Rukwa Valley

File:NASA - Visible Earth, Lakes of the African Rift Valley.jpg

The valley lies at an elevation of {{convert|2600|ft}} above sea level. It is located between Lake Nyasa and Lake Tanganyika. Its low southeastern edge includes the shallow, alkaline Lake Rukwa, which is fringed by the North and Central Rukwa plains. The valley is to the northwest of Mbeya, and stretches as far as Karema and the Luakuga Gap.{{cite book|author=John Edward S. Moore|title=The Tanganyika problem: an account of the researches undertaken concerning the existence of marine animals in Central Africa|url=https://archive.org/details/tanganyikaproble00moo|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1903|publisher=Hurst and Blackett, limited|page=[https://archive.org/details/tanganyikaproble00moo/page/73 73]}} It is bounded to the east and west by high escarpments, {{convert|25|-|30|mi}} apart. The Rukwa Rift is {{convert|30|mi}} wide and {{convert|200|mi}} in length. The valley also includes the Kafufu, the Myakaliza, the Magamba, the Ambala and the Luhumuka Rivers.{{cite book|author=Tanganyika. Geological Division|title=Short Paper|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8Y6AAAAIAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012}}

Seasonal differences are extreme. The Rukwa's location within the tropics accounts for its one rainy season. Rainfall occurs during the months of November through April, and can vary between {{convert|20|-|40|in}}. Because of the only slight variations in grade, flooding is common. Conversely, the dry months of May through October are arid, and in comparison to the cooler Ufipa Plateau, the valley is hot.{{cite book|author=South Africa. Dept. of Agriculture|title=Science bulletin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZpCAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1939|page=59}}

There are three main flora zones in the Rukwa Valley: the treeless grass plains, a belt of open woodland, and the escarpment area. Valley grassland and wooded grassland are differentiated by the illuvial soil of the former and the colluvial soil of the latter. The woodland is partly covered by acacia. The northern end of Lake Rukwa encompasses a wetland of papyrus and reed.{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=6996|title=TZ033 Lake Rukwa|publisher=BirdLife International|accessdate=31 March 2012}}

The grasslands are inhabited by a rich biodiversity of thousands of species and a rich variety of birds.{{cite book|author=Zoological Society of London|title=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-u0nAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1965|publisher=Longmans, Greens|page=305}}{{cite book|last=Vesey-Fitzgerald|first=D.|title=East African Grasslands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ORGAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1973|publisher=East African Pub. House|pages=43–}} It has a significant population of topi in particular and some groups of some 1500 have been reported in clusters in the valley.{{cite book|author=Zoological Society of London|title=Transactions of the Zoological Society of London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9SIhAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1965|publisher=Published for the Zoological Society of London by Academic Press|page=186}} Estimates in the 1950s were that some 3000-4000 topi roamed the land around Lake Rukwa. The abundant grassland in the valley has been described a "mecca for grazers".{{cite book|author=Camerapix|title=Spectrum Guide to Tanzania|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wNPrAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1998|publisher=Interlink Books|isbn=978-1-56656-234-8|page=197}} Several mutations have been reported in the valley including an albino giraffe and a dark coloured zebra "marked with spots instead of stripes".{{cite book|last=Williams|first=John George|title=A field guide to the national parks of East Africa|url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetonati0000will|url-access=registration|accessdate=31 March 2012|year=1967|publisher=Collins|pages=[https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetonati0000will/page/130 130]–1}} Other game animals include eland, reedbuck, and buffalo. The valley is home to some rare animals, including poku and Shoebill. In 1939, A. Lea and Dirk van Velden Webb noted a relationship between locusts and the valley's grassland.{{cite journal|last=Dean|first=G. J. W. |date=May 1967|title=Grasslands of the Rukwa Valley |journal=Journal of Applied Ecology|publisher=British Ecological Society|volume=4|issue=1|pages=45–57|doi=10.2307/2401408 }} Lake Rukwa, which has no outlet, contains a large crocodile population.{{cite book|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mary|title=Tanzania|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ubmHjDwl18YC&pg=PA296|accessdate=31 March 2012|date=1 May 2008|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-555-0|pages=296–}} The Uwanda Game Reserve, Rukwa Game Reserve and Lukwati Game Reserve are amongst the protected areas in the valley.

The Rukwa is sparsely populated, with an economy revolving around agriculture, cattle keeping and fishing. An important rice-producing area, the main crops are maize and paddy. Garden crops include beans, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes; bananas, mangoes, lemons, pineapples, sesame, and sugar cane are grown as well.{{cite journal|last=Pielou|first=E. C. |date=October 1952|title=Notes on the Vegetation of the Rukwa Rift Valley, Tanganyika E. C. Pielou|journal=Journal of Ecology|publisher= British Ecological Society|volume=40|issue=2|pages=383|jstor=2256807|doi=10.2307/2256807}} There is an influx of Sukuma cattle.{{cite web|url=http://www.rukwa.go.tz/kurasa/kilimo_mifugo/kilimo/index.php|title=Welcome to the Rukwa|work=rukwa.go.tz|accessdate=31 March 2012}} Human cases of anthrax was noted in 1985 to be a "persistent problem" stemming from cattle consumption.{{cite journal|last=Webber|first=RH|date=October 1985|title=Anthrax in Lake Rukwa Valley, Tanzania: a persistent problem|journal=J Trop Med Hyg|volume=88|issue=5|pages=327–31|pmid=3836310}}

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{{Coord|8|1|50.12|S|32|0|26.91|E|display=title}}

Category:Valleys of Tanzania

Category:Geography of Rukwa Region