora-Bassa HPP in Mozambique, which supplies electricity to Zimababwe and South Africa. There is also a small power plant in Victoria Falls.

Orange- a river in southern Africa. It originates in the Drakensberg Mountains on the border of South Africa and Lesotho, flows through the territory of Namibia and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The length is 2,200 km, the basin area is 973,000 sq. Km.
The well-known 146-meter waterfall Augrabis (South Africa) is located on the Orangeraya River.
The name of the river comes from the Orange dynasty.

Senegal is located in West Africa and forms a natural border between the states of Senegal and Mauritania. The length of the river is about 1970 km.
The area of ​​the river basin is 419`575 km2 and the annual discharge of water into the Atlantic Ocean is close to 8 million km2. The main tributaries are Falem, Karakoro and Gorgol.
In 1972, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania founded the Senegal River Rehabilitation Organization to jointly manage the river basin. Guinea joined this organization in 2005.

Limpopo- river in South Africa, flows south of Pretoria from the Witwatersrand mountains (1800 m), in its upper course, crosses the Mogali mountains and joins with Mariko. After passing 1600 km and taking in many tributaries, it flows into the Indian Ocean north of the Gulf of Delagoa.
Limpopo is navigable from the point where it at 32 ° E joins Nuanetsi.

Gambia- a river in West Africa (Guinea, Senegal and Gambia). The length is about 1200 km. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Floods from July to October. It is navigable at 467 km from the estuary, where the city of Banjul is located.

Among African rivers, rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean: Congo (Zaire) - the deepest and second longest river in Africa, Niger, Senegal, Gambia and Orange. In the Mediterranean Sea - the Nile (the longest river in Africa). The discharge into the Indian Ocean is carried out mainly by the Za Mbezi River.

The steppedness of the surface causes the rapids of many rivers and the formation of waterfalls. The largest and most beautiful waterfall in Africa is on the Zambezi River (border of Zambia and Zimbabwe).

About one third of Africa's area is an area of ​​internal flow, in the main temporary watercourses. Unique natural phenomenon of internal flow - (in Botswana)

Rivers of Africa:

Gambia- a river in West Africa (Guinea, Senegal and Gambia). The length is about 1200 km. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Floods from July to October. It is navigable at 467 km from the estuary, where the city of Banjul is located.

Zambezi- the fourth longest river in Africa. The basin area is 1,570,000 sq km, the length is 2,574 km. The source of the river is in Zambia, the river flows through Angola, along the border of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. The name Zambezi was given to the river by its discoverer among Europeans, David Livingstone, and comes from the distorted Kasambo Waisy, a name in one of the local dialects.
One of the most striking features of the Zambezi is Victoria Falls, one of the greatest waterfalls in the world.
There are many other notable waterfalls in the Zambezi: Chavuma on the border of Zambia and Angola and Ngambwe, in Western Zambia. On the entire course of the river across the Zambezi, there are only five bridges in cities: Chinvingi, Katima Mulilo, Victoria Falls, Chirundu and Tete.
Two large hydroelectric power plants have been built on the river - Kariba HPP, which provides electricity to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Kabora-Bassa HPP in Mozambique, which provides electricity to Zimababwe and South Africa. There is also a small power plant in Victoria Falls.

Congo (Zaire)- a large river in Central Africa, flows out under the name Chambesi between lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika at an altitude of 1590 m above sea level, Lake Bangweolo flows and under the name of Luapuda - Lake Moero, connects with Luadaba and Lukuga; both in the upper and lower reaches it forms many rapids and waterfalls (Stanley Falls and a number of Livingstone Falls); flows into the Atlantic Ocean in a wide (11 km) and deep channel.
The length of the Congo is 4374 km, it is navigable for 1600 km. The basin area is 3680 thousand sq. Km.
Tributaries on the right: Aruvimi, Rubi, Mongalla, Mobangi (Ouelle), Saaga-Mambere, Likuala Lekoli, Alima, Lefini; left: Lomami, Lulongo, Ikelemba, Ruki, Kassai with Sankuru and Kuango, Lualaba.

Limpopo- a river in South Africa, flows south of Pretoria from the Witwatersrand Mountains (1800 m), in its upper reaches, crosses the Mogali Mountains and, connects with Mariko. After passing 1600 km and taking in many tributaries, it flows into the Indian Ocean north of the Gulf of Delagoa.
Limpopo is navigable from the point where it at 32 ° E joins Nuanetsi.

Niger is the most important river in West Africa. The length is 4160 km, the basin area is 2092 thousand square kilometers, the third in these parameters in Africa after the Nile and Congo.
The source is in Guinea, then the river flows through Mali, Niger, along the Benin border, then flows through Nigeria and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
Main tributaries: Milo, Bani (right); Sokoto, Kaduna and Benue (left).

Nile is a river in northern and northeastern Africa, one of the two longest rivers in the world. The length of the Nile (with Kagera) is about 6,700 km (the most commonly used figure is 6,671 km), from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea - about 5,600 km.
The basin area, according to various sources, is 2.8-3.4 million square kilometers (it fully or partially covers the territories of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt) .m The average discharge at Aswan is 2,600 m3 / s, but in different years fluctuations from 500 m3 / s to 15,000 m3 / s are possible. The river originates in the East African Plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a delta. In the upper reaches, it receives large tributaries - Bahr el-Ghazal (left) and Aswa, Sobat, Blue Nile and Atbara (right). Below the mouth of the right tributary of the Atbara, the Nile flows through a semi-desert, having no tributaries for the last 3000 km.

Orange- a river in southern Africa. It originates in the Drakensberg Mountains on the border of South Africa and Lesotho, flows through the territory of Namibia and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The length is 2,200 km, the basin area is 973,000 sq. Km.
The well-known 146-meter waterfall Augrabis (South Africa) is located on the Orangeraya River.
The name of the river comes from the Oran dynasty.

Senegal river is located in West Africa and forms a natural border between the states of Senegal and Mauritania. The length of the river is about 1970 km.
The area of ​​the river basin is 419`575 km2 and the annual discharge of water into the Atlantic Ocean is close to 8 million km2. The main tributaries are Falem, Karakoro and Gorgol.
In 1972, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania founded the Senegal River Rehabilitation Organization to jointly manage the river basin. Guinea joined this organization in 2005.

"Black continent" - this is the name of Africa, on the vast territory of which you can find a variety of landscapes. The second largest continent after Eurasia crosses many rivers and is washed by 2 seas and 2 oceans: the Mediterranean - in the north, the Red - in the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean - in the west, Indian - in the south and east. Deep rivers flow through Africa, some of them are considered the largest and deepest on the planet.

Rivers and lakes of Africa on the map:

Nile: the longest river in Africa

It is the second longest river on the planet after the Amazon and the first - on the African continent. The great Nile saw the dawn of humanity. Representatives lived on its banks ancient civilization, evidence of their life has been preserved. Throughout the ages, nations have worshiped the greatest river.

The source of the Nile - a mystery of millennia

Throughout its entire length, the largest river in Africa has tributaries, so it is difficult to determine where it originates from. Geographers have been dealing with this issue for centuries. The ancient Egyptians - the indigenous inhabitants of the valley - could not give an intelligible answer to the question. Therefore, the ancient Greeks tried to solve it, in particular, the great thinker Herodotus argued that the Nile was born from the bowels of Africa in the south, and then spreads around. But this version was found to be erroneous.

The astronomer Ptolemy Claudius, who wrote in his scientific works that the Nile originates in the Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori Ridge at present). But in 1858, the English officer J. Hennig Speke discovered the high-mountain lake Victoria (1184 m above sea level), and scientists received evidence. They were then reinforced by other researchers that the Nile flows from there, more precisely, the Kagera River originates from the Victoria Lakes, which is divided into tributaries. One of them is Rukarara, and its source is the beginning of the great White Nile.

Stream geography

The mighty river carries rough waters to the north of the mainland, tending downward, therefore rapids and waterfalls are often found along its length. The largest is the 40-meter Murchison, it erupts into Lake Albert, and the waters flowing out of it are already called the Albert Nile. The further path runs through the territory of Uganda, along the plain, and the seething stream calms down. Upon reaching the state of South Sudan, the artery again changes its name, and for 716 km is called Bahr el-Jabel. In South Sudan, it has a very ramified appearance - many branches and islets between them.

Further, the river merges with Lake Net and carries its waters to the capital of Sudan - Khartoum. Until now, the color of the stream was yellow due to an excess of impurities of light clay, but outside Khartoum, the White Nile merges with the Blue, and further along the continent the great Nile flows majestically. At 300 km from the capital, the Atbar tributary flows into it. Having become even full of days, the Nile enters the Sahara Desert, more precisely into its eastern part- Nubian.

Here the Nile makes a sharp turn to the south, then again to the north, and then its path runs through Egypt. On the border of Sudan and Egypt, it turns into Nasser - the largest man-made lake in the world (area 5250 m²). It was created by the Nasuan Dam, which is hidden by the rapids of the Nile and prevented its spill. Further, the stream flows deeply and widely through Egypt, pouring into the Mediterranean Sea not far from the Suez Canal, on its banks are cities, including the capital of Egypt, Cairo. After leaving it, the Nile splits into branches, which create a vast delta 160 km long, in which there are 10 cities, and this is a large-scale ecosystem.

Congo (Zaire): the deepest river on the planet

This is the most deep river Africa and the second longest. By the area of ​​the basin, it confidently leads the list of African rivers. Most of it passes through the territory of the Republic of the Congo. The pioneer is the navigator from Portugal Diogo Kahn.

River geography

The source of the Congo is in Zambia at an altitude of 1600 m. The mountains are gradually replaced by a plain, where the stream freely spreads in the valley with the formation of branches, channels and natural reservoirs, in some places 20 km wide. When the Congo reaches the South Guinean Uplands, it is trapped in a gorge with a minimum width of only 300 m. Here it acquires its maximum depth (up to 230 m), which puts the Congo on the pedestal of the deepest rivers in the world. In addition, the site is famous for rapids and drops that have a name - Livingstone Falls. At the end of the path, the Congo flows into the Atlantic at the city of Banana.

Congo is strategically important for hydropower throughout the world, due to its high water flow and a large degree of drop in the channel.

Niger: mystical river

The third longest artery of Africa crosses 5 countries. For the state of Mali, Niger is the only source of fresh water, without which the life of the local population would be extremely difficult.

Stream geography

What is mystical about Niger, you ask. This is a unique river, which, contrary to the laws of physics, does not go directly to a salt reservoir, but has a boomerang path. The stream, following a winding route, has confused explorers for centuries. In addition, the people inhabiting the shores of the Niger still believe that ancient spirits live in its waters.

The source of the river falls in the eastern region of the Kong Mountains (Guinea) at an altitude of 850 m above sea level. At first, it flows north, in the opposite direction from the ocean, but in Mali it changes direction to the southeast, and then to the south. The estuary falls on the Gulf of Guinea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean. At the meeting point with the Gulf, the Niger forms a huge delta with an area of ​​25 thousand square meters. It starts near the city of Aba in Nigeria, 180 km from the Gulf of Guinea. It mainly contains swamps and mangroves. The Niger has one more, the so-called inner mouth, the Malians call it Masina. This is a 425 km long swampy floodplain, consisting of lakes, branches, rivulets. At the other end, all reservoirs again create a single channel.

The Niger is a flood river, during the monsoon period (from June to October) it is widely overflowing and uplifting. Its waters are home to a variety of fish, the main food source for coastal residents.

Among the tributaries of the Niger, the Benue is the largest, at its widest point it is 3 km, and the waters are the most powerful and turbulent. Navigation in Niger does not go along the entire route, but only in places, but the channel is unusually picturesque and attractive for tourists. Rapids and waterfalls meet in the upper course, and then the river flows through the plains and has a more calm course.

In addition to the three longest, other water streams on the continent deserve attention:

  • Zambezi. The fourth longest river is famous for the most famous waterfall in the world - Victoria. Many travelers wonder who discovered the Zambezi. It was David Livingston, an African explorer, missionary from Scotland, who later discovered the waterfall. Only 5 bridges have been built across the river stream, and two large power plants are fed from it;
  • Limpopo. It exists not only in the tale of Korney Chukovsky, but actually takes place in southern Africa. Another name is Crocodile River, alligators and hippos live on the banks and coastal waters.
  • Orange River. Its origins are in the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho in South Africa, and the artery flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean.

Huge Africa is crossed by many waterways. They rush in swift streams from mountain heights, through plains and deserts, dissolving in the salty waters of the seas and oceans. In an extremely arid and hot climate, under the scorching rays of the sun, all rivers in Africa bring prosperity and life to the inhabitants of the continent.