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Sanaga River
River Sanaga.jpg
The Sanaga River after the Edea Hydroelectric Power Station
Sanaga river map.png
Map of the Sanaga River drainage basin
Country Cameroon
Regions East Region, Centre Region, Littoral Region
Cities Edéa, Nanga Eboko, Bélabo
Physical characteristics
Main source Confluence of Djérem River and Lom River
628 m (2,060 ft)
5°19′26″N 13°23′52″E / 5.323772°N 13.397769°E / 5.323772; 13.397769
River mouth Bight of Biafra
0 m
3°33′34″N 9°39′08″E / 3.559338°N 9.652175°E / 3.559338; 9.652175
Length 603 km (375 mi), with Djérem River 1,067.5 km (663.3 mi)
Discharge
(location 2)
  • Location:
    Bight of Biafra, Cameroon (near mouth)
  • Minimum rate:
    473 m3/s (16,700 cu ft/s)
  • Average rate:
    2,072 m3/s (73,200 cu ft/s)
  • Maximum rate:
    5,700 m3/s (200,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system Sanaga River
Basin size 132,990 km2 (51,350 sq mi)
Tributaries
  • Left:
    Long River, Tete River, Sele River, Mfam River, Ngoba River
  • Right:
    Mbam River, Mbuku River, Ligene River, Djam River, Dorong River, Jape River, Uem River
Waterbodies Song Loulou Hydroelectric Power Station, Edea Hydroelectric Power Station
Bridges Japoma Bridge

The Sanaga River (formerly German: Zannaga) is the largest river in Cameroon located in East Region, Centre Region and Littoral Region. Its length is about 603 km (375 mi) from the confluence of Djérem and Lom River. The total length of Sanaga-Djérem River system is about 1,067.5 km (663.3 mi). Djerem is the longest source of Sanaga River with a total length of 464.5 km.

Course

The Sanaga River has its source at the Adamawa Plateau. It is formed by the confluence of the Djérem and Lom Rivers in the north of the East Region. Djérem River has a total length of 464.5 km (288.6 mi) and Lom River a total length of 424.2 km (263.6 mi). Apart from these originating rivers, the largest tributary of Sanaga is Mbam River with a total length of 548 km (341 mi).

Slope of Sanaga River

Climate

The Sanaga River forms a boundary between two tropical moist forest ecoregions. The Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests lie to the north between the Sanaga River and the Cross River of Nigeria, and the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests extend south of the river through southwestern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Cabinda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hydrology

The flow of the river was measured at Edéa in m³/s


Dams and reservoirs

Beginning at the headwaters, there are 2 dams on the Sanaga River:

Dam Nameplate capacity
(MW)
Reservoir Surface area
(km2)
Total capacity
(Mio. m³)
Song Loulou 384 10
Edea 264

Transport

Photo Pont Allemand d'Edéa
Edea bridge on the Sanaga
  • The Camrail railway bridges the Sanaga River at Edea.
Alentour fleuve sanaga 09
Forest around the Sanaga River
Alentour fleuve sanaga 06
Around the Sanaga River
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