Komoé
Komoé 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
- 7.98°, -4.02°
About Komoé
The Komoé River or Comoé River is a river in West Africa. The river originates on the Sikasso Plateau of Burkina Faso, flows through the Cascades de Karfiguéla, forms a short section of the border between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast before entering Ivory Coast. It serves as the major drainage for the northeastern portion of that country before emptying into the Atlantic. The banks of the Komoé are shaded by riparian forests along most of its length, providing an important habitat for wildlife and a source of agricultural water. Where reliable floodplains form in Ivory Coast, rice may be grown. A portion of the river in northern Ivory Coast is the source of the vegetative richness that earned that area a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, Comoé National Park.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Komoé River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Komoé in Depth
Course
The Komoé River is approximately 759 km long. It rises on the Sikasso Plateau and in the Sindou Hills flowing south over several cataracts with several falls including the "Chutes de la Komoé" and Karifiguela Falls. Upstream of the Karifiguela Falls it is known locally as the Koba River. At 09°42′11″N 004°35′10″W it is joined from the right (west) by the Léraba River, whereafter it flows southeast and forms the border between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast for some 60 kilometres (37 mi), before it enters Ivory Coast four kilometres southwest of the village of Balanfodougou.
In Ivory Coast, it continues southeast, past the Comoé National Park, forming the border between its Zanzan District and Savanes District.
Hydrology and Seasonal Variation
The river’s flow is strongly seasonal, with high discharge during the rainy season and reduced flow during dry months.
This seasonal pattern contributes to periodic flooding of wetlands and floodplain zones along its lower course.
Ecology and Biodiversity
The Komoe River basin contains savannah, woodland, and tropical forest ecosystems that support rich biodiversity.
Its floodplain and surrounding regions include protected areas such as Comoé National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ecological diversity.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Komoé River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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
Komoé: Quick Answers
- Where is Komoé?
- Komoé is located in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, at 7.9832° N, 4.0161° W.
- Are there dams on the Komoé?
- No dam on the Komoé is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.