The Rukarara River (or Lukarara) is a river in western
Rwanda
Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...
that is a tributary of the
Mwogo River, in turn a tributary of the
Nyabarongo River.
It is the most distant headwater of the
Nile
The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...
.
Sources
The Rukarara rises in forested country in southern Rwanda to the east of the
Congo-Nile Divide.
The Kamiranzovu Swamp in the Nyungwe Forest Reserve provides a natural reservoir for the Rukarara.
The source of the Rukarara is now known to be the overall source of the
Nile
The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...
.
This was confirmed by a 2005/2006 expedition up the river with modern navigation equipment.
The origin of the Nile, the furthest source from its mouth, is at an elevation of , at latitude and longitude .
Course
The Rukarara has its sources in the
Nyamagabe District.
The Nyirabugoyi and Rubyiro rivers are its main headwaters, both rising in the
Nyungwe National Park.
The Rukarara is the longest of the streams that supply the Mwogo.
The Rukarara flows south and then east, emptying into the Mwogo River. The Mwogo flows north, merging with the
Mbirurume River south of
Bwakira to become the
Nyabarongo River.
References
Sources
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Rivers of Rwanda
{{Rwanda-river-stub