Ngounié River

The Ngounié River (also Ngunyé, French: Rivière Ngounié) is a river that flows through southwest-central Gabon. It is an important part of the country's water system and joins the Ogooué River, the largest river in Gabon. The Ngounié River starts in the Chaillu Mountains, near the border with Congo, and then turns northwest.

As it flows, the river passes through several towns, including Fougamou, Sindara, and Mouila. These towns rely on the river for transportation, water, and helping their crops grow. The Ngounié River is vital for both people and nature in the area, supporting many animals and plants along its path.

Etymology

The name "Ngounié" comes from a French version of the word "Ngugni." Long ago, people who spoke the Vili language used this word to describe the northern edge of their area. Explorers wrote the name as "Ngouyai" or "Ngunyé." Different groups in Gabon have their own names for the river. Some call it "Durembu-du-Manga," while others use "Otembo-a-Manga" or "Melembye-a-Manga." In all these names, the first part means "body of water," and "manga" refers to the small palm trees along the river's banks.

Geography

The Ngounié River is the second largest tributary of the Ogooué River. It starts in the Chaillu Mountains and flows south and west for 60 kilometres (37 mi), forming a border with Congo. It turns northwest at the Polo River, passing through waterfalls and a valley between the Moukande Mountains and the Massif due Chaillu. After winding for over 400 kilometres (250 mi), it joins the Ogooué River before reaching Lambaréné.

The valley of the Ngounié River lies between the forested Du Chaillu Hills and the Ikoundou Mountains, with grassy plants covering the area. Important tributaries include the Louetsié, which runs through Lébamba and Mbigou; the Ikoy; and the Ogoulou. One notable feature is Imperatrice Falls, also called Samba Falls or Empress Eugénie Falls, which is about 10 metres (33 ft) high and located near Fougamou in the Ngounié Province.

Climate

The Ngounié River area has a warm and wet climate. Temperatures stay between 23–28 °C (73–82 °F). The air is often damp, with humidity above 80%. The region gets about 2,000–2,200 millimetres (79–87 inches) of rain each year. The wet seasons are from September to December and again from March to May.

Power development

The Ngounié River could help make electricity with a planned project at the Empress Eugénie Falls. This project would be a 56 MW run-of-the-river scheme with four parts, each making 14 MW of power. Two more parts were planned to be added in 2015, which would make the total power of the station 84 MW. The project uses the main waterfall, which is about 12 metres high, and a series of rapids over a 2,000 metre stretch of the river to create a total height of 20 metres for making power. The area has granite and gneiss rock formations.