Cuanza
Cuanza is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- -10.63°, 16.61°
About Cuanza
The Cuanza River, also known as the Kwanza, the Quanza, or the Coanza, is the longest river in Angola. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean just south of the national capital Luanda.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Cuanza River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Cuanza in Depth
History
The river's navigable lower course was the original route of the Portuguese invasion of northern Angola.
The Capanda Dam in Malanje Province was finished in 2004, providing hydroelectric power to the region and assisting in its irrigation. The Cambambe Dam and the Lauca Dam were also constructed on the river. The Caculo Cabaça Dam is under construction with estimated completion in 2024. The Barra do Kwanza, the mouth of the river, is gradually being developed for tourism, including a golf course.
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Victoria stands near the banks of the Cuanza River in Massanganu, Province of Cuanza-Norte, Angola.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Cuanza River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Cuanza: Key Facts
| Length | 965 km |
|---|---|
| Average discharge | 825 m³/s |
| Drainage basin | 152,570 km² |
| Source | Chitembo |
| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean |
| Drainage system | Cuanza basin |
| Tributaries | Cutato River, Lucala River, Luando River, Chucuaval, Luâmbua stream, Cuquema stream, Cuiba River, Cunhinga Stream |
Facts from Wikidata Q213840 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Cuanza: Quick Answers
- Where is Cuanza?
- Cuanza is located in Angola, at 10.6332° S, 16.6132° E.
- Are there dams on the Cuanza?
- No dam on the Cuanza is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.