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Difficulty: Very hardDrainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

Arrange the following geographic features and major infrastructure projects along the course of the Zambezi River in sequential order from its source to its ocean outlet.

  1. 1Origin and initial headwaters at Kalene Hill in northwestern Zambia
  2. 2Plunge over the basalt plateau at Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)
  3. 3Reservoir impoundment behind the Kariba Dam across the Zambia–Zimbabwe border
  4. 4Impoundment within Lake Cahora Bassa in Tete Province, Mozambique
  5. 5Discharge through a broad coastal delta into the Mozambique Channel

Answer

The correct sequential order of the Zambezi River course from source to mouth is: Origin at Kalene Hill →\rightarrow Plunge over Victoria Falls →\rightarrow Impoundment at Kariba Dam →\rightarrow Impoundment at Cahora Bassa Dam →\rightarrow Discharge into the Mozambique Channel.
The Zambezi River flows generally eastward across Southern Africa. It originates at Kalene Hill in northwestern Zambia, proceeds south and east over Victoria Falls, flows into the artificial Lake Kariba created by Kariba Dam, continues east into Mozambique where it is impounded at Cahora Bassa Dam, and finally drains into the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the upper headwaters of the Zambezi River.
The river originates in the Zambian highlands at Kalene Hill (Mwinilunga District).
Every river course sequence begins at its highland source.
2
Locate the primary natural waterfall barrier along the upper-middle river section.
The river flows southward and eastward to plunge over Victoria Falls along the Zambia–Zimbabwe border.
Victoria Falls precedes any major reservoir downstream.
3
Determine the sequence of major man-made hydroelectric reservoirs (Kariba vs. Cahora Bassa).
The river enters Lake Kariba (Kariba Dam) first, then flows eastward across the border into Mozambique to feed Lake Cahora Bassa (Cahora Bassa Dam).
Kariba Dam lies further west (upstream) on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border, while Cahora Bassa Dam lies further east (downstream) in Mozambique.
4
Identify the final marine discharge outlet.
The river empties through its extensive delta into the Mozambique Channel (Indian Ocean).
The marine outlet represents the terminal mouth of the river system.

Key Concept

Course, Geomorphology, and Hydroelectric Infrastructure of the Zambezi River Basin
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Drainage Systems: Major Rivers and Lakes of Africa

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