Mambilima Falls
Encyclopedia
Mambilima Falls is a series of rapids on the Luapula River
on the boundary between Zambia
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
The falls used to be called the Johnstone Falls.
They extend along a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) stretch of the river.
Below Lake Bangweulu the Luapula is a broad, swamplike system flowing southward that turns west and descends the steep Mambatuta Falls
before meandering north to the Mambilima falls,
The lush and densely-populated Luapula valley opens out beyond the Mambilima falls into a huge area of marshes, floodpains and lagoons at the southern end of Lake Mweru
.
There is an almost continuous stretch of villages from the falls to the lake.
Traditionally, the fishermen near the falls used dams, weirs and traps to catch as many fish as possible before the flood water receded.
The fish of Lake Mweru do not spawn south of the the waterfalls and rapids, where Lake Bangweulu has a distinct ecology.
Luapula River
The Luapula River is a section of Africa's second-longest river, the Congo. It is a transnational river forming for nearly all its length part of the border between Zambia and the DR Congo...
on the boundary between Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
The falls used to be called the Johnstone Falls.
They extend along a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) stretch of the river.
Below Lake Bangweulu the Luapula is a broad, swamplike system flowing southward that turns west and descends the steep Mambatuta Falls
Mambatuta Falls
The Mambatuta Falls are a steep waterfall on the Luapula River, which originates in Lake Bangweulu and flows through Zambia and along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Lake Mweru....
before meandering north to the Mambilima falls,
The lush and densely-populated Luapula valley opens out beyond the Mambilima falls into a huge area of marshes, floodpains and lagoons at the southern end of Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru is a freshwater lake on the longest arm of Africa's second-longest river, the Congo. Located on the border between Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo, it makes up 110 km of the total length of the Congo, lying between its Luapula River and Luvua River segments.Mweru...
.
There is an almost continuous stretch of villages from the falls to the lake.
Traditionally, the fishermen near the falls used dams, weirs and traps to catch as many fish as possible before the flood water receded.
The fish of Lake Mweru do not spawn south of the the waterfalls and rapids, where Lake Bangweulu has a distinct ecology.