Zambezi Escarpment

As Zambezi escarpment (English Zambezi Escarpment ) that are very difficult to be overcome valley slopes to the right and left of the Zambezi River between Livingstone and Tete are referred to, especially the part under Mount Darwin in Zimbabwe and the part around Siavonga and Maamba on Karibastausee in Zambia.

Geography

The Zambezi Valley is between Victoria Falls and Tete a deep gorge that separates the plateau from the Zambian Zimbabwean. The sloping into the valley slopes are very steep, even for many kilometers vertically. Even for wild animals they are insurmountable. Prior to the construction of bridges and dams, the Zambezi Valley was passable only at Ingombe Ilede and Zumbo, where the mouths of the rivers Luangwa and Lusitu had washed off the steep slopes and on the opposite side of the valley were passable paths.

The shore regions left and right of the Zambezi are between Victoria Falls and Zumbo through national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Lie on the side of the valley of Zimbabwe merge into one another National Park Victoria Falls, Chizarira National Park, Matusadona National Park, Chete, Chirisa, Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore. On the side of the valley of Zambia are Mosi-oa -Tunya and Lower - Zambezi National Park. In Mozambique, lying on both sides of safari destinations.

The Zambezi steep slopes are unsuitable for human settlements and for the livestock. The soils are thin and sparse, the rocks washed by erosion. Bushland and miombo dominate over a distance of up to 100 kilometers from the stream. Up into the 19th century, the Zambezi steep slopes were considered virtually invincible.

Economic development

On the edge of the abyss is located on the western basalt escarpment of the Batoka Gorge ten kilometers southeast of the Victoria Falls 19 to 20 rapids the Gorges Lodge, a 20 - bed hotel accommodation upmarket. There you can see from the verandas of the restaurant or the ten individual houses 250 meters in depth. The gorge is between 20 and 60 feet wide, the water, according to local leaders about 70 feet deep, the water level varies between dry and rainy season to 20 meters. Was built the lodge on a rented private tribal land; also through the promotion of self-help organization for local women and children attempted the project to share with the community in its profits.

The Zimbabwean national electricity company ( Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) is planning to build another dam in the Zambezi Batoka Gorge. Therefore environmentalists fear for the flora and fauna of the region.