Shire River

Coordinates: 17°41′36″S 35°18′55″E / 17.69333°S 35.31528°E / -17.69333; 35.31528
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shire River
Shiré, Chire
The Shire near Nsanje, Malawi
EtymologyChewa chiri, "steep banks"[1][2]
Location
CountryMalawi, Mozambique
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Malawi
 • coordinates14°25′25″S 35°14′10″E / 14.42361°S 35.23611°E / -14.42361; 35.23611
 • elevation474 m (1,555 ft)
MouthZambezi
 • coordinates
17°41′36″S 35°18′55″E / 17.69333°S 35.31528°E / -17.69333; 35.31528
Length402 km (250 mi)
Discharge 
 • average486 m3/s

The Shire /ˈʃr/ is the largest river in Malawi.[3] It is the only outlet of Lake Malawi and flows into the Zambezi River in Mozambique. Its length is 402 kilometres (250 mi). The upper Shire River issues from Lake Malawi and runs approximately 19 km (12 mi) before it enters shallow Lake Malombe. It then drains Lake Malombe and flows south through Liwonde National Park where large concentrations of hippopotamus are common along its shores. Between the towns of Matope and Chikwawa, the middle river drops approximately 400 m (1,300 ft) through a series of falls and gorges, including Kapachira Falls. Two hydroelectric dams have been built along the Shire northwest of Blantyre.

Beyond Chikwawa, the lower river turns southeast and enters the low-lying Mozambique plain. Its largest and one of its few perennial tributaries, the Ruo River, joins the Shire near the Malawian town of Chiromo. The muddy waters pass through a large stagnant area known as the Elephant Marsh before reaching the confluence with the Zambezi River south of the town of Sena, Mozambique.

In 1859, David Livingstone's Second Zambezi expedition traveled up the Shire river.[4]

The river's valley is part of the East African Rift system.[5]

Ferry crossing the Shire in Mozambique

References[edit]

  1. ^ Price, T. (1966). "SHIRE, SHIRWA, AND NYASA". The Society of Malawi Journal. 19 (1): 15–19 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ "The Mighty Shire River – History Of Malawi".
  3. ^ "The Ruins of the Moment: Shire River, Malawi — Photos by Pete McGregor". December 20, 2010.
  4. ^ Briggs, Philip (2016). Malawi. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 9. ISBN 9781784770143.
  5. ^ "Live Search Maps". Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-08-09.