Its size and shape depends on the season and amount of water flowing into the swamps, especially from the Mbereshi River to the southeast, its main supplier. Generally its north–south axis is about 14 km and its east–west axis is about 6 km. Floating islands of sedge are usually found in an east–west line across its middle, which may effectively cut it in two, and at times vegetation has covered much of the southern half.
The importance of the Mofwe lies in its fishery, which attracted Mwata Kazembe to settle in the town of Kanyembo on its eastern edge in the 19th century.[1] The Mofwe does not have a definite shore and is not easily accessed, being lined by a dense band of very tall reeds, and having floating rafts and islands of sedge which change its margins and shape frequently. Local fishermen paddle dugout canoes along narrow channels through the reeds to reach open water. The lagoon and surrounding swamps support populations of hippopotamus and crocodiles.
The lagoon is separated from the main channel of the Luapula by 6 km of swamps. Although the Luapula swamps are generally 30 to 40 km wide for most of their 100 km length, at the nearest point to Mofwe, the Luapula's western bank is formed by an island in the DR Congo only 12 km from Kanyembo. This facilates trade and smuggling by canoe through the channels and lagoons of the swamps.
David Livingstone and Horace Waller (ed.): The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa from 1865 to his Death. Two volumes, John Murray, 1874.
Referencesedit
^Macola, Giacomo (2003). The kingdom of Kazembe: history and politics in North-Eastern Zambia and Katanga to 1950 (Studies on African History), Lit Verlag, p. 50. ISBN3-8258-5997-5
May 09, 2024
mofwe, lagoon, largest, several, lagoons, luapula, river, swamps, south, lake, mweru, luapula, province, zambia, locationluapula, province, zambiacoordinates9, 700primary, inflowsmbereshi, river, luapula, river, contents, geography, also, sources, referencesge. The Mofwe Lagoon is the largest of several lagoons in the Luapula River swamps south of Lake Mweru in the Luapula Province of Zambia Mofwe LagoonMofwe LagoonLocationLuapula Province ZambiaCoordinates9 37 S 28 42 E 9 617 S 28 700 E 9 617 28 700Primary inflowsMbereshi River Luapula River Contents 1 Geography 2 See also 3 Sources 4 ReferencesGeography editIts size and shape depends on the season and amount of water flowing into the swamps especially from the Mbereshi River to the southeast its main supplier Generally its north south axis is about 14 km and its east west axis is about 6 km Floating islands of sedge are usually found in an east west line across its middle which may effectively cut it in two and at times vegetation has covered much of the southern half The importance of the Mofwe lies in its fishery which attracted Mwata Kazembe to settle in the town of Kanyembo on its eastern edge in the 19th century 1 The Mofwe does not have a definite shore and is not easily accessed being lined by a dense band of very tall reeds and having floating rafts and islands of sedge which change its margins and shape frequently Local fishermen paddle dugout canoes along narrow channels through the reeds to reach open water The lagoon and surrounding swamps support populations of hippopotamus and crocodiles The lagoon is separated from the main channel of the Luapula by 6 km of swamps Although the Luapula swamps are generally 30 to 40 km wide for most of their 100 km length at the nearest point to Mofwe the Luapula s western bank is formed by an island in the DR Congo only 12 km from Kanyembo This facilates trade and smuggling by canoe through the channels and lagoons of the swamps See also editLuapula River Kazembe Lake MweruSources editDavid Livingstone and Horace Waller ed The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa from 1865 to his Death Two volumes John Murray 1874 References edit Macola Giacomo 2003 The kingdom of Kazembe history and politics in North Eastern Zambia and Katanga to 1950 Studies on African History Lit Verlag p 50 ISBN 3 8258 5997 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mofwe Lagoon amp oldid 1166221602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
