Benue River
| Benue River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Adamawa Plateau |
| • coordinates | 7°42′33.2712″N 13°26′35.3616″E / 7.709242000°N 13.443156000°E |
| • elevation | 1,340 m (4,400 ft) |
| Mouth | Niger River |
• location | Lokoja, Nigeria |
• coordinates | 07°45′12″N 06°45′24″E / 7.75333°N 6.75667°E |
• elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Length | 1,440 km (890 mi) |
| Basin size | 319,000–338,200 km2 (123,200–130,600 mi2) |
| Width | |
| • average | 488–976 m (1,601–3,202 ft)(Middle and Lower Benue) |
| • maximum | 1.6 km (0.99 mi)(Lokoja) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Lokoja |
| • average | 3,477 m3/s (122,800 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Makurdi |
| • average | 3,150 m3/s (111,000 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 240 m3/s (8,500 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 12,000 m3/s (420,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Numan |
| • average | 900 m3/s (32,000 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 30 m3/s (1,100 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 5,000 m3/s (180,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Yola, Jimeta |
| • average | 741 m3/s (26,200 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 20 m3/s (710 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 4,200 m3/s (150,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Garoua |
| • average | 360 m3/s (13,000 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.4 m3/s (14 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 3,100 m3/s (110,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Niger→Gulf of Guinea |
| River system | Niger River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mayo Farda, Faro, Ini, Belwa, Fan, Taraba, Donga, Katsina-Ala, Gwer |
| • right | Mayo Oldiri, Mayo Rey, Mayo Godi, Mayo-Kébi, Mayo Tiel, Kilunga, Gongola, Pai, Duchi, Wase, Shemanker, Ankwe, Guma, Mada, Okwa |
Benue River (French: la Bénoué), previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km2 (123,000 mi2). Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 km (870 mi) is navigable during the summer months. As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name Benue comes from bernor, meaning 'river or lake of hippos’ in the Tiv.