The Ngounié River (also Ngunyé, French: Rivière Ngounié) is a river flowing through southwest-central Gabon. It is the last and second most important tributary of the Ogooué River, the first being the Ivindo River. It initially flows down from the Chaillu Mountains, along the border with Congo, and then turns northwest, flowing through the towns of Fougamou, Sindara and Mouila before flowing into the Ogooué.
Ngounié
The Ngounié River flows through southwest-central Gabon, flowing through Mouila
The river name, Ngounié, is a French rewording of "Ngugni", which was originally used by Vili language speakers in the Samba Falls/Imperatrice Falls area in the mid-1800s to call the northern border of their district, "Nsina-Ngugni".[1] When Robert Bruce Napoleon Walker and Paul Du Chaillu arrived in the area, they wrote down "Ngouyai" or "Ngunyé". The Gisir and Punu language speakers of Gabon know the river as "Durembu-du-Manga", while the Apindji, Eviya and Tsogo speakers know it as Otembo-a-Manga. The Kele speakers know it as "Melembye-a-Manga". The first part of these names means "body of water" in the given languages, and "manga" refers to dwarf palm trees which grow along its bank.[1]
Geographyedit
Ngounié River
The Ngounié River, with a basin area of about 33,100 square kilometres (12,800 sq mi), is the second largest tributary of the Ogooué River. It rises in the Chaillu Mountains. For 60 kilometres (37 mi), the river has a south and then west flow, and forms a border with Congo. At the Polo River confluence, it changes direction, heading northwest, before passing through three waterfalls. It then establishes a floodplain within a 220 kilometres (140 mi) valley between the Moukande Mountains[dubious – discuss] and the Massif due Chaillu. After meandering for more than 400 kilometres (250 mi) on the valley floor, it joins the Ogooué prior to Lambaréné. Development in the floodplain occurs mostly in the areas between Lébamba and Mouila, and again from the Fougamou area to the Ogooué at Lambarene. Conservatively, the estimated valley flood land area is approximately 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres). The left bank is characterized by sandy clay soils.[2]
The Ngounié River Valley is formed between the forest-covered Du Chaillu Hills and the Ikoundou Mountains, and has grassy vegetation. The region within this valley is also known as Ngounié.[3]
Its tributaries include Louetsié, which passes through Lébamba and Mbigou; Ikoy, whose main tributary are the Ikobe River and the Oumba River; Dollé, which passes through Ndendé; as well as the Ogoulou, Ngongo and Ovigui rivers. Imperatrice Falls (also known as Samba Falls, or Empress Eugénie Falls),[4] are approximately 10 metres (33 ft) in height. They are located in a river bend in the Ngounié Province, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Fougamou. Here, the Ngounié measures approximately 150 metres (490 ft) in width and contains small islands. This is within the Peneplain Chaillu, which features granite gneiss and hills as well as rocky bays.[5]
Climateedit
The climate is characterized by its equatorial humidity. The average temperature varies between 23–28 °C (73–82 °F). The relative humidity is commonly greater than 80%. Annual rainfall is measured around 2,000–2,200 millimetres (79–87 in). Wet seasons occur during September–December and March–May.[5]
Power developmentedit
The hydro-power potential of the Ngounié River has been proposed to be tapped by a hydroelectric project located on the Empress Eugénie Falls. The project is planned as a 56 MW run-of-the-river scheme with four units 14 MW capacity each. Two additional units of 14 MW have also been planned for completion in 2015, thus taking the total installed capacity of the station to 84 MW. The project utilizes the main Empress Eugénie waterfall of about 12 metres (39 ft) and a series of rapids in a river length of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), creating a total head of 20 metres (66 ft) for power generation. The geology in the project area consists of granitegneiss formations.[6]
^ ab"Environmental and Social Management Plan Summary" (PDF). African Development Bank Group. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
^"Environmental and Social Management Plan Summary" (PDF). African Development Bank. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
Bibliographyedit
National Geographic. 2003. African Adventure Atlas Pg 24,72. led by Sean Frase
Barret, Jacques (1 January 1983). Géographie et cartographie du Gabon: atlas illustré. Editions classiques d'expression francaise. pp. 14–15. ISBN978-2-85069-301-4.
Gray, Christopher John (2002). Colonial Rule and Crisis in Equatorial Africa: Southern Gabon, C. 1850-1940. University Rochester Press. p. 108. ISBN978-1-58046-048-4.
Hickendorff, Annelies (19 September 2014). Gabon. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN978-1-84162-554-6.
Hughes, R. H.; Hughes, J. S.; Bernacsek, G. M. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. IUCN. ISBN978-2-88032-949-5.
Warne, Sophie (2003). Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN978-1-84162-073-2.
ngounié, river, also, ngunyé, french, rivière, ngounié, river, flowing, through, southwest, central, gabon, last, second, most, important, tributary, ogooué, river, first, being, ivindo, river, initially, flows, down, from, chaillu, mountains, along, border, w. The Ngounie River also Ngunye French Riviere Ngounie is a river flowing through southwest central Gabon It is the last and second most important tributary of the Ogooue River the first being the Ivindo River It initially flows down from the Chaillu Mountains along the border with Congo and then turns northwest flowing through the towns of Fougamou Sindara and Mouila before flowing into the Ogooue NgounieThe Ngounie River flows through southwest central Gabon flowing through MouilaNative nameRiviere Ngounie French LocationCountryGabonPhysical characteristicsSource locationChaillu Mountains Republic of the CongoMouth locationLambarene GabonLength680 km 420 mi Basin size33 100 km2 12 800 sq mi Contents 1 Etymology 2 Geography 3 Climate 4 Power development 5 References 6 BibliographyEtymology editThe river name Ngounie is a French rewording of Ngugni which was originally used by Vili language speakers in the Samba Falls Imperatrice Falls area in the mid 1800s to call the northern border of their district Nsina Ngugni 1 When Robert Bruce Napoleon Walker and Paul Du Chaillu arrived in the area they wrote down Ngouyai or Ngunye The Gisir and Punu language speakers of Gabon know the river as Durembu du Manga while the Apindji Eviya and Tsogo speakers know it as Otembo a Manga The Kele speakers know it as Melembye a Manga The first part of these names means body of water in the given languages and manga refers to dwarf palm trees which grow along its bank 1 Geography edit nbsp Ngounie River The Ngounie River with a basin area of about 33 100 square kilometres 12 800 sq mi is the second largest tributary of the Ogooue River It rises in the Chaillu Mountains For 60 kilometres 37 mi the river has a south and then west flow and forms a border with Congo At the Polo River confluence it changes direction heading northwest before passing through three waterfalls It then establishes a floodplain within a 220 kilometres 140 mi valley between the Moukande Mountains dubious discuss and the Massif due Chaillu After meandering for more than 400 kilometres 250 mi on the valley floor it joins the Ogooue prior to Lambarene Development in the floodplain occurs mostly in the areas between Lebamba and Mouila and again from the Fougamou area to the Ogooue at Lambarene Conservatively the estimated valley flood land area is approximately 150 000 hectares 370 000 acres The left bank is characterized by sandy clay soils 2 The Ngounie River Valley is formed between the forest covered Du Chaillu Hills and the Ikoundou Mountains and has grassy vegetation The region within this valley is also known as Ngounie 3 Its tributaries include Louetsie which passes through Lebamba and Mbigou Ikoy whose main tributary are the Ikobe River and the Oumba River Dolle which passes through Ndende as well as the Ogoulou Ngongo and Ovigui rivers Imperatrice Falls also known as Samba Falls or Empress Eugenie Falls 4 are approximately 10 metres 33 ft in height They are located in a river bend in the Ngounie Province 5 kilometres 3 1 mi from Fougamou Here the Ngounie measures approximately 150 metres 490 ft in width and contains small islands This is within the Peneplain Chaillu which features granite gneiss and hills as well as rocky bays 5 Climate editThe climate is characterized by its equatorial humidity The average temperature varies between 23 28 C 73 82 F The relative humidity is commonly greater than 80 Annual rainfall is measured around 2 000 2 200 millimetres 79 87 in Wet seasons occur during September December and March May 5 Power development editThe hydro power potential of the Ngounie River has been proposed to be tapped by a hydroelectric project located on the Empress Eugenie Falls The project is planned as a 56 MW run of the river scheme with four units 14 MW capacity each Two additional units of 14 MW have also been planned for completion in 2015 thus taking the total installed capacity of the station to 84 MW The project utilizes the main Empress Eugenie waterfall of about 12 metres 39 ft and a series of rapids in a river length of 2 000 metres 6 600 ft creating a total head of 20 metres 66 ft for power generation The geology in the project area consists of granite gneiss formations 6 References edit a b Gray 2002 p 108 Hughes Hughes amp Bernacsek 1992 p 517 Warne 2003 p 113 Hickendorff 2014 p 120 a b Environmental and Social Management Plan Summary PDF African Development Bank Group pp 1 7 Retrieved 17 May 2015 Environmental and Social Management Plan Summary PDF African Development Bank Retrieved 18 May 2015 Bibliography editNational Geographic 2003 African Adventure Atlas Pg 24 72 led by Sean Frase Barret Jacques 1 January 1983 Geographie et cartographie du Gabon atlas illustre Editions classiques d expression francaise pp 14 15 ISBN 978 2 85069 301 4 Gray Christopher John 2002 Colonial Rule and Crisis in Equatorial Africa Southern Gabon C 1850 1940 University Rochester Press p 108 ISBN 978 1 58046 048 4 Hickendorff Annelies 19 September 2014 Gabon Bradt Travel Guides ISBN 978 1 84162 554 6 Hughes R H Hughes J S Bernacsek G M 1992 A Directory of African Wetlands IUCN ISBN 978 2 88032 949 5 Warne Sophie 2003 Gabon Sao Tome and Principe Bradt Travel Guides ISBN 978 1 84162 073 2 0 47 38 S 10 29 21 E 0 79389 S 10 48917 E 0 79389 10 48917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ngounie River amp oldid 1172953057, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
