Bahr Aouk River

Catchment area of ​​Shari with the Bahr Aouk (center right)

The Bahr Aouk ( called the upper reaches also Aoukalé ) is a river in central Africa. He is one of the largest tributaries in the upper reaches of the Shari, which is the main tributary of Lake Chad. The word Bahr is Arabic sea or masses of water.

Geography

The Bahr Aouk originates in the border triangle between Sudan, the Central African Republic and Chad. Its water catchment area extends from Darfur, the headwaters of the Tiwal until in the Bongo Massif, the headwaters of the Yata. It forms most of the time its course the border between the Central African Republic and Chad. In its upper reaches it is known as Aoukalé and is connected to the Mare de Tizi over a wetland. Only after the confluence with the Bahr Kameur he called on all cards Aouk. From its source it flows counter (Chad) to the southwest of the city of Sarh. About seven kilometers after leaving the Central African Republic, he opens about fifteen kilometers above the town Moussafoyo (Chad) in the Shari.

The Aouk forms by its weak gradient in its lower course, a strongly meandering floodplain with numerous small lakes. In this area there may be seasonal widespread flooding, which are an important source for the local fishing industry. It caught up to 3,000 tons of fish a year in the Everglades as incurred. These wetlands are in the Chad region is part of the Ramsar area of the Plaines d' inondation of Bahr et Aouk Salamat, who has a special significance for migratory birds in the northern hemisphere.

Its most important tributary is the Bahr Kamuer. Furthermore him eat from the Central African Republic and the coming of the Tete Gourdai.

Hydrometrie

The flow rate of the flow is detected for 22 years ( 1952-1974 ) in Golongosso, a small settlement just above the confluence with the Chari. The observed in Golongosso mean annual flow rate was 74 m³ / s powered by an area of 96,000 km ², that is, almost the entire catchment area of the river.

The Bahr Aouk flows very irregular, as most of the rivers in the region. In the observation period of 22 years, a minimum flow of 3 m³ / s, and a maximum flow of 340 m³ / s observed.

The average monthly flow of the river Bahr Aouk measured at the hydrological station of Golongosso ( in m³ / s) ( Calculated using the data for a period of 22 years, 1952-74 )