882:
66:
632:. Originally intended to be completed in 2006, it has been delayed by the difficulty of building on the floodplain. There is no rock in the region, and the causeway has been built from sand and gravel scooped out from shallow depressions next to it. Higher than usual floods washed away large sections. The contractor was a
311:
harder rock is found at the surface and has resisted the river's tendency to cut a channel down into it, and so acts a bit like a dam. Behind it the floodplain has formed. Below the falls the river falls nearly twice as fast as it does on the plain, and flows more swiftly in a narrower valley less
369:
occurs on the floodplain about 3 months after the peak of the rainy season in
January–February. The flood usually peaks in April, and recedes in May to July, when grasses quickly grow on the exposed plain. At the river's lowest water in November the floodplain still contains about 537 km of
544:
In the occasional very wet year such as 2005, lives and property are lost in floods on the
Barotse Plain. More often, however, it is a very good example of the principle that natural annual flooding by rivers is valuable and productive for wildlife and human populations, while damming rivers to
532:
November to
January are lean months. Stored produce from the previous growing season is almost used up and in any case would need to be transported during the migration, while the new season's crops and grasses are not yet productive, and at the same time fishing stops for the spawning season.
346:
The satellite photo was taken in April 2004 at the peak of the flood, Note that the northern part of the plain, near Lukulu, is less flooded, the land there varies a bit more in height and the water tends to keep to the many river channels.
335:, principal town of the plain, situated at its edge. The main body of the plain covers about 5500 km, but the maximum flooded area is 10 750 km when the floodplains of several tributaries are taken into account, such as the
536:
The floodplain determines and dominates the way of life, economy, society and culture of the Lozi, who are skilled boat-builders, paddlers and swimmers. The annual migration with the flood is celebrated in the
642:
reported that the company underestimated the floodplain environment, and abandoned the contract. Subsequent modifications have been made to raise the road height and to increase the number and size of
386:
from vegetation killed by the initial flood, and from decaying aquatic plants left to dry out in the mud. It provides a good soil, but in the late dry season it bakes hard in the heat of the sun.
471:, and their predators. These herbivores have been displaced in most areas by the cattle grazed by the Lozi, but they have provided a large game reserve on the dry grassland to the west, the
533:
Hunting and trapping animals, which might have filled the gap, is no longer available to most people, and trapping waterbirds is one of the few alternatives to buying flour.
592:
Tight control over access to the floodplain by the
Litunga and the homogeneity of the indigenous people have slowed commercial development by outsiders.
491:
to grasslands at the edge of the floodplain when the flood arrives. The floodplain is one of the most productive areas for raising cattle in the country.
650:(AVIC International), finished the 286.9 million US dollars project. The road stretches 34 Kilometres in the Baroste plains with 26 bridges across it.
624:, via the ferry across the main river channel at Sandaula, which would then be replaced by a 500-metre bridge. It is treated as an extension of the
952:
937:
731:
709:
659:
647:
195:
977:
804:
413:
409:
402:
494:
The Lozi also catch fish, eating about five times as much as the national average. At the height of the flood they use
417:
343:
system, which differs in having a large permanent lake and swamps, and a much smaller area which dries out annually.
893:
142:
811:
967:
601:
479:
in the 19th century. In addition the entire western of the
Zambezi within the country is a Game Management Area.
982:
823:
378:
and channels. The flood leaves behind a fertile grey to black soil overlaying the
Kalahari sands, enriched by
942:
962:
646:, and this in turn led to funding problems. The road has been completed in 2016. A Chinese contractor, the
230:
331:. Along most of its length its width is over 30 km, reaching 50 km at the widest, just north of
957:
932:
608:
336:
149:
791:
CIFA Occas.Pap., (7): 69 p. Published by Food and
Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
206:
840:
472:
187:
238:
507:
770:
299:
rise on the higher ground to the north, which enjoys good rainfall (1400 mm annually) in a
972:
853:
743:
612:, will have more far-reaching consequences. Around 2002 construction started of a 46-kilometre
625:
295:
at an elevation of about 1000 m tilting very slightly to the south. The
Zambezi and its
947:
573:
8:
541:
ceremony held at Mongu, capital of
Barotseland and its successor, the Western Province.
199:
728:
327:
in the north, to a point about 230 km south, above the Ngonye falls and south of
303:
from
October to May. A flood moves down the river reaching a flat region, formed from
684:
566:
358:
324:
246:
65:
28:
788:
706:
808:
735:
713:
638:
503:
424:
269:
156:
800:
408:, and is bordered by slightly higher sandy ground on which grow dry grasslands (
436:
432:
340:
265:
569:
to connect a small harbour at Mongu to the Zambezi's channel in the dry season
926:
908:
895:
771:"Barotse Floodplain, Zambia: local economic dependence on wetland resources."
582:
320:
90:
522:
488:
440:
339:. The Barotse Floodplain is the second largest wetland in Zambia after the
308:
300:
296:
172:
105:
77:
The Zambezi flowing north to south through the middle of the floodplain;
546:
280:
257:
82:
487:
About 250,000 people live on the plain with a similar number of cattle,
526:
495:
475:, once the Litunga's hunting grounds, established as a game reserve by
452:
428:
390:
316:
279:, whose realm extended up to 300 km from the plain and was called
253:
183:
Cuando river and floodplain, on the border between Angola and Zambia;
636:-based company which acknowledged that conditions were difficult. The
451:. After the flood, the plain is a habitat for grazing animals such as
405:
307:
sands, about five hundred kilometres across. To the south around the
130:
719:, Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC.
679:
613:
538:
499:
476:
468:
460:
448:
389:
As the floods recede, water is left behind in lagoons, swamps, and
304:
276:
171:
a broad floodplain which carries overspill from high floods of the
643:
616:
across the centre of the floodplain to take a paved highway from
328:
292:
273:
234:
123:
98:
86:
789:
Welcomme, R.L. (Comp.) (1979): ”The inland fisheries of Africa."
633:
629:
621:
444:
371:
264:, and "Ba" meaning "people". They became a powerful kingdom in
242:
176:
160:
119:
617:
562:
514:
464:
456:
383:
375:
366:
332:
112:
557:
Development on the plain has been restricted until now to—
518:
510:(low in oxygen) which kills most fish, while eggs survive.
506:
just before the flood, the first floodwaters are naturally
379:
416:) to the east and south, and patches of evergreen forest (
841:"Zambia : The Mongu-Kalabo road has been completed"
824:
Sylvia Mweetwa: "Road financiers to extend agreement."
502:
in the lagoons left behind by the falling flood. Fish
513:The Lozi cultivate crops on the floodplain such as
73:as the bright green to dark blue central region.
924:
249:, regarded as being of high conservation value.
256:as spawning the culture and way of life of the
595:
588:some intensive rice and sugarcane plantations.
549:, is potentially damaging to the environment.
729:"Zambezi Floodplain Ramsar Information Sheet"
482:
602:Lusaka–Mongu Road § Westwards extension
315:The floodplain stretches from the Zambezi's
137:swamps and floodplain of the Lungwebungu;
350:
545:control floods, as has happened with the
133:, seat of the Litunga during the flood;
93:, marking the start of the floodplain;
64:
707:"Seasonal Flooding in Southern Africa".
925:
858:online at www.zambia-travel-guide.com.
766:
764:
762:
760:
758:
756:
754:
752:
660:List of crossings of the Zambezi River
648:Aviation Industry Corporation of China
396:
286:
69:NASA satellite photograph showing the
953:Geography of Western Province, Zambia
784:
782:
576:constructed on mounds, such as Lealui
498:and spears for fishing, and they use
443:, waterbirds, fish-eating birds, and
877:Terracarta/International Travel Maps
774:Case Studies in Wetland Valuation #2
749:
167:Lui River with narrow floodplain;
13:
887:online retrieved 19 November 2007.
875:"Zambia 1:1,500,000 2nd Edition",
779:
382:deposited by the flood as well as
81:confluence of (left to right) the
16:Major floodplain in Central Africa
14:
994:
196:Central Zambezian Miombo woodland
812:Consolidated Contractors Company
740:Ramsar Sites Information Service
938:Flooded grasslands and savannas
585:at Sandaula, Libonda and Lukulu
97:end of the floodplain south of
856:Zambia: The Bradt Travel Guide
847:
833:
817:
794:
722:
700:
672:
552:
141:the Kabompo drains an area of
1:
746:. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
665:
260:, "Rotse" being a variant of
978:Zambezian flooded grasslands
414:Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands
410:Western Zambezian grasslands
403:Zambezian flooded grasslands
198:west of Mongu features many
7:
860:Retrieved 21 November 2007.
653:
596:Barotse Floodplain causeway
115:, capital of Barotseland;
10:
999:
599:
483:Human ecology of the plain
207:Sioma Ngwezi National Park
801:Bulletin 74 (August 2004)
687:Sites Information Service
473:Liuwa Plain National Park
420:) in the north and east.
418:Cryptosepalum dry forests
412:) with woodland savanna (
401:The floodplain is in the
229:is one of Africa's great
188:Liuwa Plain National Park
59:
51:
43:
35:
26:
21:
463:and small antelope such
252:The name recognises the
143:Cryptosepalum dry forest
884:MSN Encarta World Atlas
854:Chris McIntyre (2004).
807:March 26, 2009, at the
734:March 26, 2009, at the
579:a few dry season tracks
351:Flood levels and timing
968:Ramsar sites in Zambia
744:Wetlands International
210:
983:Floodplains of Africa
680:"Zambezi Floodplains"
291:The region is a flat
245:. It is a designated
68:
943:Ecoregions of Africa
272:under their king or
126:on the floodplain;
85:, Southern Kashiji,
963:Geography of Zambia
905: /
606:A new project, the
572:small villages and
423:The flood provides
397:Natural environment
312:prone to flooding.
287:Topography and area
227:Zambezi Floodplain,
215:Barotse Floodplain,
39:Zambezi Floodplains
958:Wetlands of Zambia
933:Barotse Floodplain
879:, Vancouver, 2000.
717:NASA/Visible Earth
712:2008-09-23 at the
325:Lungwebungu Rivers
217:also known as the
211:
71:Barotse Floodplain
52:Reference no.
909:15.033°S 22.883°E
776:: IUCN, May 2003.
626:Lusaka-Mongu Road
609:Mongu-Kalabo road
427:for fish such as
359:Climate of Zambia
108:on the Zambezi;
63:
62:
990:
920:
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917:
916:
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786:
777:
768:
747:
726:
720:
704:
698:
697:
695:
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425:aquatic habitats
365:The peak of the
239:Western Province
159:floodplain near
19:
18:
998:
997:
993:
992:
991:
989:
988:
987:
923:
922:
914:-15.033; 22.883
913:
911:
907:
904:
899:
896:
894:
892:
891:
865:
864:
852:
848:
839:
838:
834:
830:, 5 April 2007.
828:Times of Zambia
822:
818:
809:Wayback Machine
799:
795:
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780:
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750:
736:Wayback Machine
727:
723:
714:Wayback Machine
705:
701:
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639:Times of Zambia
604:
598:
583:pontoon ferries
555:
485:
399:
353:
289:
270:Southern Africa
194:The flat sandy
157:Luanginga River
47:2 February 2007
31:
17:
12:
11:
5:
996:
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980:
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872:
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869:Map references
863:
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793:
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567:colonial times
554:
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484:
481:
398:
395:
363:
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352:
349:
341:Lake Bangweulu
288:
285:
152:(floodplain);
122:, seat of the
91:Kabompo Rivers
61:
60:
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
37:
33:
32:
29:Ramsar Wetland
27:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
995:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
973:Zambezi River
971:
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951:
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530:
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509:
505:
501:
497:
492:
490:
480:
478:
474:
470:
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462:
458:
454:
450:
447:, the wading
446:
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404:
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284:
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278:
275:
271:
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250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
235:Zambezi River
232:
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208:
205:
201:
197:
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178:
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72:
67:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
36:Official name
34:
30:
25:
20:
890:
883:
876:
868:
855:
849:
835:
827:
819:
796:
773:
739:
724:
716:
702:
690:. Retrieved
683:
674:
637:
607:
605:
591:
556:
543:
535:
531:
523:sweet potato
512:
493:
486:
441:hippopotamus
422:
400:
388:
364:
356:
345:
314:
309:Ngonye Falls
301:rainy season
290:
261:
251:
226:
222:
219:Bulozi Plain
218:
214:
212:
203:
191:
184:
180:
173:Cuando River
168:
164:
153:
146:
138:
134:
127:
116:
109:
106:Ngonye Falls
102:
94:
78:
74:
70:
22:Designations
948:Barotseland
912: /
553:Development
547:Kafue Flats
391:oxbow lakes
337:Luena Flats
281:Barotseland
258:Lozi people
247:Ramsar site
150:Luena Flats
83:Lungwebungu
927:Categories
814:of Kuwait.
666:References
600:See also:
527:sugar cane
496:fish traps
453:wildebeest
437:crocodiles
317:confluence
297:headwaters
254:floodplain
44:Designated
574:compounds
500:gill nets
489:migrating
429:tigerfish
406:ecoregion
357:See also
319:with the
233:, on the
131:Limulunga
805:Archived
732:Archived
710:Archived
692:25 April
654:See also
644:culverts
614:causeway
539:Kuomboka
477:Lewanika
469:steenbok
461:tsessebe
449:antelope
305:Kalahari
277:Lewanika
231:wetlands
900:22°53′E
826:Ndola:
565:dug in
508:hypoxic
372:lagoons
329:Senanga
321:Kabompo
293:plateau
274:litunga
266:Central
237:in the
225:or the
124:Litunga
99:Senanga
87:Zambezi
897:15°2′S
685:Ramsar
634:Kuwait
630:Lusaka
622:Kalabo
525:, and
445:lechwe
376:swamps
243:Zambia
223:Lyondo
177:Angola
161:Kalabo
120:Lealui
738:, in
628:from
618:Mongu
563:canal
515:maize
504:spawn
465:oribi
457:zebra
433:bream
384:humus
367:flood
333:Mongu
113:Mongu
694:2018
561:the
519:rice
467:and
431:and
380:silt
323:and
262:Lozi
213:The
200:pans
89:and
55:1662
620:to
241:of
175:in
163:;
145:;
929::
803:,
781:^
751:^
742:,
682:.
529:.
521:,
517:,
459:,
455:,
439:,
435:,
393:.
374:,
283:.
221:,
204:17
202:;
192:16
190:;
185:15
181:14
179:;
169:13
165:12
154:11
147:10
139:9
135:8
128:7
117:6
110:5
103:4
101:;
95:3
79:2
843:.
696:.
268:/
209:.
75:1
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