Geba River
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| Geba | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Geba River in Guinea-Bissau | |
| Location | |
| Countries | Guinea, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Fouta Djallon highlands, Guinea |
| Mouth | |
• location | Atlantic Ocean |
• coordinates | 11°43′20″N 15°38′40″W / 11.72222°N 15.64444°W |
| Length | 550 km (340 mi) |
The Geba is a river of West Africa that rises in the northern most area of Guinea in the Fouta Djallon highlands, passes through southern Senegal, and reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Guinea-Bissau. It is about 550 kilometres (340 mi) in total length.[1] Most of the river is being the longest river in Guinea-BIssau.
In Senegal, the river is locally known as the Kayanga.
Its tributary the Colufe River joins the Geba at Bafatá. After passing by Geba town and Bambadinca, the river broadens into a wide estuary below Xime (where it is joined by the Corubal River), with a total width of about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) at Bissau.[1] The estuary widens further as the river flows into the Atlantic, forming the Bissagos Islands archipelago.
The Geba River, along with the Corubal River, drains the Bafatá Plateau. It also drains the Gabú Plain, along with the Farim River (also known as the Cacheu River), and their tributaries.[2]
It has long been an important trade route connecting into the interior; it is accessible to 2,000-ton ships some 140 kilometres (87 mi) in, and shallow-draft vessels even further.
References
- ^ a b "Golden Sediments from Geba River, Guinea Bissau". Earth Snapshot. Chelys. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ Pélissier, René. "Guinea-Bissau". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
Bibliography
- Salif Diop, La côte ouest-africaine. Du Saloum (Sénégal) à la Mellacorée (Rép. de Guinée), ORSTOM, Paris, 1990, p. 380