Tsiribihina River

Tsiribihina
The basin of the Tsiribihina
Location
Country	Madagascar
Region	Bongolava, Menabe, Melaky
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Confluence of Mahajilo and Mania
• elevation	49 m (161 ft)
Mouth	Belon'i Tsiribihina, Indian Ocean
• coordinates	19°42′S 44°33′E / 19.700°S 44.550°E / -19.700; 44.550
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	150 km (93 mi)[1]
Basin size	49,800 km2 (19,200 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Tsiribihina Delta
• average	(Period: 1971–2000)1,027.2 m3/s (36,280 cu ft/s)[1]
Basin features
River system	Tsiribihina River
Tributaries
• left	Mahajilo, Andranomeno
• right	Mania

The Tsiribihina^[3] is a river of western Madagascar.

The main tributaries are the Mahajilo, Manandaza, Mania, and Sakeny rivers. Its basin has an area of 49,800 km². 7,025 km² is in the basin of the Sakeny River, 14,500 km² in that of the Mahajilo River, and 18,565 km² in that of the Mania River.^[4]

The headwaters are on Madagascar's Central Highlands. The tributary streams flow generally westwards except for the Sakeny, which flows northwards. As they leave the highlands and enter the north–south running Betsiriry Plain, the tributary rivers converge to form the Tsiribihina - the Mahajilo and Manandaza from the north, and the Mania and Sakeny from the south. There are extensive seasonal wetlands and shallow lakes where the rivers converge on the plain.^[4][5] The rich alluvial soils of the Betsiriry Plain make it one of the most suitable regions for agriculture in western Madgagascar.^[6] The plain's wetlands and lakes are important habitat for waterbirds.^[7]

The Tsiribihina then flows westward, cutting a steep and winding gorge through the Bemaraha Plateau, a limestone formation that extends north and south along the western edge of the Betsiriry Plain.^[4] As the river emerges from the Bemaraha Plateau it widens and meanders.^[4] There are several shallow lakes along the lower course, including Lake Kimanomby near Ambohibary and Lake Masoarivo near Masoarivo.^[7]

The river delta is large, extending about 35 km north to south.^[4] It includes coastal beaches and dunes, mudflats, salt flats, mangroves, and freshwater marshes. The mangroves are generally 2–4 meters high, and the predominant trees are species of Avicennia, Rhizophora, Ceriops, Bruguiera, and Sonneratia. The saltflats often flood during the rainy season. The freshwater marshes and lakes of the lower Tsiribihina are dominated by the sedges Cyperus spp, the reed Phragmites, and non-native water-hyacinth Eichhornia.^[7] The mouth of the river is near Belon'i Tsiribihina, where it empties into the Mozambique Channel.^[8]

82 species of birds have been recorded from the Tsiribihina River and its delta, 22 of which are endemic to Madagascar. Bernier's teal (Anas bernieri) breeds in the mangroves. The Madagascar pratincole (Glareola ocularis) congregates in large numbers on the banks of the river, and one of Madagascar's largest congregations of the Madagascar subspecies of white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus insularis) occurs at Lake Masoarivo. A few pairs of Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) live along the river.^[7]

The Menabe Antimena protected area covers the south bank of the lower Tsiribihina along with the delta and mangroves. The Tsiribihina Delta is designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,^[2] and the Tsiribihina River and its delta are designated an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.^[7]