Munyati River
Encyclopedia
The Munyati River is a river
in Zimbabwe
. Under the Rhodesia
n administration, it was officially named Umniati, but its spelling was changed in 1983 to more closely resemble the correct Shona
pronunciation.
The river rises in Mashonaland East
just north of Chivhu
and approximately 100 kilometres south of Harare
. It runs approximately north-west and for much of its length it originally formed the southern border of Mashonaland province, and today is largely the southern border of Mashonaland West. The river is joined by the Mupfure River
(also known as the Umfuli). Below this point, the river is often referred to as the Sanyati. After a total of 500 km the river flows in to Lake Kariba
(the section of the Zambezi
between the Kariba Dam
and the Batoka Gorge) making it part of the Zambezi Basin.
The river flow is highly variable, reflecting the sharp distinction in the local climate between dry and wet seasons. Between December and May it flows strongly and is about 3m deep on the plateau and 80 to 100m in breadth (although less deep) on its lower reaches. During the rest of the year it is much reduced and slower-flowing usually only 2m deep and almost drying up on rare occasions during serious droughts; as last in 1984.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
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...
. Under the Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n administration, it was officially named Umniati, but its spelling was changed in 1983 to more closely resemble the correct Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
pronunciation.
The river rises in Mashonaland East
Mashonaland East
Mashonaland East is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 32,230 km² and a population of approximately 1.1 million . Marondera is the capital of the province.-Districts:Mashonaland East is divided into eight districts:* Chikomba* Goromonzi...
just north of Chivhu
Chivhu
Chivhu is a small town in Zimbabwe, with an estimated population of 10,000 in 2007. It is located south of Harare on the main road south to Masvingo and South Africa.-History:...
and approximately 100 kilometres south of Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. It runs approximately north-west and for much of its length it originally formed the southern border of Mashonaland province, and today is largely the southern border of Mashonaland West. The river is joined by the Mupfure River
Mupfure River
Mupfure River is a river in Zimbabwe....
(also known as the Umfuli). Below this point, the river is often referred to as the Sanyati. After a total of 500 km the river flows in to Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe...
(the section of the Zambezi
Zambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
between the Kariba Dam
Kariba Dam
The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing tall and long.- Construction :...
and the Batoka Gorge) making it part of the Zambezi Basin.
The river flow is highly variable, reflecting the sharp distinction in the local climate between dry and wet seasons. Between December and May it flows strongly and is about 3m deep on the plateau and 80 to 100m in breadth (although less deep) on its lower reaches. During the rest of the year it is much reduced and slower-flowing usually only 2m deep and almost drying up on rare occasions during serious droughts; as last in 1984.