The Yewa River is a trans-boundary river between Republic of Benin and Nigeria, running along the

Bight of Benin The Bight of Benin or Bay of Benin is a bight in the Gulf of Guinea area on the western African coast that derives its name from the historical Kingdom of Benin. Geography It extends eastward for about from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of ...

; at one point it crosses the border between the two countries. Other variants of the name are Yeoua, Yewa, Yéoua, and Yéwa. Its elevation is sea level. The Yewa's major sources are the Atan and Ilaro rivers. The Yewa empties into Badagry Creek which empties, in turn, into Lagos Harbor. The river is in a West African tropical climate zone and is an important source of fishing for local inhabitants. An important aspect of the local fishing is the blue crab (Callinectes amnicola). In addition to fishing, the river is an important factor in logging and sand mining operations. Some of the plants that inhabit the river and its banks are sedges (such as Cyperus articulatus,

Cyperus papyrus ''Cyperus papyrus'', better known by the common names papyrus, papyrus sedge, paper reed, Indian matting plant, or Nile grass, is a species of aquatic flowering plant belonging to the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is a tender herbaceous perenn ...

, and Paspalum vaginatum) and palms (such as Pandanus candelabrum, Raphia hookeri, and

Phoenix reclinata ''Phoenix reclinata'' (''reclinata'' - Latin, reclining), the wild date palm, Arabian date palm or Senegal date palm, is a species of flowering plant in the palm family native to tropical Africa, the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar and ...

). The name comes from the Yoruba deity, Yewa who was the goddess of this exact river as well as a deity over death, beauty, mystery, solitude, change, clarity and sorcery.

References

{{coord missing, Benin Rivers of Yorubaland Rivers of Nigeria Rivers of Benin