The Ubangi River, also spelled Oubangui, is a major river in Central Africa. It is the biggest river that flows into the Congo River from its right side. The Ubangi River is one of the biggest rivers in the Central African Republic. The Ubangi River (; Swahili: Mto Ubangi; French: Fleuve Oubangui; Dutch: Mubangi Stroom), also spelled Oubangui, is a river in Central Africa, and the largest right-bank tributary of the Congo River.
Together with the Congo River, it provides an important transport artery for river boats between Bangui and Brazzaville. The Ubangi River is very important for moving things and people.
Congo River Basin Map
Geography and Course
The Ubangi's length is about 1,060 km (660 mi). The Ubangi River is about 1,060 kilometers (660 miles) long. The area of land that collects water for the Ubangi River is called its drainage basin. This basin is very large, covering about 651,915 km2 (251,706 sq mi). Its total length with the Uele, its longest tributary, is 2,270 km (1,410 mi). Mean annual discharge at mouth 5,936 m3/s.
It begins at the confluence of the Mbomou (mean annual discharge 1,350 m3/s) and Uele Rivers (mean annual discharge 1,550 m3/s) and flows west, forming the border between Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The river first flows west. Then it turns southwest and passes by the city of Bangui. Subsequently, the Ubangi bends to the southwest and passes through Bangui, the capital of the CAR, after which it flows south - forming the border between the DRC and the Republic of the Congo.
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From its source to 100 km (62 mi) below Bangui, the Ubangi defines the boundary between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Ubangi River joins the Congo at the village of Irebu, at the mouth of the Irebu Channel.
The Ubangi's drainage basin is about 651,915 km2 (251,706 sq mi).
Tributaries
The Ubangi River receives water from several tributaries:
- Uele
- Lua
- Giri
- Mbomou
- Kotto
- Ouaka
- Mpoko
- Lobaye
The Congo River Basin
Most of the rivers in the Central African Republic are part of the huge Congo River basin. The Congo River itself flows through countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. The Congo’s drainage basin covers 4,014,500 km2 (1,550,000 sq mi), an area nearly equal to that of the European Union.
The Central African Republic, often called CAR, is a country in the middle of Africa. It has many important rivers that flow across its land. These rivers are like natural highways, carrying water and helping people, animals, and plants. The rivers in CAR flow into three main areas, called drainage basins. A drainage basin is like a giant bowl where all the rain and smaller streams eventually flow into one larger river or lake.
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The Congo River,[a] formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second-longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the third largest river in the world by discharge volume, following the Amazon and Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers. It is the world's deepest recorded river, with measured depths of around 220 m (720 ft).
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Transaqua Project
Lake Chad Basin Map
In the 1960s, a plan was proposed to divert waters from the Ubangi to the Chari River. Some people have an idea to send water from the Ubangi River to the Chari River. The Chari River flows into Lake Chad. According to the plan, named Transaqua, the water from the Ubangi would revitalize Lake Chad and provide a livelihood in fishing and enhanced agriculture to tens of millions of central Africans and Sahelians. People think this plan could help with fishing in the lake.
Lake Chad is a large, shallow lake in Africa. It is very important for the countries around it, providing water for farming and fishing. The Chari River is the main river that feeds Lake Chad.
Read also: Geography of the Chari River
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