Sebou River
Encyclopedia
Sebou is a river
in northern Morocco
. The river is 458 kilometres long and has an average water flow of 137 m3/s, which makes it the largest North African river by volume. The source is in the Middle Atlas
mountains. It passes near the city of Fes
and discharges to the Atlantic Ocean
in Mehdia. Sebou is navigable for only 16 km until the city of Kenitra
, which has the only river port in Morocco. Its most important tributaries are the Ouergha River
, Baht River
and Inaouen River
. The river supports irrigation
in Morocco's most fertile region: the Gharb
.
s and fertilisers from agricultural runoff
and untreated sewage
from towns along the river, especially the city of Fes
.
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 northern Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. The river is 458 kilometres long and has an average water flow of 137 m3/s, which makes it the largest North African river by volume. The source is in the Middle Atlas
Middle Atlas
The Middle Atlas is part of the Atlas mountain range lying in Morocco, a mountainous country with more than 100,000 km² or 15% of its landmass rising above 2,000 metres. The Middle Atlas is the northernmost of three Atlas Mountains chains that define a large plateaued basin extending eastward...
mountains. It passes near the city of Fes
Fes, Morocco
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
and discharges to 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...
in Mehdia. Sebou is navigable for only 16 km until the city of Kenitra
Kenitra
Kenitra is a city in Morocco, formerly known as Port Lyautey. It is a port on the Sebou River, has a population in 2004 of 359,142 and is the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region. During the Cold War Kenitra's U.S...
, which has the only river port in Morocco. Its most important tributaries are the Ouergha River
Ouergha River
The Ouergha River is a watercourse in Morocco that is tributary to the Sebou River.-History:The Ouergha River was a key battle site in the French invasion of Morocco in the year 1924...
, Baht River
Baht River
The Baht River is a watercourse in Morocco that is tributary to the Sebou River. Also known as the Oued Baht, this river rises in the Middle Atlas mountain range.-Natural history:...
and Inaouen River
Inaouen River
The Inaouen River is a watercourse in Morocco that is tributary to the Sebou River. The river rises in the Middle Atlas mountain range. A major dam, the Idriss I was constructed on the Inaouen River in the year 1973.-Natural history:...
. The river supports 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...
in Morocco's most fertile region: the Gharb
Gharb
Għarb is a village located at the westernmost point of the island of Gozo, Malta, with a population of 1,160 people . It started life as a small hamlet centuries ago. You can see its ancient roots in the centre of the village where some houses have fine examples of decorated stone balconies...
.
Environmental issues
A number of water pollutants enter the Sebou River, notably including pesticidePesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and fertilisers from agricultural 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...
and untreated sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
from towns along the river, especially the city of Fes
Fes, Morocco
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
.