Athi-Galana-Sabaki River

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Sabaki redirects here. For the go term, see: Go terms: Sabaki

Athi-Galana-Sabaki River is the second longest river in Kenya (after the Tana River). It has a total length of 390 km, and drains a basin area of 70,000 square km. The river rises in 1° 42' S. as Athi River and enters the Indian Ocean as Galana River (also known as Sabaki River).

Athi River flows across the Kapote and Athi plains, through the Athi River town, takes a northteast direction and is met by the Nairobi River. Near Thika it forms the Fourteen Falls and turns south-south-east under the wooded slopes of the Yatta ridge, which shuts in its basin on the east. Apart from the numerous small feeders of the upper river, almost the only tributary is the Tsavo River, from the east side of Kilimanjaro, which enters in about 3° S. It turns east, and in its lower course, known as the Sabaki (or Galana), traverses the sterile quartz-land of the outer plateau. The valley is in parts low and flat, covered with forest and scrub, and containing small lakes and backwaters connected with the river in the rains. At this season the stream, which rises as much as 30 ft. in places, is deep and strong and of a turbid yellow colour; but navigation is interrupted by the Lugard falls, which is actually a series of rapids. Onwards it flows west and enters the Indian Ocean in 30 12' S., just north of Malindi.

The river flows through the Tsavo East National Park and attracts diverse wildlife, including Hippos and Crocodiles.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.