It covers approximately 177,429 km2, or 20% of the total land area of Tanzania (URT, 2013a). It is known for it agricultural production and is often called the "bread basket" of Tanzania. Fishers make a living catching fish from its waters. Mafia Island…. Dar es Salaam, National Bureau of Statistics. Formed by the confluence of the Kilombero and the Luwegu rivers, it flows for about 175 mi northeast and east to enter the Indian Ocean, opposite Mafia Island. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It is drained by four rivers: the Great Ruaha, the Kilombero, the Luwegu and the Rufiji. Corrections? Within the Basin, there are important national parks (Kitulo, Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Uluguru), large game reserves (Selous, Rungwa, Usangu, Mpanga/ Kipengere, and Lunda), forest reserves, mining, and pasture for livestock. Rufiji — A multi-billion-shilling irrigation scheme geared towards agricultural development has scored notable achievement in the Rufiji River Basin. Report prepared for the United Republic of Tanzania, Ministry of Water, by WREM International Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA. THE RUFIJI BASIN Relief and geology The Rufiji catchment is the largest river basin in Tanzania. Mainland Tanganyika covers more than 99 percent of the combined territories’ total area. Power transformers of 235-353MVA each and having a combined capacity of 2,470MVA will be installed. The Rufiji River basin (Figure 1) is the largest and single-most important river basin in Tanzania, occupying 20 percent of the land area and receiving one third of the total national rainfall. National Population and Housing Census. United Republic of Tanzania (URT). East Coast. Lack of safe drinking water Oil exploration Rufiji River basin xxiv. Umba River basin; Sigi River basin; Pangani River basin . Other significant potentials include irrigation, agriculture agriculture Subject Category: Disciplines, Occupations and Industries Water, essential to all life, plays a particularly important role in the lives of Tanzanians living near Mbarali River, part of the larger Rufiji River basin in southern Tanzania. Cattle herders guide their animals to its banks to drink and graze. Cattle herders guide their animals to its banks to drink and graze. United Republic of Tanzania (URT). The- Rufiji River Basin consists of the Great Ruaha, Kilombero, Luwegu, and Lower Rufiji sub-basins. It has also attracted large numbers of people migrating to the area seeking land for cropping and to raise livestock. Fishers make a living catching fish from its waters. 4 No. Tributaries are indented under each larger stream's name.. A list by letters is given at the bottom of the article. According to the national census, the Districts within the Basin had 9,032,089 people in 2012; this compares to 3,055,051 in 2002 (URT 2013b). Cattle herders guide their animals to its banks to drink and graze. The Rufiji River Basin in southern Tanzania is the largest in the country and the most important for many activities, goods and services associated with water and its uses. The Basin itself is managed by the Rufiji Basin Water Board under the Ministry of Water. Rufiji delta is home to the largest mangrove forest in Eastern Africa. Upstream of the major hydrological sta-tion at Stiegler's gorge (station 1 K3) it has an area of 156,600 km2. The Rufiji River basin, the largest in the country, is graced with some of the most spectacular scenery and is a popular tourist attraction. Its elevation rises from 0 meters at the Indian Ocean to about 3000 meters in the Mbeya Region. The river is ideal for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Water, essential to all life, plays a particularly important role in the lives of Tanzanians living near Mbarali River, part of the larger Rufiji River basin in southern Tanzania. The Rufiji River Basin is the largest river basin in Tanzania and in East Africa. The Basin covers 11 administrative regions and 26 districts. Here, farmers use water from the river to irrigate their crops. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Rufiji basin is third in terms of economic potential in both the Business as Usual and Targeted Investment scenarios. The Rufiji River Basin(RB) is one of East Africa’s highest potential crop production areas and is regarded as a food basket Here, farmers use water from the river to irrigate their crops. Volume 1: Climate and Hydrologic Modeling and Assessments. Rufiji river attracts millions of animals in Selous Game Reserve. 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