Zambezi River

Zambezi
Zambesi, Zambeze
River
The Zambezi River at the junction of Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana
Nickname: Besi
Countries	Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
Source	Zambezi Source National Forest
- location	Ikelenge District, North-Western Province, Zambia
- elevation	1,500 m (4,921 ft)
- coordinates	11°22′11″S 24°18′30″E / 11.36972°S 24.30833°E / -11.36972; 24.30833
Mouth	Indian Ocean
- coordinates	18°34′14″S 36°28′13″E / 18.57056°S 36.47028°E / -18.57056; 36.47028Coordinates: 18°34′14″S 36°28′13″E / 18.57056°S 36.47028°E / -18.57056; 36.47028
Length	2,574 km (1,599 mi)
Basin	1,390,000 km2 (536,682 sq mi)
Discharge
- average	3,400 m3/s (120,070 cu ft/s)

The Zambezi (also spelled Zambeze and Zambesi) is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is 1,390,000 square kilometres (540,000 sq mi), slightly less than half that of the Nile. The 2,574-kilometre-long river (1,599 mi) rises in Zambia and flows through eastern Angola, along the eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of Botswana, then along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mozambique, where it crosses the country to empty into the Indian Ocean.

The Zambezi's most noted feature is Victoria Falls. Other notable falls include the Chavuma Falls at the border between Zambia and Angola, and Ngonye Falls, near Sioma in Western Zambia.

There are two main sources of hydroelectric power on the river, the Kariba Dam, which provides power to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique, which provides power to Mozambique and South Africa. There is also a smaller power station at Victoria Falls.

The river rises in a black marshy dambo in dense undulating miombo woodland 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Mwinilunga and 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Ikelenge in the Ikelenge District of North-Western Province, Zambia at about 1,524 metres (5,000 ft) above sea level. The area around the source is a national monument, forest reserve and Important Bird Area.