Cuanza River

Last updated
Kwanza
Cuanza, Coanza, Quanza,
Cuanza river near Dondo, Angola.jpg
Cuanza River System OSM.png
Kwanza River and tributaries
Location
Country Angola
Physical characteristics
Source Bié Plateau [1]
 • locationCentral Angola
 • elevation1,234 m (4,049 ft)
Mouth Atlantic Ocean
 • location
60 km (37 mi) south of Luanda
 • coordinates
 9°21′S13°9′E / 9.350°S 13.150°E / -9.350; 13.150
Length960 km (600 mi) [1]
Basin size152,570 km2 (58,910 sq mi) [2]
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average(Period: 1971–2000)1,944.3 m3/s (68,660 cu ft/s) [2]
Basin features
River system Kwanza River
Tributaries 
 • leftKukema, Cunhinga, Ngango, Cutato
 • rightCuiva, Luando, Cuige, Lucala
WaterbodiesCambambe reservoir

The Kwanza River, [3] also known as the Coanza, [4] the Quanza, [4] and the Cuanza, is the longest river in Angola. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean just south of the national capital Luanda.

Contents

Geography

The river is navigable for about 150 miles (240 km) from its mouth, located 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of Luanda. Its tributaries include the Cutato and Lucala.

History

The river's navigable lower course was the original route of the Portuguese invasion of northern Angola.

The Capanda Dam in Malanje Province was finished in 2004, providing hydroelectric power to the region and assisting in its irrigation. The Cambambe Dam and the Lauca Dam were also constructed on the river. The Caculo Cabaça Dam is under construction with estimated completion in 2024. The Barra do Kwanza, the mouth of the river, is gradually being developed for tourism, including a golf course.

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Victoria stands near the banks of the Kwanza River in Massanganu, Province of Cuanza-Norte, Angola. [5]

Wildlife

Rich biodiversity has been found in the Angolan river, according to research reported on the Science and Development Network website. Angola's first biodiversity tally of the Kwanza River has so far found 50 fish species. Researchers from the National Fishing Research Institute and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity say genetic testing may reveal new species. [6] Sportfishing includes tarpon.

Legacy

Angola's currency, the kwanza, is named after the river. [3] [7] The river is also the namesake of the provinces of Cuanza Norte ("Cuanza North") and Cuanza Sul ("Cuanza South").

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuanza Norte Province</span> Province of Angola

The Cuanza Norte Province is province of Angola. N'dalatando is the capital and the province has an area of 24,110 km2 and a population of 443,386. Manuel Pedro Pacavira was born here and is a former provincial governor. The 1,400 meter long Capanda Dam is located in this province. Cuanza Norte lies on the northern bank of the Cuanza River. It had been a territory of Ngola Kingdom. In 1914, Norton de Matos created District of Cuanza which was divided into Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul Provinces in 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuanza Sul Province</span> Province of Angola

Cuanza Sul Province is a province of Angola. It has an area of 55,660 square kilometres (21,490 sq mi) and a population of 1,881,873. Sumbe is the capital of the province. Dom Francisco Inocêncio de Sousa Coutinho founded the province in 1769 as Novo Redondo.

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The Church of Our Lady of Victoria stands near the banks of the Cuanza River in Massanganu, Province of Kwanza-Norte, Angola.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambambe Hydroelectric Power Station</span> Power station in Angola

The Cambambe Hydroelectric Power Station is a hydroelectric power plant across the Kwanza River at the border between Cuanza Norte Province and Bengo Province in Angola. Following rehabilitation and expansion, the generation capacity of this installation is 960 megawatts (1,290,000 hp).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Nossa Senhora da Vitória</span>

The Fort Nossa Senhora da Vitória de Massangano, popularly known as Fortress of Massangano is located in the village-commune of Massangano, in the municipality of Cambambe, in the province of Cuanza-Norte, in Angola.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 1". www.fao.org. FAO. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "South West Coast".
  3. 1 2 "O Perfil de Angola". Portal Official do Governo da República de Angola. Governo de Angola. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 EB (1878).
  5. ↑ Valdez, F. T. (1861), Six Years of a Traveller's Life in Western Africa, Vol. II, Hurst and Blackett.
  6. ↑ "Sub-Saharan Africa news in brief: 13–25 March, 2008". SciDev.Net (website). Accessed May 2010.
  7. ↑ Theroux, Paul (30 May 2013). The Last Train to Zona Verde: Overland from Cape Town to Angola. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN   9780241965139 – via Google Books.

Bibliography

9°21′S13°09′E / 9.350°S 13.150°E / -9.350; 13.150


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