Athi-Galana-Sabaki River
- Sabaki redirects here. For the group of languages, see Sabaki languages; 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 km². The river rises at 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 northeast 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 10 m 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 east and enters the Indian Ocean in 30 12' S., just 10km north of Malindi town.
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View of the Galana River in Kenya
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The Fourteen Falls near Thika
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A drongo at Sabaka River
The river flows through the Tsavo East National Park and attracts diverse wildlife, including hippopotamus and crocodiles. Famously, in the 2009 case of Ben Nyaumbe, the region is also home to pythons.
References
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Coordinates: 3°09′S 40°08′E / 3.150°S 40.133°E
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