Lugenda River

Lugenda River
Location
CountryMozambique
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationLake Amaramba
Mouth 
 • location
Ruvuma River
 • coordinates
11°25′26″S 38°29′06″E / 11.4239°S 38.4849°E / -11.4239; 38.4849
Basin features
River systemRuvuma River

The Lugenda or Lujenda (alternate: Msambiti River)[1] is a river of northern Mozambique. It flows in a south-north direction from Lake Amaramba/Lake Chiuta and is the largest tributary of the Ruvuma River.[2] It joins the Luambala River at 13°26′12″S 36°18′20″E / 13.43667°S 36.30556°E / -13.43667; 36.30556. The river valley is reported to be only 800 feet (240 m) above sea level.[3] North of Lake Chiuta, those on the west bank call it the Msambiti River.[1] At one point, the Lugenda splits into several streams with islands between them, some of whom are populated such as the island Achemponda.[4]

Near Cassembe, EN-242
Between Cassembe on the EN-242, heading north towards the Niassa Reserve
First waterfall between Cassembe on the EN-242, heading north towards the Niassa Reserve
Between Cassembe on the EN-242, heading north towards the Niassa Reserve
Between Cassembe on the EN-242, somewhere inside the Niassa Reserve

Elephants loom large in the life of people of the Lugenda River Valley. The tribal people, inhabiting the river valley for several thousand years, are mainly the Yao and Makua tribals. Other groups residing here are Ngoni, Marave and Matambwe people.[5]

  1. ^ a b Manchester Geographical Society (1885). The Journal of the Manchester Geographical Society (23-24). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 302–304.
  2. ^ Robert Mepham; R. H. Hughes; J. S. Hughes (1992). A directory of African wetlands. Belhaven Press Book, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). p. 686. ISBN 2-88032-949-3.
  3. ^ Rotberg, Robert I. (1971). Joseph Thomson and the exploration of Africa. Chatto & Windus. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7011-1544-9.
  4. ^ Manchester Geographical Society (1885). The Journal of the Manchester Geographical Society (23-24). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 307.
  5. ^ "Emerging from the shadows, Nissa National Reserve" (PDF). Africa Geographic Article. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-10-11.