Shashe River
Encyclopedia
The Shashe River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River
in Zimbabwe
.
It rises northwest of Francistown
, Botswana
and flows into the Limpopo River
where Botswana
, Zimbabwe
and South Africa
meet, site of the Shalimpo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
river, with flow generally restricted to a few days of the year. The river contributes 12.2 % of the mean annual runoff
of the Limpopo Basin .
Major tributaries of the Shashe River include the Ramakwebana, Simukwe, Shashani and Thuli
Rivers. The lower Shashe River is a sand filled channel, with extensive alluvial aquifer
s in the river channel and below the alluvial plains. These supply water for a number of irrigation
schemes including Sibasa and Shashi.
More than two million years ago, the Upper Zambezi River used to flow south through what is now the Makgadikgadi Pan
(presently a vast seasonal wetland) to the Shashe River and thence the Limpopo River
.
There is a road bridge and a rail bridge south of Francistown
.
The lower Shashe River forms the international boundary between Botswana
and Zimbabwe
and is unbridged. However, at Tuli, both sides of the river are in Zimbabwe and there are two legal crossing points.
at Shashe Dam. This supplies water to Francistown, surrounding villages, Phoenix Mine (Tati Nickel Mining Company/Norilsk Nickel) and Mupane Gold Mine (IAMGOLD).
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
It rises northwest of Francistown
Francistown
Francistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and flows into the Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
where Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
meet, site of the Shalimpo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Hydrology
The Shashe River is a highly ephemeralEphemeral
Ephemeral things are transitory, existing only briefly. Typically the term is used to describe objects found in nature, although it can describe a wide range of things....
river, with flow generally restricted to a few days of the year. The river contributes 12.2 % of the mean annual runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
of the Limpopo Basin .
Major tributaries of the Shashe River include the Ramakwebana, Simukwe, Shashani and Thuli
Thuli River
The Thuli River, former name Tuli River, is a major tributary of the Shashe River in Zimbabwe.It rises near Matombo Mission, Matobo District, and flows into the Shashe River near Tuli village.- Hydrology :...
Rivers. The lower Shashe River is a sand filled channel, with extensive alluvial aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s in the river channel and below the alluvial plains. These supply water for a number of irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
schemes including Sibasa and Shashi.
More than two million years ago, the Upper Zambezi River used to flow south through what is now the Makgadikgadi Pan
Makgadikgadi Pan
The Makgadikgadi Pan is a large salt pan in the middle of the dry savanna of northeastern Botswana. It is one of the largest salt flats in the world...
(presently a vast seasonal wetland) to the Shashe River and thence the Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
.
Cities, towns and settlements along the river
The settlements cities below have are ordered from the source of the river to its terminus:- City of FrancistownFrancistownFrancistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
- TuliTuliTuli is a village in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. It is located about 90 km west of Beitbridge on the eastern bank of the Shashe River. The village grew around Fort Tuli which was the first settlement built by the Pioneer Column in July 1890 at the place known as Selous Camp...
village - Shashi Irrigation Scheme
Bridges and Crossings
Francistown
Francistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
.
The lower Shashe River forms the international boundary between Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and is unbridged. However, at Tuli, both sides of the river are in Zimbabwe and there are two legal crossing points.
Development
The Shashe River is dammed near FrancistownFrancistown
Francistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
at Shashe Dam. This supplies water to Francistown, surrounding villages, Phoenix Mine (Tati Nickel Mining Company/Norilsk Nickel) and Mupane Gold Mine (IAMGOLD).
See also
- Geological changes to the course of the Zambezi River
- Thuli RiverThuli RiverThe Thuli River, former name Tuli River, is a major tributary of the Shashe River in Zimbabwe.It rises near Matombo Mission, Matobo District, and flows into the Shashe River near Tuli village.- Hydrology :...
- Mchabezi River