Cuanza River

Cuanza Kwanza, Quanza, Coanza
Cuanza River and tributaries
Location
Country	Angola
Physical characteristics
Source	Bié Plateau [1]
• location	Central Angola
• elevation	1,234 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
Length	960 km (600 mi) [1]
Basin size	152,570 km2 (58,910 sq mi) [2]
Discharge
• location	Near mouth
• average	(Period: 1971–2000)1,944.3 m3/s (68,660 cu ft/s) [2]
Basin features
River system	Cuanza River
Tributaries
• left	Kukema, Cunhinga, Ngango, Cutato
• right	Cuiva, Luando, Cuige, Lucala
Waterbodies	Cambambe reservoir

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

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 Cuanza 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 Cuanza 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

• Quissama National Park, to the south of the river

References

Citations

1. "Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 1". www.fao.org. FAO. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
2. "South West Coast".
3. "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. 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

• "Coanza"  , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. VI (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, p. 81.

External links

• Map of the Cuanza River basin at Water Resources eAtlas

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