Insiza River
Appearance
Insiza River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Zimbabwe |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Fort Rixon,Zimbabwe |
Mouth | |
• location | Mzingwane River |
Basin size | 3,401 km2(1,313 sq mi)[1] |
Discharge | |
• average | 25.9 mm/a (1.02 in/year) unit runoff[2] |
TheInsiza Riveris the principal tributary of theMzingwane RiverinZimbabwe.
It rises nearFort Rixon,Insiza District,and flows into theMzingwane RivernearWest Nicholson.
Hydrology
[edit]The upper reaches of the Insiza are ephemeral, but belowSilalabuhwa Dam,the river flows for two-thirds of the year.[2]
Major tributaries of the Insiza River include theInkankeziandSiwazerivers.
Cities, towns and settlements along the river
[edit]The settlements below are ordered from the beginning of the river to its end:
- Fort Rixonvillage
- Filabusivillage
Bridges and crossings
[edit]There are four main bridges over the Insiza River:
- Bridge on mainMbalabala-Masvingoroad, nearFilabusi.
- Bridge onFilabusi-Matagaroad.
- Bridge onFilabusi-West Nicholsonroad.
- Croft Bridge, on the road fromFilabusito Croft mine.
There are also a number of crossing points, including:
- Ekusileni pontoon (see photo at top of page).
Development
[edit]In addition to a number of smallweirs,there are four dams on the Insiza River:
- Upper Insiza Dam,nearFort Rixon,built in 1967 with a full supply capacity of 8,829 MCM (million cubic metres).
- Insiza Dam,previously known as Mayfair Dam and Lake Cunningham, built in 1973, with a full supply capacity of 173,491 MCM. It supplies water to the city ofBulawayo.
- Pangani Dam,nearFilabusi,built to supply water for Pangani mine (now closed and site of a youth training institute.
- Silalabuhwa Dam,built in 1966, with a full supply capacity of 23,454 MCM. It is located near the confluence with theMzingwane Riverand supplies water for irrigation to the Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme[3]and toColleen Bawn.[4]
References
[edit]- ^Kileshye Onema, J.-M. and van Rooyen, A. 2007. Landuse dynamics in a small watershed of the semi-arid Zimbabwe. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #B41B-0460[1]
- ^abKileshye-Onema,J.-M., Mazvimavi, D., Love, D. and Mul, M.L. 2006. Effects of selected dams on river flows of Insiza River, Zimbabwe. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 31, 870-875.[2]
- ^Moyo, M.; van Rooyen, A.; Moyo, M.; Chivenge, P.; Bjornlund, H. (2017)."Irrigation development in Zimbabwe: understanding productivity barriers and opportunities at Mkoba and Silalatshani irrigation schemes".International Journal of Water Resources Development.33(5): 740–754.doi:10.1080/07900627.2016.1175339.hdl:10568/96629.
- ^Chibi, T., Kandori, C. and Makone, B.F. 2005. Mzingwane Catchment Outline Plan. Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Bulawayo.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toInsiza River.