Saint John River (Liberia)
Encyclopedia
The Saint John River is one of the six main river
s in the West Africa
n nation of Liberia
. With its headwaters in neighboring Guinea
, the river flows generally southwest through Liberia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean
at Bassa Cove near Edina
in Grand Bassa County
. The 175 miles (281.6 km) river has a drainage basin
covering 5700 square miles (14,762.9 km²).
in the country of Guinea
and flow south towards the border with Liberia. Near Yalata, Guinea it begins to form the border between Guinea and Bong County
in Liberia. Flowing generally south, it forms the international boundary for around 6 miles. At Niatande, Liberia, it meets the Mani River and enters Liberia, forming the boundary between Bong and Nimba
counties. The river then flows to the southwest for approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) before turning to the southeast for a 12 miles (19.3 km) stretch. Near Zahn it takes a small river, and turns southwest again.
After about 15 miles (24.1 km) it begins to form the boundary between Bong and Grand Bassa
counties and turns west for about 10 miles. The river then continues to the southwest, and after approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) it enters Grand Bassa County. After around 8 miles (12.9 km) it turns south for eight miles (13 km) and then flows back to the southwest for approximately 10 miles. Near Shoigabli it turns due south for about 9 miles (14.5 km) where it passes Mount Finley and turns more westerly and flows generally southwest for another 9 miles. Between Zoblum and Alfabli the Saint John widens and flows to the northwest for around 3 miles (4.8 km) before heading west for a mile to Hartford. The river then dives to the southwest for its final 6.5 miles. Here it receives the Mechlin and Benson rivers as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Edina
and Buchanan
.
The mouth of the river is approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) south and east of the Saint Paul River
’s mouth near Monrovia
. Flowing generally southwest from its source to the ocean it contains occasional rapids and a waterfall
. Near the ocean the river reaches its widest point of about 1 miles (1.6 km) across and is the location of Factory Island, the largest of the many islands in the river. The river received its name from Portuguese explorers in the 15th Century who spotted the mouth on St. John’s feast day
.
on inland portions of the waterway. There are at least 65 species of fish in the river, including species of Mastacembelidae
, Barbus eburneensis
, Chrysichthys johnelsi
, Killifish
, Electric catfish
, Nile perch
, and Tilapia
among others. Birds also use the riverbanks and islands as nesting grounds, including the Three-cusped Pangolin, Palaearctic, Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Little Ringed Plover, and Water Chevrotain in the Kpatawee Wetlands area in Bong County.
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...
s in the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation of Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. With its headwaters in neighboring Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, the river flows generally southwest through Liberia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Bassa Cove near Edina
Edina, Liberia
Edina is a town in District 1 of Grand Bassa County, Liberia. Located on the central portion of the Atlantic Coast of Liberia on the north shore of the mouth of the St. John River, it is about north of Grand Bassa’s capitol of Buchanan. Settled in 1832, the current mayor of Edina is Etweda Cooper...
in Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
. The 175 miles (281.6 km) river has a drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
covering 5700 square miles (14,762.9 km²).
Course
The headwaters of the river are in the Nimba Range of the Guinea HighlandsGuinea Highlands
The Guinea Highlands is a densely forested mountainous plateau extending from the southern Fouta Djallon highlands in southeastern Guinea through to northern Sierra Leone and Liberia, and northwestern Côte d'Ivoire ....
in the country of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and flow south towards the border with Liberia. Near Yalata, Guinea it begins to form the border between Guinea and Bong County
Bong County
Bong is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has twelve districts. Gbarnga serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
in Liberia. Flowing generally south, it forms the international boundary for around 6 miles. At Niatande, Liberia, it meets the Mani River and enters Liberia, forming the boundary between Bong and Nimba
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
counties. The river then flows to the southwest for approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) before turning to the southeast for a 12 miles (19.3 km) stretch. Near Zahn it takes a small river, and turns southwest again.
After about 15 miles (24.1 km) it begins to form the boundary between Bong and Grand Bassa
Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
counties and turns west for about 10 miles. The river then continues to the southwest, and after approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) it enters Grand Bassa County. After around 8 miles (12.9 km) it turns south for eight miles (13 km) and then flows back to the southwest for approximately 10 miles. Near Shoigabli it turns due south for about 9 miles (14.5 km) where it passes Mount Finley and turns more westerly and flows generally southwest for another 9 miles. Between Zoblum and Alfabli the Saint John widens and flows to the northwest for around 3 miles (4.8 km) before heading west for a mile to Hartford. The river then dives to the southwest for its final 6.5 miles. Here it receives the Mechlin and Benson rivers as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Edina
Edina, Liberia
Edina is a town in District 1 of Grand Bassa County, Liberia. Located on the central portion of the Atlantic Coast of Liberia on the north shore of the mouth of the St. John River, it is about north of Grand Bassa’s capitol of Buchanan. Settled in 1832, the current mayor of Edina is Etweda Cooper...
and Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
.
Details
The river’s drainage basin covers 14762 square kilometre over both Liberia and Guinea. At 175 miles (281.6 km) in length, it is one of the six main or major rivers of Liberia. There are only 16 rivers in the country total. The average annual discharge of the St. John is 136.06 m3/s as measured at the inland station of Baila. During the wet season in October, flows average 233.49 m3/s, while in February during the dry season the flows average 18.95 m3/s at the same location.The mouth of the river is approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) south and east of the Saint Paul River
Saint Paul River
The Saint Paul River is a river of western Africa. Its headwaters are in southeastern Guinea. Its upper portion in Guinea is known as the Diani River or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia. The river then enters Liberia about north of Gbarnga and crosses...
’s mouth near Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
. Flowing generally southwest from its source to the ocean it contains occasional rapids and a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
. Near the ocean the river reaches its widest point of about 1 miles (1.6 km) across and is the location of Factory Island, the largest of the many islands in the river. The river received its name from Portuguese explorers in the 15th Century who spotted the mouth on St. John’s feast day
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist is a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus and who baptized Jesus.-Significance:Christians have long interpreted the life of John the Baptist as a preparation for...
.
Aquatic life
The Saint John River has a variety of aquatic life in and along the shores over the length to the river. Species include the Slender-snouted CrocodileSlender-snouted Crocodile
The African Slender-snouted Crocodile is a species of crocodile. Recent studies in DNA and morphology suggest that it may belong in its own genus, Mecistops, but at present most continue to use Crocodylus for this species.African Slender-snouted Crocodile are native to freshwater habitats in...
on inland portions of the waterway. There are at least 65 species of fish in the river, including species of Mastacembelidae
Mastacembelidae
The Mastacembelidae are a family of fishes, known as the spiny eels. The Mastacembelids are part of the Order Synbranchiformes, the swamp eels, which are part of the Actinopterygii ....
, Barbus eburneensis
Barbus
Barbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of Barbus is the Common Barbel, first described as Cyprinus barbus and now named Barbus barbus...
, Chrysichthys johnelsi
Chrysichthys
Chrysichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Claroteidae.Though C. brachynema, C. grandis, C. graueri, C. platycephalus, C. sianenna, and C...
, Killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
, Electric catfish
Electric catfish
Electric catfish is the common name for the catfish family Malapteruridae. This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis with 19 species. Several species of this family have the ability to produce an electric shock of up to 350 volts using electroplaques of an electric organ...
, Nile perch
Nile perch
The Nile perch is a species of freshwaterfish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. It is widespread throughout muchof the Afrotropic ecozone, being native to the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad, Volta, Lake Turkana and other river basins. It also occurs in the brackish waters of...
, and Tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
among others. Birds also use the riverbanks and islands as nesting grounds, including the Three-cusped Pangolin, Palaearctic, Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Little Ringed Plover, and Water Chevrotain in the Kpatawee Wetlands area in Bong County.