Gongola River
Encyclopedia
The Gongola River is in northeastern Nigeria
, the principal tributary of the Benue River
.
The upper course of the river as well as most of its tributaries are seasonal streams, but fill rapidly in August and September.
The Gongola rises on the eastern slopes of the Jos Plateau
and falls to the Gongola Basin, running northeasterly until Nafada
. At one time, the Gongola continued from here in the northeast direction to Lake Chad
.
Today it turns south and then southeast until it joins the Hawal River, its main tributary.
The Gongola then runs south to the Benue river, joining it opposite the town of Numan
.
The lower reaches of the river are impounded by the Dadin Kowa Dam
near Gombe
, and lower down by the Kiri Dam
. After the Kiri dam was constructed, downstream flood peaks dropped from 1,420 m3/second to 1,256 m3/second, while flows in dryer seasons increased from 5.7 m3/second to 21 m3/second.
The river downstream from the dam also narrowed and become less winding, with fewer separate channels.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, the principal tributary of the Benue River
Benue River
The Benue River is the major tributary of the Niger River. The river is approximately 1,400 km long and is almost entirely navigable during the summer months...
.
The upper course of the river as well as most of its tributaries are seasonal streams, but fill rapidly in August and September.
The Gongola rises on the eastern slopes of the Jos Plateau
Jos Plateau
The Jos Plateau is a plateau located near the center of Nigeria. It covers 8600 km² and is bounded by 300-600 meter escarpments around much of its circumference. With an average altitude of 1280 metres and its highest point is Shere Hills 1829 meters...
and falls to the Gongola Basin, running northeasterly until Nafada
Nafada
Nafada is a Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Nafada in the east of the area at, on the Gongola River which traverses the area.It has an area of 1,586 km² and a population of 138,185 at the 2006 census....
. At one time, the Gongola continued from here in the northeast direction to Lake Chad
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is a historically large, shallow, endorheic lake in Africa, whose size has varied over the centuries. According to the Global Resource Information Database of the United Nations Environment Programme, it shrank as much as 95% from about 1963 to 1998; yet it also states that "the 2007 ...
.
Today it turns south and then southeast until it joins the Hawal River, its main tributary.
The Gongola then runs south to the Benue river, joining it opposite the town of Numan
Numan, Nigeria
Numan is a town and Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The port town lies on the Benue River. It is the location of the Adamawa State Polytechnic.-References:...
.
The lower reaches of the river are impounded by the Dadin Kowa Dam
Dadin Kowa Dam
The Dadin Kowa Dam is in Yamaltu local government area of Gombe State in the north east of Nigeria.The dam is located about 35 kilometers to the east of Gombe town, and provides drinking water for the town...
near Gombe
Gombe
Gombe may refer to:Places* Gombe, Nigeria, the capital of Gombe State, Nigeria** Gombe State, Nigeria* Gombe, Angola* Gombe, Butambala, Uganda* Gombe, Wakiso, Uganda* Gombe, Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, and lower down by the Kiri Dam
Kiri Dam
The Kiri Dam is in Guyuk local government area of Adamawa State in the north east of Nigeria, damming the Gongola River.It is a 1.2 km long, 20 m high zoned embankment with an internal clay blanket.The dam was mainly completed in 1982....
. After the Kiri dam was constructed, downstream flood peaks dropped from 1,420 m3/second to 1,256 m3/second, while flows in dryer seasons increased from 5.7 m3/second to 21 m3/second.
The river downstream from the dam also narrowed and become less winding, with fewer separate channels.