Ruo River

Ruo River
Rio Ruo
Ruo River is located in Malawi
Ruo River
Location of the confluence with the Shire River in Chiromo, Malawi
Location
CountriesMalawi, Mozambique
Physical characteristics
SourceMulanje Massif, Malawi
 • coordinates15°56′59″S 35°35′37″E / 15.94972°S 35.59361°E / -15.94972; 35.59361
MouthChiromo, Malawi
 • location
Shire River
 • coordinates
16°33′00″S 35°08′00″E / 16.55000°S 35.13333°E / -16.55000; 35.13333
Basin size4,900 km2 (1,900 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemZambezi
WaterfallsZoa Falls

Ruo River is the largest tributary of the Shire River in southern Malawi and Mozambique. It originates from the Mulanje Massif (Malawi) and forms 80 km (50 mi) of the Malawi-Mozambique border. It joins the Shire River at Chiromo.[1]

The Ruo River watershed includes the southern slopes of the Mulanje Massif and Shire Highlands in Malawi. Its principal tributary is the Thuchila (or Tuchila) River, which drains the southwestern slopes of Mulanje and the southeastern slopes of the Shire Highlands and the Thuchila plain between them. The confluence of the Ruo and Thuchila is near Sandama. The Ruo and its left bank tributaries also drain a portion of Milange District in neighboring Mozambique.

Zoa Falls (16°18'27"S 35°17'10"E) has a 60-meter drop, and effectively isolates the fish populations upstream in the Ruo watershed from those of the lower Zambezi and Shire rivers.[2]

The Shire Highlands Railway follows the lower course of the Ruo between Sandama and Chiromo.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Britannica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Tweddle, Denis. "Mulanje". Freshwater Ecoregions of the World. Accessed 17 August 2019. [1].